MICHAEL AKINOLA
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, has commended the Lagos State Government over efforts to bring sanity into the State’s Branch of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN.
In a statement signed by Alhaji Adamu Yahaya, Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of AYCF, the group said, “We have been following with keen interest, the latest developments at RTEAN in Lagos State and how the leadership partiality has threatened the cordial relationship between the Arewa Community and their host. This disturbing development is indeed unfortunate”.
“As a group committed to peace, unity and integrity of Northerners in Lagos State, we are comfortable with decision of the Lagos State Government through its pronouncement of the 29th of September, 2022, leading to the suspension of the activities of the State Branch of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) Chairman – Alhaji Musa Muhammad.”
“We also wish to state, for the records, that:
1. This decision came at a better time, when majority of Northerners resident in the State have repeatedly been complaining bitterly over the conduct of the RTEAN leadership, which disrupted the harmonious relationship between RTEAN leadership, its members and majority of Arewa community residents in the State.
2. Consequently, the AYCF hereby supports, in totality, the action of the State Government, premised on the need for badly-needed peace and stability and protecting the good image of the Arewa community built for decades.
3. We are convinced that the action was swiftly taken by the Government to stem the tide of a protracted problem that would have snowballed into a full-blown crisis due to open and unpleasant partiality on the part of the suspended Chairman, Alhaji Musa Muhammad.
4. It is heartwarming to the Arewa Community in Lagos that since the suspension of the Chairman, maximum peace has been noticeably restored in all nooks and crannies of the State.
5. We also pray that the new leadership of the Association, headed by Hon. Adeshina Sulaimon Raji, will carry the entire Nigerian ethnic groups along, as we consider him a broad-minded leader known for being focussed.”
“In conclusion, the AYCF hereby commend the quick effort of the Lagos State Government to prevent crisis by suspending the activities of the Association, by way transparent pronouncement. We hope this will mark a turning point in the history of the Arewa Community in Lagos.”