A fiery debate over who truly speaks for Northern Nigeria erupted on national television Tuesday night after Alwan Hassan, a prominent politician from Kano State and member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissed the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) as a partisan tool for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s opposition agenda.
The clash unfolded on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where Hassan rebuked ACF Chairman Bashiru Dalhatu’s claims that President Bola Tinubu had marginalised the North in appointments and infrastructure. “They are not for the North. These people are opposition,” Hassan declared, his tone sharp. “They are Atiku’s people.”
Pressed by host Seun Okinbaloye on whether the ACF—a group previously regarded as the North’s moral compass—had lost legitimacy, Hassan was unequivocal: “They don’t represent the North. They’re dividing us.”
A Fractured North?
Hassan, a staunch ally of Tinubu, framed the ACF’s criticisms as politically motivated, arguing that the forum had overlooked the administration’s strides in security, education, and healthcare. “Why not celebrate the peace in Southern Kaduna or the 400,000 students benefiting from tuition loans?” he challenged.
The exchange grew heated when Okinbaloye suggested Northern discontent with Tinubu. “Stop saying ‘the North is angry’—am I not a Northerner?” Hassan shot back. “These so-called elders are self-appointed. What’s their criteria?”
Tinubu’s Northern Gambit
The ACF, founded in 2000 as a unifying force for the North, has seen its influence wane amid accusations of partisanship. Hassan’s remarks signal a broader rift between Tinubu’s backers and older guard elites aligned with Atiku’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Analysts view the spat as an early salvo in the 2027 election cycle, with Tinubu’s camp working to solidify Northern support. Hassan doubled down, touting Tinubu’s infrastructure investments and mocking opposition figures like Labour Party’s Peter Obi (“Should we vote for a president who imports alcohol?”) and an unnamed rival “fed by his wife.”
The Bottom Line
As Nigeria’s political terrain shifts, Hassan’s blunt rhetoric underscores a high-stakes battle for the North’s loyalty—one where Tinubu’s allies are drawing lines in the sand. “Asiwaju will be president till 2031, *Inshallah*,” he vowed.
For now, the question remains: Who speaks for the North? The ACF or a new guard riding with Tinubu?
Watch the full interview on Channels Television’s YouTube page
