ACF National Publicity Secretary,Professor Tukur Mohammed-Baba, has said that the forum has received no official communication from security agencies regarding the police occupation of its headquarters, insisting that claims of internal factions are unfounded.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday,Tukur Mohammed-Baba dismissed the justification given for the security presence, maintaining that the organisation remains united.
“No, we don’t have.
We saw on social media a claim by the security agencies that it’s not a siege, that they receive complaints about factions.
And let me say it clearly, there are no factions in the ACF.
And to the best of our knowledge, there is no disturbance or anything like that.”
He recounted how events unfolded, noting that the occupation came after a successful internal meeting.
“Yesterday, we held the meeting of the National Working Committee successfully.
Towards late afternoon, actually around 6.30, the place was taken over.
And of this morning, our workers were chased out.
And the place has been occupied by the police.”
On the forum’s continued operations despite the shutdown, Mohammed-Baba said the group relocated and carried on its activities.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic allows the freedom to associate.
We secured a venue.
I don’t have to say because it’s a commercial entity.
We paid for it and we held our meeting in the city of Kaduna, where our headquarters is located.”
Addressing possible legal action, he stated that the group is holding off for now.
“At the moment, the national executive committee has decided there is no need for legal action for now.
We held our meeting successfully.
We will communicate the outcome, and we’ll await the police to vacate our premises as they should.”
He also revealed that attempts to reach security authorities have yielded no response.
“Yeah, we have initiated contact.
We have received no response from the IG.
I suppose the only response we have received is an intensification of the siege on our headquarters, which persists until this time.”
Tukur Mohammed-Baba rejected suggestions that the situation could be linked to criticism of government.
“I hope not, because we have stayed on this trajectory, advising government on what affects our people.
I am not aware of anything that should annoy absolutely anybody.”
On internal disputes, he said the NEC had already taken steps to resolve outstanding issues.
“That was the purpose of the meeting of the NEC.
And like I said, the resolution will be made public soon, and we think this will address all lingering disagreement.”
Reacting to the broader implications of the development, he described the situation as troubling for democracy.
“It’s frightening.
It means the police and the security agencies, or whoever is sending them, will manufacture evidence and take over the constitutional rights to assembly by citizens.
It’s very, very sad.
It seems to me that those who benefited from democracy are the same people undermining it.”
While declining to directly accuse authorities of intimidation, he emphasised the constructive role of the ACF.
“I hope not.
Because what we are doing actually adds value to the effort of the government to tackle the economic, social, and security problems in the country.
Anything the ACF has said in the past, it’s a contribution to this effort for the country to be stable.”
He downplayed fears that the situation could trigger unrest in the North.
“Oh, I don’t think the siege will lead to unrest in the North at all.
There is no point for it.
Even the siege is pointless.
I’m hopeful that the police will find ways to invocate our premises.
The idea of social unrest is manufactured.”
Clarifying leadership issues within the organisation, Tukur Mohammed-Baba insisted that the constitution clearly defines roles and responsibilities.
“There is no need for reinterpretation.
The Constitution is very clear.
All the organs of the ACF have their roles clearly defined in the Constitution.
The power to set up committee to do anything in the Constitution is vested in the National Executive Council, clearly.
The Board of Trustees is assigned the responsibility of advising.
So I see no reason for a clash.
If there is any, it’s been manufactured.”
On allegations concerning the ₦3.9 billion endowment fund, he confirmed that the matter is already under review.
“We have received a petition to that effect, and the petition was referred to a committee on ethics and conduct.
They have conducted their investigations, established certain facts.
They have made recommendations.
It has been considered by the National Executive Committee.
And I will defer to the chairman to make a decision.”
Offering advice on easing tensions ahead of 2027, Tukur Mohammed-Baba called for adherence to constitutional principles.
“They can do this by respecting the provisions of the constitution, the rights of citizens, and to stop manufacturing reasons to truncate the rights of citizens.
We all belong to this country, and we all expect to be protected, and our rights granted in line with the dictates of the Nigerian constitution”.
