2011 POLLS: ACF INVITES FORMER SECURITY CHIEFS FOR CRUCIAL MEETING

Ahead of the April 2011 general elections and and the need for the peoples votes to count, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is putting in place a high-powered  meeting of former security chiefs of northern extraction to tackle the worsening security situation in the country, particularly in the North.

The Forum, at one of its meetings, had resolved to bring together what it considered its 'large resources made of former service chiefs, heads of security agencies and military formations to brainstorm with a view to enhancing the integrity of its submission.

Towards this end, the forum had written all former service chiefs, inspectors general of police, heads of security agencies from the North, inviting them to a critical meeting scheduled to hold on March 22, 2011, in Kaduna.

A copy of the invitation letter, which was obtained by Daily Sun and signed by the Secretary-General of the ACF, Colonel Musa Shehu (retd), assured the former security chiefs of unhindered, free and frank discussions, which would be accorded the highest level of confidentiality.

'In the end, submissions would be made to the Federal Government as our contribution to finding solution to the incessant communal and ethno-religious conflicts, ravaging our region in particular and Nigeria as a whole,' Shehu stated.

He further said the roundtable, which was proposed by former inspector general of police, Alhaji MD Yusuf, would have in attendance, Lt. Gen. M. I. Wushishi, former chief of defence staff Gen. Domkat Bali, former director general of National Security Organization (NSO) Alhaji Umaru Aliyu Shikafi, former inspector general of police Alhaji Mohammed Gambo Jimeta, former chief of air staff Air Marshal A. D. Bello and former chief of army staff, Lt. Gen. Salihu Ibrahim.

Other invitees were former inspector general of police, Alhaji Aliyu Attah, former national security adviser Lt. Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, former inspector general of police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, former director general, DMI, Brig-Gen. Haliru Akilu, Admiral Saidu Suleiman, former National Security Adviser (to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha) Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo, and Major-Gen. Alwali Kazir.

The list further included Air Vice Marshall Idi Musa, former Chief of Army Staff Major-Gen. M. C. Alli, Air Marshall Al-Amin Daggash, Former Chiefs of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Victor Malu and Ishaya Bamaiyi as well as former chief of defence staff ,Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi.

Also invited were Amb. Adamu Mohammed, Amb. Baba gana Kingibe, Alhaji Bukar Usman, Amb. Ibrahim Zakari, former chief of defence staff, Gen. Martins Agwai, Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Sambo, Major-Gen. A. M. Halidu, Air Marshal Isaac Alfa, Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep, Major-Gen. Mohammed Said, immediate past chief of army staff, Lt. Gen. A. B. Dambazau, former director general of SSS, Mr. Afakriya Gadzama, Vice Admiral I. I. Ibrahim and Brig-Gen. M. A. Umar, who would serve as Secretary to the security meeting.

The invitees were accordingly expected to indicate their availability to attend the meeting by contacting three of the coordinators of the meeting namely Brig-Generals Haliru Akilu and M. N. Umar and Col. Musa Shehu through their telephone numbers.

It was, however, gathered that the meeting would equally discuss modalities towards ensuring that the votes of the people would count by ensuring that polling units were well guided in accordance with the law.