The New Experience Newspapers Online News Indepth, Analysis and More
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has accused All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, of plotting against the 2023 presidential bid of the South East and vowed to resist the move.
In a statement yesterday by its Deputy President General and Secretary General, Comrade Obinna Achionye, and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, in Abakaliki, the Igbo youths alleged that the former governor of Lagos State had sealed a pact with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha on the matter.
They claimed that Tinubu facilitated Mustapha’s reappointment because of his fear that an Igbo man as SGF would stand between him and his ambition in 2023, adding that the Adamawa native had allegedly been penciled down as his running mate
However, a group, the United Northern Youth and Students (UNYS), yesterday endorsed the Lagos politician for the nation’s topmost job.
Its coordinator, Comrade Jabir Maiturare, told a news conference yesterday in Kaduna that Tinubu had contributed immensely to the north politically, particularly how he coordinated the South West to ensure President Muhammadu Buhari’s emergence in 2015 and his reelection in 2019.
The group also condemned the call by Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for the abolition of power rotation in the country.
The northern youths stated: “Let it be known that Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu has not declared to contest for any position yet, instead he is solidly behind President Muhammadu Buhari, giving him the necessary support.
“In any case, whenever he seeks to contest for any position, including the presidency in 2023, we are ready to give him our overwhelming support, and we therefore dissociate ourselves from such irresponsible act of some minority youths from the north.
“In the same vein, we wish to state categorically that Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai’s statement against the informal zoning arrangement in place is uncalled for and should not be given any seriousness because he speaks only for himself and not for the north.”
Also yesterday, the Secretary-General of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide, threw his weight behind a South West presidency, pledging to work for any interested candidate from the zone.
The elder statesman noted that there were many qualified Yoruba sons and daughters who could vie for the coveted seat.