Arewa dismisses allegation of marginalisation by the South

• Urges Buhari’s intervention in Baru, Kachikwu’s feud
• Gana maintains Nigeria will never break up

The apex northern socio-cultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has dismissed the allegation of marginalising southern part of the country.The ACF, which says that such assertion has created anxiety, fear and mistrust among Nigerians, said most of the allegations against the North were not based on facts.

In a communique issued yesterday and signed by its spokesman, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kaduna, said: “As a result, they threaten our national cohesion by generating more heat than the needed light.”

The communique said the forum had set up a committee on restructuring, which will examine all aspects and suggest a common perspective on the interest of the North within the Nigerian project.

The forum reiterated that restructuring should aimed at enhancing unity, peaceful co-existence, stability and balanced development of the country as well as ensure social justice, fairness and equity to all.

The ACF, which expressed concern over the feud between the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to thoroughly investigate the matter and give both parties fair-hearing in the interest of transparency in management practices of the NNPC.

Besides, the forum urged government at all levels to intensify efforts by making adequate budgetary provision for the resuscitation and maintenance of the overstretched facilities in the North and the country in general for economic growth.

Meanwhile, a former Minister of Information and Culture, Prof. Jerry Gana, has said that the country will not break up because it is not a creation of man, but that of God Almighty.

Gana, who spoke while delivering the 2017 convocation lecture of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, also enjoined the Federal Government to include private universities as beneficiaries of the intervention activities of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to provide the needed flip for them to improve.He said: “I don’t believe in the notion that this country will break. Nigeria will never break up. This is an idea of God and He will uphold the country.”

Nigeria is one of the most powerful countries of the world, that’s why the devil is fighting us. All we need is sustainability and leadership that will lead the country aright and I see God bringing that about soon in the country.

“There are many Nigerians who are passionate and believe in the country. There are many experts that the country is blessed with and they will soon take charge of the country.”