More facts have now emerged on the circumstances which led to the adoption of zoning by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) after several equivocations on the constitutionality of the matter.

Saturday Vanguard investigations revealed that the rancor engendered by the discussions on zoning reached a crescendo during the meeting that some members sneaked out to avoid trouble. Indeed, a former Military Administrator during the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s regime was alleged to have threatened one of the members for being pro-zoning during the debate, claiming that the person collected N300million bribe from the South-south leaders to betray the north.

According to those who witnessed the stormy session, those in attendance at the meeting include the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), General Jerry Useni, the former Minister of Finance during the late Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime, Alhaji Abu Gidado, former Military Administrator in Benue and Kano states, Col. Aminu Isa Kotangora, Sen. Ladan Shuni, the former Secretary Political Committee of ACF, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, former Governor of Katsina state, Alhaji Saidu Barda, General Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi, former Chairman of First Bank, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab.

Ambassador Adamu Mohammed, Alhaji Hassan Al-Gazali, former Minister of State, Power and Steel, Alhaji Murtala Aliyu, former Military Administrator, Kebbi state, Col. John Uba,  the former Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Coommassie, Gen. Haliru Akilu and Brig. General Umar Natta-Allah.

Others include the Deputy Governor of Bauchi state, Alhaji Garba Gadi, Abdullahi Ibrahim (SAN); former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, Hajia Fatima Kwaku,

Hajia Amina Ladan Baki, Dare Awoniyi, Dr. Abubakar Saddiq, Arch. Gabriel Adukwu, Col. Hammid Ali, Sen. Issa Kachako, Gen. Mohammed Magoro, Sen. Illa Gada, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Gusau (chairman, ACF Political Committee), Group Capt. Usman Jibril, Mr. Anthony Sani, National Publicity Secretary and his Fatima Ibrahim and Dr. Magaji Dambatta among others.

It was said that in the course of the meeting, ACF chieftains like Group Captain Jibril, Abdullahi Ibrahim (SAN), Shehu Yau_ Darazo and Hammid Ali raised serious objections against the Forum taking any position on zoning.

According to them, the ACF must stick to its constitution which specifically stated in Chapter 4 (i_x) that “the criteria for leadership and performance which the Nigerian electorate must apply henceforth in appraising candidates to all elective offices should include: commitment to one Nigeria; commitment to democratic ideals as enshrined in the constitution” of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, honesty and integrity;

justice to all Nigerians and to all parts of Nigeria, vision, experience and good performance in public affairs, acceptability to the majority of the diverse peoples’ he is to serve, transparency and ability to manage people and resources of the nation with probity” as well as delegate responsibility to others but taking ultimate and full responsibility for their actions or inactions”.

However, the immediate past BoT Chairman of ACF, Alhaji Magaji Dambatta (who reportedly lamented the rancorous nature of the meeting), the Chairman of the Political Committee, Ahmed Gusau, Alhaji Saidu Barda, Mohammed Yakubu (who was not known to be a member of the Forum)

and Bitrus Gwada reportedly insisted that the Forum would take a position on zoning no matter the legal opinion of some members or the consequences, noting that some northerners had collected money from President Goodluck Jonathan to shortchange the north, which at a point led to the alleged taking out one of the members, Abdulrahman Mohammed from the venue of the meeting after being accused of being an agent of the President.