Restore Peace in the North-David Mark Tasks ACF

David Mark,
The Nigerian Senate President

Restore Peace in the North-David Mark Tasks ACF
Obiora Ani

The Nigerian Senate President, David Mark, has tasked northern Nigeria's socio-cultural and political group, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, to work out a strategy to find a lasting solution to the orgy of violence bedevilling the North.

Senator Mark gave the injunction when he received a delegation of the ACF Contact and Mobilization Committee, which visited him at the National Assembly, Abuja ahead of the Forum's general conference scheduled for next month.

Violence: A worrisome development

The Nigerian Senate President described as worrisome, the degree of insecurity in the North and advocated for collaboration between the elders of the North and the government to find a lasting solution to the quagmire.

''We as the leaders of the northern region must rise to stop this orgy of violence." Senator Mark said.

Senator David Mark noted that violence had put both the government and the governed in a difficult situation saying that ''no government would sit helplessly and watch the un-abating violence claiming lives and property."

Resolving crisis

The Senate President said while he recognised that some people may feel aggrieved for whatever reason, ''they must however, follow proper channels of dialogue for a resolution rather than resort to violence''.

He noted that the continued violence in the North had denied the region of meaningful and needed development. Senator Mark said: "I am sure that the founding fathers of the North will weep in their graves if they see what today's violence has done to the region."

ACF conference

The Arewa Consultative Forum's Contact and Mobilization Committee has been sensitizing members of the forum on its conference, scheduled for the 1st of December, 2011, with the theme: "Sustainable Peace in the North."

Organisers said the conference was auspicious at this time, as it would also address the violence in the northern region of Nigeria.

Leader of the delegation, Ahmed Muhammad Gusau expressed grave concern about the present level of insecurity, lamenting that "northern Nigeria, which used to be known for its serenity and peace, has now become a harbinger of violence''.

He however, affirmed that "leaders of the North were very conscious of the fact that only the restoration of peace would guarantee progress, political and economic development as well as achieving the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan administration."

Gusau gave assurance that ACF members would deliberate openly and frankly on the crisis in the North, with a view to finding lasting solutions to the violence.

Hajia Sani