A Coalition of Arewa Youths has warned that the alleged plot by Yoruba leaders to make Yemi Osinbajo President of Nigeria in Muhammadu Buhari’s stead will fail.
The coalition which issued the warning, in a statement signed by Muhammed Shehu and Tanko Abdullahi, also maintained that the North will complete its eight-year tenure.
Accusing Yoruba leaders of making efforts to discredit the North ahead of the 2019 election, the youths vowed to resist all the alleged plans and antics.
The statement reads, “We are very much aware that all the attacks against President Muhammadu Buhari were planted in the media by the Yoruba and spread by southerners generally just to discredit the north in order to pave way for their son, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to become president.
“But their plans will fail insha Allah.
“We shall resist every of such plans and ensure by all means possible, that the north completes its eight-year tenure and possibly even continue after then, and that the federal structure of Nigeria as it currently is, is not tampered with by secession mongers and their collaborators.
Describing Yoruba’s as the “most ungrateful stock in Nigeria,” the group said, “Having given power to the Yoruba on a platter of gold in 1999 as a way of compensating them for the June 12 saga, it is quite worrisome and unfortunate that they have lived up to their legendary reputation of backstabbing and betrayal by supporting the divisive calls for restructuring or dismemberment of the nation against the will and desire of the north.
“We gave the late Chief MKO Abiola the mandate in 1993 but shortly after that, as it is with the Yoruba as a culture, they immediately started circling around Abiola plotting on how to emasculate the north and strip us of every access we had to the politics and economy of this nation.
“May we remind the Yoruba that without the willingness and magnanimity of the north, there was no way Abiola could have purportedly won that election, and that all the Yoruba have now as assets in the south west, especially Lagos, were given to them by our leaders out of our own usual magnanimity.
“However, time and time again, the Yoruba have always turned their back on us whenever their support is needed. They have chosen to pitch tent with the Igbo this time around just to spite us, but we shall not succumb to their antics.”
From across thee oceans, a great distance from the shores of Nigeria, the claim by various regional or ethnic geo-demographic structure sounds very divisive, unpatriotic and inept. Can’t we think first: Nigeria before regional or tribal self interest? What such claims depict is that we are some ways away from true democracy – a recipe for disunity and regression. As a democratic nation, can’t we just let our passion and commitment rely on the democratic process rather feeding conflictual broadcasts to a majority without much clue about what transparent democratic process is like? A shame that those ‘in the know’ are the pioneers of such misinformation which often lead to inter/intra-ethnic and multi-tribal disunity. Politicians and political strategists should take steps to ensure comprehensive public awareness, especially in the North and the East of the nation.The view of the international community about Nigeria is still ambivalent and un-reassuring. If we want an all-round progressive growth and development, then we should cease to preempt discord and promoting divisive mindset.
This note is to the “unyielding, unwilling, and wayward northern brothers, Arewa Youths, and the duo of their trumpeters – Muhammed Shehu and Tanko Abdullahi…”North will complete its eight-year tenure…” The north does not have an eight-year tenure; nobody in Nigeria has an eight-year tenure. Not even in the US where the same style of presidential government is widely practiced. All Buhari had and won was a “4-year” term. And that is what everyone gets; now, barring sickness ir sudden demise in the office, the individual can and with the will of the people through vote, the person might be re-elected to a 2nd term (8 years).
When Nigerians voted for Buhari in 2015, we did not vote for the entire north, but Nigeria’s being what it is, the north assumes that it’s a vote for them…understandable. Now unfortunately, President Buhari is seriously ill and non-functional; if the north wants to discuss the remainder of his 4-year term…then, Nigerians would be likened to listen and especially the issue surrounding the vice president (Dr. Yemi Osinbajo). Unfortunately for you guys, nigeria does have a constitution and it is being followed by many reasonable people; we have seen it in the case of late Musa Yaradua and now with our current president. Somebody should educate you guys and the entire APC on this.
Subsequently, it appears from the tone of the Arewa Youths and some of their leaders and surrogates, any one outside of the north has any right to be the president; you also seem to think that anyone that challenges the current administration is automatically branded, whether that person is Igbo or Yoruba. It equally appears that no other ethnicity is good enough except for Hausa/Fulani. “This is the height of arrogance and impunity. Nigeria does NOT BELONG to you, the north, nor does it belong to the Yoruba or Igbo. We all belong to Nigeria and the moment you get this concept…we can all sit down and talk. What befell Musa Yaradua (a solid, good gentleman) and then Buhari, is both unfortunate and sombering; however, that us not anyone’s fault. It is not the Igbos nor the Yorubas. It is simply what the almighty God/Allah has willed. It’s inconceivable that many of you in the north especially members of the Arewa Youths can not see that. It is also inconceivable that you guys cannot live up to the tenets if democracy. Nigeria’s constitution spells it out…while the president is incapacitated, the vice president assumes the office. It would be a carefully negotiated situation if the vice president can go for a 2nd term or not. Remember, this should be “negotiated and not threatening.” Unfortunately, the country is going through this again. You threatened fire and brimstone in the case of Yaradua/Jonathan and now you are it again this time around.
Show us where it is written in the APC bylaws that the vice president would not succeed the president if the later is incapacitated. Show us that and convince Nigerians and the whole world of that. If you cannot convince us on that, then your whole argument is nonsensical and void.
Finally, here we go again…with what seems like a threat to the nation. “We shall resist every such plans and ensure by all means possible that the north complete its eight-year tenure and possibly even continue after that…” What a crock! What the hell is that supposed to mean? And I thought that you wanted to fight for what is right for the north? This is definitely not the way to go about it. By this type of rhetoric, all you want to do is to impede on the rights of others and deny other regions their rights. If a northern is elected to the office and he/she completes a 4-year or 8-year tenure, then another region will ascend…that includes west, southwest, southeast, south south, middle belt, etc. Your statement of “possibly even continue after then…” is nothing but a fantasy. You are intimidating anyone and you will not bully anyone to follow or agree with you…so please get that stupid idea out of your head. You’re doing yourself a deservice by towing this line. Please listen to the former head of state (Gen. Ibrahim B Babangida) in his recent speech. Nigeria as a united country (if there is such a thing) does not need people like you…you’re simply living in the colonial mentality. We need to move forward where Nigeria is for everyone, every region, north, south, east, and west.
Let us roll with that and enough of the threats. Thank you all and may God/Allah make us all light.
Cash Ezimako