ACF warns members against endorsing candidates

• Wants northern governors to tackle abuse on children

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has advised its members against endorsing any political candidate, stressing that it is not a political group.

Arising from its National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna, the forum also urged governors in the North to be proactive in solving problems that relate to the abuse of children in the region.

The ACF in a communiqué signed by its chairman, Audu Ogbe, yesterday said it would not participate in political discourse until after political parties would have selected their candidates.

“When the political parties who have the exclusive permission of the constitution to sponsor candidates to choose a presidential candidate each, we shall engage the candidates and find out what program they have for the north,” it said.

According to the communiqué, the meeting extensively deliberated on the murder of Hanifa Abubakar, the five-year-old girl in Kano who was killed by her school proprietor.

The forum commended the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, for his prompt action in arresting the situation and urged other state governors to be as proactive in solving similar problems where they arise.

“Not only has the government closed down the school, it has withdrawn the certification of the school. We agree with him (Ganduje) because we cannot revert to barbarism without experiencing civilization,” the communiqué stated.

The forum also commended the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El- Rufai, for his efforts in improving infrastructures in the state and encouraged other states to copy his example.

“We also noticed that Kaduna State has attracted direct foreign investment in the state. We also encourage other states to study and follow the progressive initiatives of Kaduna State Government which has led to this progressive economic achievement by the state,” the ACF added.