The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has dismissed allegations of bias, affirming its commitment to critiquing governance shortcomings in both the Tinubu and Buhari administrations. Secretary-General Murtala Aliyu emphasized that the forum’s criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration is not motivated by the president’s southern origin, but rather by the same rigorous standards applied to the Buhari administration.
Speaking on ‘News Night’, an ARISE NEWS Channel programme, Aliyu clarified that while the forum may engage in political discourse, it remains impartial and non-partisan. “I think that’s an unfair judgment to say we criticise the government because a southerner is at the helm of affairs,” he stated.
In a related development, the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) reaffirmed its rejection of the Tax Reform Bill, citing concerns that it threatens national cohesion and was “conceived in bad faith.” This stance underscores the NEF’s commitment to promoting the nation’s best interests, rather than being swayed by regional or partisan biases.