Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) urges FG to probe Abuja bomb blasts

By Segun Olatunji, kaduna
The umbrella Northern socio-political organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum, has urged the Federal Government to set up a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the bomb explosions, which killed about 14 people in Abuja during the country’s golden jubilee celebration on October 1. The development came just as the Christian Association of Nigeria warned that the current attempt to politicise the incident was capable of throwing the nation into chaos and a state of anarchy if caution was not observed by all sides making claims and counter-claims over the incident. In a communiqué signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, the ACF said that the establishment of the commission had become imperative given the claims and counter-claims regarding persons responsible for the act which led to the loss of innocent souls. The communiqué reads in part. “The Board of Trustees of the ACF met on October 5, 2010, in the conference hall of its office that is situated at 11A, Sokoto Road, Kaduna. “The meeting was well attended and chaired by the Chairman of BOT in the person of Lt-General Jeremiah Useni (rtd) and supported by the Secretary-General, Col. Musa Shehu (retd). The deliberations agreed on the following resolutions. “The meeting noted the unwarranted loss of innocent lives and vehicles as a result of the bomb blasts which occurred in Abuja on 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations. The forum also considered the claims and counter claims about who are responsible for the dastardly acts. So in order to ascertain the truth and effect retribution on offenders against future occurrences, as well as to douse the mistrust and suspicion in the polity, the forum urged the Federal Government to set up a high-powered judicial commission of inquiry into the incidence. The ACF, however, applauded the decision of the Federal Government to give the Independent National Electoral Commission more time to enable it to prepare and conduct credible elections in 2011. But the forum frowned at alleged attempts by President Goodluck Jonathan to take advantage of the extension of time to re-introduce the old practice where political appointees would be automatic delegates in party congresses, conventions and primary elections. Also, the Secretary of the Kaduna State CAN, Reverend Joseph Hayab, said in a statement on Wednesday that the feud in a particular political party should not be extended into the national arena and made to cause chaos in the polity. According to Hayab, “Since the bomb blast that occurred in Abuja killing innocent but struggling Nigerians, we have been watching and following the trend with concern and much worry because the situation rather than taking means of protecting Nigerians, and getting to the root of the matter has taken a different dimension now threatening peace, harmony and stability of Nigeria amid the challenges of development facing the peoples of Nigeria. “Our concern is simple; Nigerians deserve nothing but responsible leadership to be led by upright Nigerians; irrespective of religion, region, ethnic or any political inclinations.