By HUSSAINA YAKUBU

Northern groups and institutions under the aegis of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) have announced plans to convene a major conference to reflect on the state of the Northern Region, sixty years after the death of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the ACF, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, disclosed this at a press briefing held on Thursday at the ACF Secretariat in Kaduna.

Dalhatu said the planned conference, themed “Sixty Years Without the Sardauna,” would hold in the first week of April and was aimed at critically examining the past, present and future of the North.

He recalled that Jan. 15 marked exactly 60 years since the assassination of Sir Ahmadu Bello and some of his colleagues, an event he said triggered a chain of crises, including the Nigerian Civil War.

According to him, while the nation observes the day as Armed Forces Remembrance Day in honour of fallen heroes, it is equally important for Northerners to reflect on the legacy of the Sardauna and the turning points in their collective history.

Dalhatu described the Sardauna as a visionary and committed leader whose contributions to governance, education, infrastructure and unity of the Northern Region remained unmatched.

He cited the establishment of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, expansion of educational opportunities, construction of roads, hospitals and economic institutions, as well as inclusive governance that accommodated the region’s religious and ethnic diversity.

The ACF BOT chairman expressed concern that over 70 per cent of Northerners today were under the age of 60 and had no lived experience of the leadership values exemplified by the Sardauna.

He lamented the “rising insecurity, poor governance, growing numbers of out-of-school children and the high costs of governance following the fragmentation of the old Northern Region into 19 states.”

Dalhatu said the conference would not be an exercise in nostalgia, but a platform for honest self-examination and dialogue on security, governance, economic development and social cohesion.

He explained that the forum would bring together elders, political leaders, academics, religious leaders, women, youths and entrepreneurs to deliberate on the region’s challenges and opportunities.

According to him, the outcome would include practical recommendations and actionable strategies aimed at rebuilding a secure, productive and inclusive Northern Region anchored on strong values and responsible leadership.

Dalhatu appealed for the support of Northerners, other Nigerians and the media to ensure the success of the conference.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, the briefing was held on behalf of several groups, including the Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Arewa House, MACBAN and other Northern organisations. (NAN)