The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu for prioritizing early campaign strategies and political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections instead of addressing pressing national issues, particularly insecurity.
In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the ACF expressed frustration over what it described as the government’s lack of effective response to worsening security, especially in northern Nigeria.
The forum also condemned excessive public spending and alleged budgetary irregularities amid widespread suffering.
One example cited was the controversial insertion of streetlight projects in the 2025 federal budget, reportedly costing over ₦260 million each.
The group noted the absence of any official denial, calling it a sign of government insensitivity toward the daily hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians.
“The replication of such questionable expenditures at the state level further reflects the systemic flaws in governance,” the ACF said.
“We observed a year ago that these issues reflect deeper problems in the country’s political economy, which demand urgent policy attention.”
The forum also criticized what it described as “delusional hubris” in the government’s public security pronouncements, which it said ignored the realities on the ground and the concerns raised by state governors.
It warned that such attitudes risked fueling mass frustration, despair, and disillusionment.
Despite the situation, the ACF commended the resilience of Nigerians, particularly as they marked the Eid-el-Kabir festival.
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It urged leaders not to take citizens’ endurance for granted and emphasized the festival’s message of sacrifice, unity, and gratitude.
The statement acknowledged the difficult circumstances under which the celebration occurred, including inflation, high living costs, and declining real incomes.
The ACF concluded by calling for good governance at all levels as a necessary step toward overcoming the nation’s current challenges.
