- Describes Such Agitations as Reactionary.
From Cyril Mbah, Abuja
Northern youth leaders have strongly opposed agitations for the resignation of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, describing those calling for his removal as impostors and detractors.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday afternoon, leaders of the Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum (NNYLF), a political pressure group, denounced the two-week deadline issued to the APC National Chairman to resign or face series of nationwide mass protests by youths.
The National Coordinator of the NNYLF, Mallam Murtala Mohammed Gamji, said the group has nothing to do with the threats and did not authorise the planned protests pointing out that those campaigning for the exit of Yilwatda are not APC members and do not have the authority to engage in such agitations.
According to Gamji, “the individuals calling on our National Chairman to resign are not even members of APC. One of them, known as Prince Momoh, is not a member of APC. We schooled together in ABU Zaria. He is from Auchi, Edo State. He’s a member of the PDP, and they have even sanctioned him in Auchi PDP circles. So, we don’t know his link or his concern and interests in the APC.”
The Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum (NNYLF) members distanced themselves from the resignation threat and warned that any protests will be met with counter demonstrations.
He said, “The National Chairman is a democrat and can not stop any governor from joining the APC. The governor himself admitted publicly that he is under pressure to join APC. Nobody is stopping him.”
The NNYLF also dismissed recent calls urging President Tinubu to investigate and replace the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, stating that those responsible for the agitation are anti-democratic.
Earlier on Friday, a support group of the ruling APC known as the All Progressives Congress Youth Solidarity Network (APC-YSN) led by Comrade Danesi Momoh, issued a two-week ultimatum asking Prof. Nentawe to resign or face nationwide protests from youths.
Comrade Danesi Momoh, who is the National Coordinator of the group, alleged, in a statement that Prof. Yilwatda has failed in the leadership of the APC adding that the party has lost popularity and vibrancy under his watch to the point that this might affect the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second tenure in office.
