The National Chairman of the Northern Youth Leaders Forum, NYLF, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, has in a statement released expressed dissapointment over the continuous maneuvers and schemes of the South to hijack the 2019 Presidency.
The NYLF chairman further in the statement released a list of 12 eligible persons from the North endorsed to run for the presidency in 2019. The list of endorsed northern politicians include; Senator Bala Muhammed, a former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State, former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Governor Ibrahim Shettima of Borno State and Governor Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari of Zamfara State.
According to the leader of the group, the shortlisted persons have been found worthy to represent the interest of the North in 2019.
Comrade Elliot while sounding a note of warning to the South over its continuos show of interest in the 2019 presidential elections said: “We want to reiterate and clearly warn that the North will not, and will never allow presidency to move to the South in 2019.
“As much as we can tolerate or pay any sacrifice for the unity of this country, we remain committed to a northern president in 2019.”
The NYLF leader further added that the group has forwarded the shortlisted names of endorsed persons to its patrons and the leadership of the 42 affiliated organisations to Northern Youth Leaders Forum, NYLF for screening adding that following the screening, two candidates will be considered during its 15th Annual National Convention coming up in September, 2017, in Kano.
He added: “We want to send a message to all political parties that may field southern presidential candidates in 2019 election that such action will amount to committing a political suicide.”
The group further warned northern leaders to withdraw their support for the South adding that such action is anti-north and would not be accepted as it will be deemed counter productive to their irreversible decision for a 2019 northern presidency.
Afiyo in the statement further credited the emergence of some past leaders including “Olusegun Obasanjo, Musa Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan as well as current President Muhammadu Buhari as presidents in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015, respectively,” to the backing of the north.
Reacting to the quit notice issued by the Northern youth group, Afiyo noted that the agitators were angry members who felt they were used and abandoned by the All Progressives Congress, APC, politicians.
“We consider the quit notice as ill advised, ill-timed and uncalled for.
“We strongly believe the groups of northern youths were motivated, encouraged and sponsored by some individuals who felt cheated by both the federal government and some state governments controlled by the APC.
“These individuals were used and dumped; no recognition or appreciation was extended to them.
“They are, therefore, bent on destabilising the government.”
In reaction to the coalition of northern youth’s action, the group further added: “our Igbo brothers insult and abuse of other nationalities, especially the northerners, calling us cows and parasites.”
The statement continued: “We condemn in strongest terms, the approach of our brothers in issuing an ultimatum to Igbo. No nation or ethnic nationality can survive on its own without the support and help of another.
“Northerners need the Igbo, the Igbo need the Yoruba, and Yoruba need the Hausa. We are totally against the balkanisation of Nigeria. We know the price the North paid for the unity of this country. We are more determined, committed and willing to continue to pay the price to keep this country one; not because we are afraid of our brothers from the east, west and south, nor are we afraid of the future, but for the labour of our heroes past.”
The group further in the statement called on the federal government and the Inspector General of Police to, “withdraw, forthwith, the directive to arrest the signatories of the Kaduna declaration.”
“We believe our brothers in the South have said more than what our brothers said and were not arrested. There is, therefore, no justification for the arrest.”