The coalition of Northern Youths group under the auspices of the Arewa Youth Assembly recently urged their kinsmen to be “magnanimous enough” and give the southern part of the country, especially the South-South geopolitical zone, the chance to produce the President of Nigeria in 2023.
The group spoke through its leader, Mohammed Danlami at a press conference held at the Arewa House, Kaduna. He remarked that in addition to shifting the 2023 presidency to the South-South, they (the Northern Youths) were “ready” to support a youthful president within the age bracket of between 40 and 50 years. He further declared that it was time to say no to “recycled politicians” in 2023, especially from the region. He continued, “It would be “unfair” for the North not to “relinquish” political power to the South in 2023.”
He went further to remark that the position being taken by the youth now might be “hard” as Northerners, but it was aimed at “moving the nation forward.” The AYA leader said, “Arewa Youth Assembly has noticed a series of misleading comments being orchestrated by some political buccaneers over leadership factor that North should retain the national leadership come 2023.”
Rewind few months back in December 14, 2019, Yerima Shettima, the President of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum warned that “Nothing will stop the Northerners from producing Nigeria president come 2023. Shettima, it could be recalled was speaking on the sideline at the Silver Jubilee celebration f the Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, HRH Alhaji (Dr) Mohammed Abubakar Bamaado II ( and not at the usual Arewa Headquarters that has come to symbolize the powerhouse of the Northern religious and political groups). Meaning that the claim by Shettima where he stated that the “Northerners are being marginalized and therefore, deserve to continue as the number one citizen of the country in 2023” may after all be his opinion.
In essence, assuming that the statement by the Northern Youth Group under the auspices of the Arewa Youth Assemble led by Mohammed Danlami is more authentic and to be believed, it is hurrah for the new enlightenment of Northern Youths for waking up to know that elected officials and political leaders described by Damladi Arewa’s group as “Buccaneers” have been using “fear” and exploring the ignorance of all , not just the Youths to divert attention, often using tribal and religious sentiments and bigotry to divide the people along ethnic and religious lines to the benefit of the “buccaneers” greedy and selfish interests.
Recall, several Northern Leaders have in the recent times spoken how the Northern Buccaneers spread of Igbos as their “enemies’ or targets to be suppressed or eliminated. That Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi ( who I have great respect and admiration) has warned the Northerners that Igbos are not their problems rather they – the leaders and should stop blaming Igbos. It is in that same manner that the Emir told the Northerners and Nigeria that 91 % of Northern people are poor with articular reference to Zamfara State.
Recall, several Northern Leaders have in the recent times spoken how the Northern Buccaneers spread of Igbos as their “enemies’ or targets to be suppressed or eliminated. That Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi ( who I have great respect and admiration) has warned the Northerners that Igbos are not their problems rather they – the leaders and should stop blaming Igbos. It is in that same manner that the Emir told the Northerners and Nigeria that 91 % of Northern people are poor with articular reference to Zamfara State. The ethos and pathos of Alhaji Sanusi tells directly that the Northern leaders that have been in power for more than 599 years since Nigerian independence are in power for themselves and not for the people as they (Northern leaders) often project to Nigerians. With these openness and honestly on the part of Northern Youth Coalition leader, coming at the same time that Emir was saying the same, it is now clear that the North and the Muslims are not after all in support of the claims by “buccaneers” in that North that are extremists in their views and careless if Nigeria is a failed states as long as it is their way or no way.
It boils down to accepting the truth that the Northern Leaders are there for themselves often fanning the sentiments on religion and tribal sentiments to distract attention and stay in power while reaping off their people and Nigerians. Else, how could one explain that with inflated population which the Global Trends Report 2020-2030 in report that just came out disclosed that the population of Muslims will topple Christians by 2030 after almost 160 % increase within that 15 years. Meaning that the Northern leaders have been inflating the population which the report also disclosed was 47% in 2010 and 48% in 2019. That the population manipulation has been used to allocate abundant financial resources to three quarters of the local governments located in the North of over 700 local governments; yet these locations and people are poor say a lot about the evils of corruption and deception.
