ACF demands fair hearing for SGF

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF)  rose from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kaduna, on Wednesday and called on the Senate to give  fair hearing to the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal.

This was as it demanded constant security surveillance and intelligence gathering around troubled areas of Kaduna, Zamfara and Taraba states, where lives and property had  been lost, to forestall future occurrence.

Speaking to newsmen in an interview shortly after  a   meeting held at the forum’s headquarters, in Kaduna, the ACF national publicity secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, said the meeting deliberated on national security and other crucial matters.

According to the ACF spokesman, the forum remains on the side of justice for all and, therefore, supported  the probe of  SGF on the corruption allegations levelled against him,  adding that  such will give him fair hearing.

“It is not in the character of ACF to take sides on allegations of corruption against any government official or private individuals without proper investigation. The rule of natural justice demands that before you pronounce anybody guilty of an allegation, you must give him a fair hearing.

“The anti-corruption war cannot be applied selectively, all are subject to thorough investigation. Those found culpable are punished in accordance with the law.

“We, therefore, support the courage of President Muhammadu Buhari, to investigate allegations of corruption against top government officials. This clearly demonstrates his total commitment to do what is right, irrespective of who is involved. It is our hope that the AGF will avail the officials concerned a fair hearing in the interest of justice.

“ACF is equally calling on Nigerians to support President Buhari in this very difficult anti-corruption war. The challenges are enormous, which requires collective duty to put all hands on deck to save our  country from insecurity and corruption”, he said.

On the killings in Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara  as well as  Benue state, Ibrahim said, “We are very concerned and worried about the recurrent communal clashes between farmers and herdsmen in some Northern states .

“This seemingly intractable security challenge in the North ,which have continued to hinder our socio-economic development, is disturbing and unacceptable.

“The recent communal clashes in some communities in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State and that of Jama’a and Kauru Local Government areas in Southern part of Kaduna State, where innocent lives were  lost and property destroyed, is condemnable.

“So, in consideration of these and other insecurity situations in the region,  the ACF, in collaboration with Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, is proposing to host a Northern Security Summit, in February, that will address issues of cattle rustling, kidnapping and communal clashes  among others. The summit is aimed at complimenting the efforts of government   at  finding lasting solutions to the problems.

“We commend the efforts of the affected state governments in their unwavering commitment to the pursuit of peaceful co-existence through dialogue and peace building processes among the communities in their states. And we urge security agencies to step up surveillance and intelligence gathering to forestall future occurrences”, he  said

The ACF spokesman, however, condoled with  the families  of those  who  lost their lives   during the clashes.