In advance of the general elections in 2023, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) declared that Nigeria does not belong to the North.
Perhaps in response to a recent interview given by Alh Sani Zango Daura, a member of the Northern Elders Forum, in which he urged the North to back a Northern candidate.
In a statement made by its National President, Yerima Shettima, the AYCF highlighted that backing a southerner was unquestionably a sign of fairness.
Insisting that “even on moral grounds, the most responsible political action by the North was the decision on powershift in 2023, because the Presidency cannot be hereditary and Nigeria does not belong to Muslims or Christians of the North alone,” he noted that this was because Nigeria does not belong to the North alone, or to Muslims and Christians of the North.
But Shettima continued, “a little balancing was needed in position of our father Zangon Daura, especially when he admitted that the elders are merely escorts for the younger generation today.” Shettima claimed that the elder was only expressing his personal opinion and not the position of the North generally.
The AYCF stated that 13 Northern governors, led by Kaduna State Governor Mal Nasir El-rufai, consistently claimed political fairness in support of a Southern candidate for the 2023 presidency.
“Even though we do not officially belong to the APC, we agreed that the decision was in keeping with treating the South fairly in 2023
“Like our father Zangon Daura, we are aware that the North is valued for keeping its commitments to the South and for this one unmistakable trait shared by all Northerners.
Our son, President Muhammadu Buhari, never voiced opposition to the concept of a Southern presidential candidate in the ruling party since we are not known for breaking commitments, which explains why. Promises are sacred and actually part of the culture of the North, as our father Zangon Daura is aware.
As may be noted, Alhaji Zangon Daura recommended to a group of youths in a now-famous audio clip that they support a fellow Northerner running for president in 2023 by invoking historical and religious precedents, which the AYCF claimed it considered was inappropriate.
