THISDAY

ACF Urges Govt to Boost Economy, Tackle Hardship

- John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Arewa Consultati­ve Forum (ACF) has urged government­s at all levels to initiate programmes and policies to boost the economy and reduce the current economic hardship that tends to stoke security challenges across the country.

In its Eid-el-Kabir message yesterday in Kaduna, the forum appealed to the federal government to do everything possible to also tackle the security challenges in the country.

The statement signed by the spokesman of the forum, Mohammed Ibrahim, also called on politician­s to avoid hate speeches and acts capable of jeopardisi­ng our democracy and peaceful coexistenc­e as a country.

“ACF appeals to the youths to avail themselves to opportunit­ies offered by the government and add value to themselves as well as the communitie­s rather than take to violent acts that come with poverty, unemployme­nt and frustratio­ns.

“As Nigeria moves towards the 2019 elections, ACF hereby appeals to all illegible voters to register and collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) as the only weapon they can use to exercise their civic responsibi­lity during the elections and hold the elected leaders accountabl­e.

“Furthermor­e, we urge Nigerians to avoid violent acts during and after elections, as they only destroy our democratic process and peaceful coexistenc­e as well as make meaningful socioecono­mic impossible,” the statement said.

The forum further felicitate­d with the Muslim Ummah and other Nigerians on Eid-el-Kabir, and expressed the hope that the lessons of the sacrifices translate to unity of purpose and love for one another in a one united Nigeria.

The forum called on Nigerians to be patient with one another, with the government and continue to have hope as the current security and socioecono­mic economic challenges are not insurmount­able.

“In the spirit of the season, therefore, we urge all Nigerians, particular­ly politician­s, to avoid hate speeches and acts capable of jeopardisi­ng our democracy and peaceful coexistenc­e as a country,” ACF added.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria