Leaders of the North Central geopolitical zone have announced their exit from the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), opting instead to form their own socio-cultural group, North Central Peoples Forum.
The leaders while addressing journalists in Abuja blamed worsening insecurity in the region for the decision.
Some of those present in the new group are former Minister of State for Health, Gabriel Aduku (interim chairman), former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Jerry Useni, and former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu.
Others are former Military Administrator of Kwara State, Col. David Bamigboye (retd.), former Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Olusola Akomode, Publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah, former Nigeria Ambassador to South Africa, Ahmed Ibeto, and former Deputy Governor of Benue State, Chief Stephen Lawani.
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Speaking on behalf of the group, Useni lamented the worsening cases of kidnapping, banditry and other forms of criminality in the North Central zone despite its abundant mineral and human resources.
He emphasised that the new group would serve as a veritable platform to combat insecurity and marginalisation of the North Central states of Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau as well as the FCT.
According to Useni, the new platform would promote unity among the states in the zone and assist in efforts to find lasting peace and stability in the area.
The ex-minister added that the new platform would pursue rapid industrialisation across all nooks and crannies of the zone, as well as ensuring cooperation and support for the good policies and administration of the six governors of the zone, irrespective of the political, religious and ethnic differences.