2015: Northern youths disown rebel govs

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum has disowned the Peoples Democratic Party rebel governors, who have been opposing President Goodluck Jonathan, with the aim of clinching the 2015 Presidency. The group said northern youths were not in support of the governors – Governor Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Governor Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Governor Musa Kwankawso (Kano), Governor Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) — saying they had failed in their various states and were not seeking for the Presidency in the interest of the people. In an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, the President of the group, Mr. Yerima Shettima, said the governors were only fighting for self-preservation, seeking to remain relevant in politics when their tenures as governors expire. He said, “The fact is that the northern governors, who are fighting Jonathan for the Presidency, are not fighting for the interest of the average northerner. What have they delivered to the people as governors? The answer is nothing. They are only fighting to position themselves well so that they don’t fall victim of the system when they finish their tenure as governors. They don’t want to account for the things they failed to do in office, because they have not done anything as governors.” Shettima said apart from massive corruption, there was nothing else that can be said about their administrations. He added that the average northerner was not interested in where the President comes from, provided he derives benefits from government. He said, “The problem of the average northern man is not where the President comes from, whether from the North or the South. What they want is a government that will provide dividends of governance; give them free education, ensure that they have food on their tables. It doesn’t matter if the person is a Christian, Muslim, pagan or idol worshipper, nobody cares. If we find a better alternative somewhere, other than the North, we will mobilise and support the person.”