The Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned in the strongest terms what it called “unfounded and malicious allegations against the respected Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse”.
The statement issued by the Board of Trustees of the ACF, and authorised by members, said: “The Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) unequivocally condemns, in the strongest terms possible, the reckless, illegal and ill-advised actions of a tiny, disgruntled minority within the Forum who, in flagrant violation of the ACF Constitution, rules, regulations, norms and established traditions, convened an illegitimate meeting on 6th May 2026 and issued a press release containing unfounded and malicious allegations against the respected Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse.”
The statement, signed by members of the Board of Trustees including Ambassador Hassan Adamu, General Muhammad Magoro (retd), General A.B. Mamman (retd), Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed and others, stated that the National Executive Council of the ACF lacks any authority to make legal pronouncements on the leadership of the Board of Trustees.
According to them: “It has no powers under our Constitution to appoint, suspend or remove any member of the Board of Trustees, let alone its Chairman. The actions of this small group represent a dangerous act of indiscipline, gross insubordination and a blatant attempt to undermine the very foundation of the Forum.”
The Board of Trustees members added: “It is particularly regrettable and unfortunate that the Chairman of the National Executive Committee, Mike Mamman Osman, SAN, permitted the illegal actions of the erstwhile Secretary General, Murtala Aliyu, whose tenure expired on 10th March 2026.
“All actions taken by the said former Secretary General after that date are null, void and of no effect. He has since been placed under investigation for his conduct while in office.”
The Board of Trustees has directed a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding what it called “this treachery which, no doubt, was calculated to discredit the Forum, malign its hard-earned reputation and relegate it into a scrap heap.”
The members stated categorically that there is no leadership crisis or tussle in the Arewa Consultative Forum, insisting that what is being witnessed is nothing but the “desperate and self-serving machinations of a disgruntled former officer who has refused to vacate his seat after the expiration of his tenure and has resorted to recruiting a few like-minded individuals to do his bidding.”