SHOCKER!!!The North Nominates These 10 Prominent Politicians For 2019 Presidency, Dumps Buhari’s Name In The Gutters.
Ahead of the 2019 permutation for power to be ceded to the Southern part of Nigeria, the National Chairman of the Northern Youth Leaders Forum, NYLF, has shortlisted 11 names of Northern Politicians, as potential Presidential candidates.
Leader of the group, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, who disclosed this on Monday evening, nominated Senate President, Bukola Saraki, among 10 others.
Others are: Senator Bala Muhammed; former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Tanimu Turaki; Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, of Gombe State; and Governor Aminu of Sokoto State.
Also, mentioned are: 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.
Comrade Elliot stated: “We want to reiterate and clearly warn that the North will not, and will never allow the 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.”
Afiyo said the group has forwarded the names of the endorsed persons to its patrons and the leadership of the 42 affiliated organisations to Northern Youth Leaders Forum, for screening and for the endorsement of only two candidates, who will be considered during its 15th Annual National Convention, coming up in September, 2017, in Kano.
“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”, a statement by the group said.
The group further called on all Northern youths, to embrace dialogue and peace, and not to allow themselves to be swayed by those who use religion and ethnicity to divide the North, and gain political advantage.
Afiyo noted that the NYLF was strongly instrumental to the emergence of “Olusegun Obasanjo, Musa Yar’adua, and Goodluck Jonathan, as well as the current President, Muhammadu Buhari, as Presidents, in 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015, respectively, without regional bias.
The group said its actions are always guided by national interest, far above any other interest.
On the quit notice to the Igbos by some sections of the Northern youth groups, Afiyo said: “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 destabilizing the government”, he said.
The forum also inferred that the coalition of Northern youth’s reckless action might have been incited by “our Igbo brothers’ insult and abuse of other nationalities, especially the Northerners, calling us cows and parasites.”
The statement further said: “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 Igbos, the Igbos need the Yorubas, and Yorubas need the Hausas. 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 forum advised all groups to operate within the ambits of the rule of law, and strongly condemned the use of violence and hate speech in the country.
“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.”
The statement went on to appeal to the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, to call for a meeting of genuine leaders of the Northern youths and Southern youths, to find a way forward for the country.
