The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), marking its 25th anniversary, faces a challenging reality. Instead of celebrating achievements, the forum contends with escalating insecurity, school closures, and socio-economic decline in Northern Nigeria.

Key Points:

1. Insecurity and Social Decline:
   • Northern Nigeria continues to experience abductions, violence, and mass school closures.
   • High rates of out-of-school children and internally displaced persons (3–6 million) highlight the region’s socio-economic challenges.
2. Leadership and Accountability:
   • ACF, formed to champion northern interests, is criticized for prioritizing elite benefits over the welfare of ordinary northerners.
   • The leadership has failed to build on the legacies of figures like Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa, neglecting unity, education, and development.
3. Ethnic and Religious Fragmentation:
   • Historical inclusivity has eroded; the north is now more fractioned, with ethnic and religious tensions fueling instability.
   • Systems like Almajiri exacerbate youth vulnerability, feeding insecurity and underdevelopment.
4. Call to Action:
   • Adetiba stresses that ACF and other northern leaders must take responsibility, implement purposeful leadership, and address socio-economic and educational challenges.
   • Blaming the federal government alone is insufficient; proactive regional solutions are essential.

Conclusion:
At 25, the ACF’s scorecard is mixed at best. While the forum aggregates northern leadership, the north’s persistent instability, economic stagnation, and social inequities reflect the urgent need for focused, accountable leadership.