Overall, the rest of Nigerian have known these manipulations of census date for a very long time. However, what is still troubling is how silent Nigerians have long been while all these manipulations and marginalization are going on .
All hopes are not lost especially with these voices coming out of the wilderness. I strongly believe that the pilfering of the common wealth will continue until all patriotic like-minds come together – the Southeast, South West, the patriotic Northern Youths as Coalition of Northern Youths with some of the enlightened leaders such as Emir of Kano and Emir of Sokoto and with those enlightened thinkers, the problems facing Nigeria which are the elites from the North, Southeast, South west and South-South are sidetracked or kept in the coolers, else Nigeria will not move forward, and the worst -case scenario as we are witnessing is the “Collapsed or Failed State” that pundits had predicted.
Overall, the rest of Nigerian have known these manipulations of census date for a very long time. However, what is still troubling is how silent Nigerians have long been while all these manipulations and marginalization are going on .
It is high time like minds are united in Nigeria. The should caste away their tribal, religious and political differences and come together to rescue the nation from buccaneers that use fears, divide and rule tactics in persuasion to focus attention their gains while they pilfer billions of Naira through corruption that deprive people their wealth and subject them to servants that are made to be content with crumbles from their masters table. It is high time they are told ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
As delight as I am with the Arewa Youth looking for a younger generation of leaders, their vision is achievable because as much as the buccaneers are polarizing Nigerians along tribal and religious lines, they forget that Nigeria is so diverse in religion, politics, cultures and even in marital and other relationships as in circumstance and by choice, which is very difficult to break the ties in the relationships. These are simple truths that the buccaneers do not want the people to know.
With these lines of agreements between Arewa Youths and majority of Nigerian youths and reasonable number of adults, if truly democratic elections are held, these dreams envision by the youths will be realized. Like the youths in the south that have long denounced the leadership of their elders, now that they are in sync with the Southerners and Westerns, it is Hight time they put their thoughts into action to realist this noble goals that will bring the nation together.
As Othman Dan Fodio said Conscience is an open wound that only the truth shall heal. Now that it seems the scales are falling off the eyes of Northern Youths (hoping they are serious and not a way to divert attention), it is high time other like- minded patriotic Nigerians jump into this bandwagon to rescue Nigeria from oligarchs and save our country from a “Collapsed or Failed State” pundits predicted.
Words are easy and cheap, but action is not. Action is difficult to implement, if Arewa Youths could make their words walk, walk, walk (emphasis mine), I bet Nigeria will survive after 2023. With this type of mindsets by Northern Youths, I believed that majority of Nigerian would not mind where their next president comes from, whether a Christian or Muslims or Atheists, it does not matter, as long as that leader understands the dynamics of global politics of thinking locally and acting globally; he or she is digital and not analogue of the 18th century; understands transformative leadership that mobilizes the best team players, and put them to work; provide measurable goals that are achievable and sustainable and more. Not leaders that would be projecting fear and increasing dividend along ethnic and religious lines as a distraction of his or her non-performance. Worse of all for his or her cluelessness.
As Othman Dan Fodio said Conscience is an open wound that only the truth shall heal. Now that it seems the scales are falling off the eyes of Northern Youths (hoping they are serious and not a way to divert attention), it is high time other like- minded patriotic Nigerians jump into this bandwagon to rescue Nigeria from oligarchs and save our country from a “Collapsed or Failed State” pundits predicted.
♦ Primus Chuks Igboaka, Ph.D., MBA writes from Cleveland, Ohio. He was Lagos State Governor’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), 1986 Award winner for Leadership and Service. . He was a Senior Correspondent with the National Concord, and currently an Adjunct Professor of Communications at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio and Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), a City College with over 50, 000 students.
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