AYCF, AYGA disagree over 2019 northern candidate
- Two major groups in the north have fallen out over the 2019 presidential election
- The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) and the Arewa Youth Grand Alliance (AYGA) are at loggerheads over who to endorse
- AYCF is led by Alhaji Yerima Shettima, while the AYGA is led by Alhaji Idris Inuwa
A report by Vanguard indicates that there is division among two major northern youth groups over who to endorse as a northern candidate in 2019.
According to the report, the 2019 purported presidential ambitions of incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari, and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, have created a gulf between the groups.
The division reportedly started after AYCF leader, Alhaji Yerima Shettima granted an interview, asking Buhari and Atiku and other northern political leaders above 60 years of age to perish the thought of seeking elective offices in 2019.
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His words: “You had your yesterday and you failed your yesterday, you cannot fail today again and you think of doing a great damage to our yet unborn children and you expect us to fold our arms.
“Now, we are building for our own children too. So, you cannot fail your yesterday and come and champion my today. It is impossible. This cannot happen again.”
In reaction, AYGA leader, Alhaji Idris Inuwa said the statement was a wanton display of lack of respect for northern elders.
His words: “Mr Yerima is deceived by the euphoria that trailed his and other groups infamous ‘quit notice’ given to Igbo in the North by October 1, 2017, an action deliberately designed to destabilize the nation, thereby seeing himself as an emerging hero that could speak for the North.
“The inconsistencies and vague choice of words in the said interview have clearly shown his ignorance of politics, where wisdom of elders and energy of the youths are pulled together to produce results. In other words, the elders and the youths must constantly collaborate because no one can do without the other.”
He challenged Yerima to “come out and tell the world his political constituency in the whole North. And what are his political value apart from being a manipulative political tool in the hands of Northern political rivals, who constantly use him for his nuisance value.”
He continued: “We wish to state here that we are very much aware of his sponsors to discredit two of the North’s finest politicians of our time, President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to achieve their sinister political motives against 2019.
‘’As Northern youths and critical stakeholders in Nigeria, we will resist any attempt by the likes of Yerima to use the name of Arewa for devilish mission.
“Let us warn Mr Yerima and his sponsors to desist from reckless and unguarded utterances against our leaders and elders who have sacrificed so much for our future.
‘’Any further attempt will leave us with no option than to bring out his dossiers and make them public. A word is enough for the wise.”
Meanwhile, the Senate has cautioned protesters operating under the aegis of Concerned Nigerians, demanding for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari over his medical vacation in the United Kingdom to stop heating up the polity.
In a statement sent to Legit.ng by the Senate's spokesman, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, he described the agitation of the protesters as an “unreasonable demand.”
The statement said the protesters were only creating unnecessary tension in the country and seeking to divert the attention of the presidency from the economic and security issues which are being tackled with vigour.
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