26 Years of Motion Without Movement: The ACF Paradox -By Abdullahi Abubakar Ladan

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has existed for over a quarter of a century, yet for the average northerner, its presence is felt more in the headlines than in the homesteads. For many, the ACF has morphed into a retirement home for yesterday’s men and a platform where former power brokers, sensing their relevance slipping away, congregate to trade on the “Arewa” brand. It is disheartening that a body of such stature lacks a visible footprint of tangible development. Whether it is scholarship schemes, business empowerment initiatives, or the strategic sponsoring of bills in the National Assembly, the cupboard remains bare. Instead of a powerhouse of progress, we see a seasonal pressure group that only finds its voice when it is time to bargain for political crumbs.

If we look at the mandate of the ACF beyond the vague rhetoric of “protecting northern interests,” there is very little to show for its twenty-six years of operation. The forum has failed to evolve into a sophisticated lobby group capable of shaping national policy or influencing gubernatorial outcomes in a way that benefits the grassroots. Contrast this with an organization like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which has mastered the art of institutional influence to the point of becoming indispensable to the political fabric of its nation. Even closer to home, the Sardauna Memorial Foundation operates with more sincerity and impact. The ACF, meanwhile, seems stuck in a cycle of internal leadership tussles, especially as the 2027 elections approach, suggesting that the primary interest being protected is the financial comfort of its executive members.

This chronic inertia is a loud signal to the youth particularly those in their late twenties and early thirties, know that the cavalry is not coming. The future you envision for your children will not be handed down by a consultative forum that operates like a private club. It is time to stop venting on the sidelines and start organizing. The current leadership has spent decades proving that their priorities lie in maintaining status quo politics rather than building a functional region. If the North is to see real change, it must come from a new generation that understands how to build long-term institutional power without the baggage of personal greed.

The reality is that your future, and that of the generation behind you, has already been treated as a commodity by those who have overseen this decline. To reclaim it, you must move beyond the “complaint culture.” Real influence is built slowly and decisively. It requires forming alliances with a vision that extends past the next election cycle and creating structures that actually serve the people rather than just the egos of the board members. We cannot continue to rely on a forum that only remembers its mandate when it is time to issue a press release or fight over a chairmanship.

Ultimately, the ACF has become a symbol of what happens when leadership loses its soul. It is a cautionary tale of how a collective identity can be used as a shield for personal gain. This is a clarion call to every young “Good Governance Advocate” and every disgruntled citizen: do not wait for the ACF to reform itself. It is a spent force. The task of building an Arewa that works, and a Nigeria that thrives, now rests on the shoulders of those who are willing to act with integrity and a genuine sense of service.

Abdullahi Abubakar Ladan
Good Governance Advocate
07th May, 2026 – Kaduna, Nigeria