From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has lifted the suspension imposed on its national chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman, over an alleged unauthorised political statement deemed inconsistent with the Forum’s non-partisan position.
ACF had, on 21 November, announced Osuman’s suspension following comments on the 2027 presidential election, where he expressed support, on behalf of ACF, for the stance of the newly founded League of Northern Democrats (LND). The LND had vowed to back Northern candidates to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
However, in a statement on Wednesday, ACF General Secretary Murtala Aliyu said:
“Sequel to the recent suspension of the Chairman of the National Executive Council of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Chief Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, OFR, by the leadership of ACF over an alleged unauthorised political statement not in consonance with ACF’s non-partisan position, the following press statement in respect of the subject matter is hereby issued:
“That the ACF Unity, Peace and Reconciliation Committee, under the chairmanship of Dr Mahmoud Yayale Ahmed, CFR (Ajiyan Katagum), has intervened in the recent crisis.
“It had invited some stakeholders, including the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and that of the National Executive Council, among others, and had a family discussion on the unfortunate development.
“Consequently, the issue has been amicably resolved in the interest of the great people of Arewa, and the suspension is hereby withdrawn.”
Reacting to the initial suspension, Osuman told our correspondent:
“I only became aware of the purported suspension half an hour ago, having just arrived from Kaduna to Abuja. I will reflect on it and speak to the alleged ‘suspension’ later.”
At the time of the suspension, a letter read to newsmen by ACF Secretary General Murtala Aliyu stated:
“The attention of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has been drawn to widely reported statements credited to Mr Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, OFR, Chairman, ACF National Executive Committee (NEC), which were made during the NEC meeting held on Wednesday, November 2024, at ACF Headquarters, Kaduna.
“In particular, Mr Osuman was quoted as saying that the North will back a northern candidate for the presidency come 2027. The statements were made by the NEC Chairman without consulting or discussing with other leaders and members of the ACF and thus reflected Mr Osuman’s personal opinion only.
“ACF rejects Mr Mamman Mike Osuman’s statements in their entirety. For this reason, the leadership of the ACF’s Board of Trustees (BOT) and that of its NEC has decided to place Mr Mamman Mike Osuman on suspension with immediate effect.
“A committee has been constituted for further investigations.”
The suspension letter was signed by ACF Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Alhaji Bashir Muhammad Dalhatu, and Secretary General, Alhaji Murtala Aliyu.