Falae Kidnap: ACF tackles Afenifere, condemns multiple bomb blasts

The Arewa consultative Forum (ACF) has described as reckless the position of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group,
Afenifere, on the Kidnap of elderstatesman, Chief Olu Falae, allegedly by Fulani herdsmen.

The northern socio-cultural body said the position taken by Afenifere after a meeting at the residence of its leader,
Chief Reuben Fasonranti, on the 29th September 2015, in Akure was not only reckless but unbecoming of the leadership of the highly respected Pan Yoruba organisation.

The ACF also expressed sadness over the multiple bomb explosions which rocked Maiduguri, Borno state, Nyanya and Kuje surburds of the FCT, Abuja during the week, killing scores of innocent Nigerians.

It urged security agencies to be more proactive in bringing the activities of the Boko Haram insurgent group to an end.

According to a statement issued in Kaduna and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mohammad Ibrahim , the ACF accused Afenifere leaders of criminalizing a whole race because of the actions of individual criminals.

The northern socio-cultural body said: “Nigeria has over 250 other tribes just because of an alleged crime of some
suspected herdsmen is unnecessary, emotional and contrary to the spirit and letters of the Nigerian constitution which guarantees free movement and association of citizens in any part of the country.”

The statement reads: ” The ACF is embarrassed and disappointed with the communique issued by the respected
pan-Yoruba group the Afenifere after its meeting of 29th September, 2015 held in Akure at the residence of its
leader, Pa Rueben Fasonranti that called on the Federal government “to abolish nomadic cattle rearing to stop
alleged criminal activities by herdsmen”.

“This statement was issued after the kidnap of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, elder
statesman Chief Olu Falae by some persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. The communique went further to warn that “if the Federal Government fails to stop Fulani herdsmen from attacking Yoruba people, it may result in a situation where the South-west people will have to defend themselves”

“ACF considers such statement as reckless and unbecoming of a highly respected group like the Afenifere that choose to criminalize a whole race or tribe or region instead of the individual criminals, moreover, our law books provides the process of dealing with such suspected criminals rather than arrogating such powers to ourselves.

” Nigeria has over 250 tribes and Yoruba is just one of them, for it to threaten other tribes just because of an
alleged crime of some suspected herdsmen is unnecessary, emotional and contrary to the spirit and letters of the
Nigerian constitution which guarantees free movement and association of citizens in any part of the country.

“In November 2000 when some OPC hoodlums attacked northerners in the south west region, ACF did not blame it
on the Yoruba, rather it urged the government to arrest the perpetrators that committed the crime.

“ACF considers criminality in any form as a serious offense and strongly condemned the kidnapping of Chief Olu Falae a former presidential candidate of the joint ticket of APP/AD in the 1999 general election which the North overwhelmingly supported him.

“ACF has in the last six years consistently decried the insecurity situation in the country especially insurgency,
kidnapping, ritual killings, armed robbery etc, but it has never blamed a tribe, people or region as responsible for
such crimes, talk less of threatening their free movement or pursuit of their legitimate business and livelihood. The
unity and peaceful coexistence of our people has always been the guiding principle of ACF in the Nigerian project above personal and emotional interests.

“ACF therefore appeals to Afenifere and all other socio-cultural organizations and individuals to always
exercise some restrain and show maturity in reacting to situations in view of the complexity of our country.

“ACF equally calls upon the security agencies to not only intensify their effort in tracking down the kidnappers of
Chief Olu Falae but also put in place preventive measures to forestall such frequent ugly incidents in the country.

“ACF is also sadden by the news of the multiple suicide bomb blasts that occurred on Thursday 1st October in Maiduguri and that of Friday night at Kuje and Nyanya in the FCT all within the week, which killed scores of innocent people and injured many. This recent and frequent bomb attacks on innocent people is worrisome despite the successes being recorded by the military in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency.

“ACF once more urges the security agencies to be more proactive in the discharge of their responsibilities while
the community should be more vigilant and also share intelligence with the security agencies to avert these
unwarranted bombings.

“ACF extends its condolences to the families of those killed by the bomb blast, the Government and people of Borno state and the FCT and also appeals to the authorities to take care of the injured and provide them with basic rehabilitation needs”.

Lola Seriki- Idahosa