ACF puts Dambazau, Yayale Ahmed in charge of security, unity

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General AbdulRahman Dambazau, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, have been appointed to lead two committees established by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) focused on security and the unity of Northern Nigeria.

ACF in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, announced that these committees were formed to develop strategic blueprints to address critical issues facing Northern Nigeria.

The Security Committee will be chaired by Lt. Gen. AbdulRahman Dambazau, with former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed D. Abubakar, serving as his deputy.

The Committee on Unity, Peace, and Reconciliation will be led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, with former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, as his deputy.

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According to the statement the Unity, Peace, and Reconciliation Committee, has the mandate of proposing realistic strategies to foster harmony and dialogue across Northern communities.

On the other hand, the Committee on Security has the mandate of suggesting ways out of the insecurity, which has had devastating effects on the people of the Region.

The statement reads, “Further to the resolution reached at the meeting of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), on 4th September, 2024, two Special Committees were set up to recommend blueprints as pathways for addressingxx key, pressing and critical issues of concern to Northern Nigeria.

“Membership of the Committees was arrived at after due consultations with leaders of thought as to their wealth of experience and commitment to the relevant issues on hand, as follows: (1) Unity, Peace and Reconciliation Committee – predicated on based on the observation made about the deteriorating state of inter-group relations among the various Northern communities, which have been inimical to peaceful coexistence and development.

“Therefore, this Committee was charged with responsibility for proposing realistic mechanisms for strengthening Northern unity and to reinforce processes of mechanisms for regular consultations and dialogue.

“This Committee has Alhaji (Dr.) Yayale Ahmed, CFR, Ajiyan Katagum with Engr Babachir Lawal as his Deputy.

“Committee on Security – predicated on the unabating stage of insecurity in the North with a view to suggesting ways out of the quagmire in view of its devastating effects on the people.

“This Committee has Lt. General Abdulrahman B. Dambazau (rtd), CFR, Baraden Kano and former Chief of Army Staff as Chairman with Alhaji Mohammed D. Abubakar, CFR, mni, Rtd Inspector General of Police as Deputy.

“The Committees were inaugurated at Abuja by Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse, on 30th September and 1st October, 2024, respectively, and are expected to submit their reports to ACF by the middle of November, 2024.

“The ACF will in turn consider and discuss the reports and recommendations with the Governors of the Northern States for submission to the Federal Government and Agencies responsible for security as may be necessary or appropriate.

“The inaugural meetings of the Committees were covered by a team of reporters from the ACF’s online Radio now under-going test runs,” the statement read.