Arewa Forum Trustees Condemn Alleged Leadership Attack

The Arewa Consultative Forum’s Board of Trustees issued a forceful repudiation on Thursday of a press release that had alleged misconduct by its chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse. In a statement signed by senior trustees, the board condemned what it described as “unfounded and malicious” accusations made at an unauthorized meeting on 6 May 2026 and warned that the episode threatened the Forum’s institutional integrity. The declaration, authorised by trustees including Ambassador Hassan Adamu, retired Generals Muhammad Magoro and A.B. Mamman, and Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, criticised a “tiny, disgruntled minority” for convening the illegal gathering in violation of the Forum’s constitution, rules and long‑standing traditions. The board asserted that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Forum lacks any legal authority to intervene in the affairs of the Board of Trustees, let alone to appoint, suspend or remove any trustee or its chairman. “The actions of this small group represent a dangerous act of indiscipline, gross insubordination and a blatant attempt to undermine the very foundation of the Forum,” the statement read. It further noted that the NEC’s chairman, Mike Mamman Osman, SAN, had allowed the former Secretary‑General, Murtala Aliyu, whose term expired on 10 March 2026, to continue operating beyond his mandate. The board declared any acts taken by Aliyu after that date “null, void and of no effect” and announced that he is now under investigation for conduct during his tenure. In response to the incident, the Board of Trustees ordered a comprehensive inquiry into what it termed “treachery” designed to discredit the Forum and tarnish its reputation. The trustees stressed that there is no leadership crisis within the Arewa Consultative Forum; rather, they attribute the turbulence to “desperate and self‑servicing machinations of a disgruntled former officer who has refused to vacate his seat after the expiration of his tenure and has resorted to recruiting a few like‑minded individuals to do his bidding.” The board’s firm rebuttal underscores ongoing internal friction within one of northern Nigeria’s most influential advocacy organisations. By reinforcing the constitutional limits on the NEC’s powers and demanding an investigation into the former secretary‑general’s actions, the trustees aim to restore confidence in the Forum’s governance and deter future attempts to subvert its leadership structure. The outcome of the inquiry is likely to shape the Forum’s internal dynamics and its ability to present a united front on regional and national issues.