RE: 2027 PRESIDENCY: AREWA GROUP CALLS ON JONATHAN TO SAVE NIGERIA
DISCLAIMER!
Amb. Abdul Danbature,
Speaker, Northern Youth Assembly for Good Governance
Our attention in the Arewa Youth Assembly for Good Governance and other sister organizations have been drawn to a fallacious calls by a purported group under the auspices of Arewa Consensus for Jonathan, inviting former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to contest the 2027 Presidential Election at a press conference said to have held in Bauchi State days ago. For the record, this so called group does not in any way represent the strong voice of Arewa Youths whatsoever. They are mere political jobbers whose primary concern is to stock their stomach at the expense of peace, progress, and development of the North. For a group to call on the former President to contest the 2027 election at this trying time when families are struggling for better life is nothing but a show of disconnection from our current realities.
There is no gainsaying the fact that we are not in electioneering season, as these calls are so premature. This is a period of governance, and as a group that we are concerned about the progress and development of our region, what we are after now is providing good leadership to our people in the North and other parts of Nigeria by government at all levels, regardless of party affiliations so that our people will enjoy the true dividends of democracy. This is our major concern at this point in time. And on this note, we keep close attention to government at all levels, monitoring the impact of government policies and decisions, and how they affect the lives and wellbeing of our people.
It is no longer news that security is one major concern bedevilling all parts of the North, especially the Northwest that is faced with banditry and the new territorist organization called “Lakarawas”, as well as the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast. These have been our nightmares and significant concerns – not ill-timed and premature politicking. As such, we are working to support the government and security agencies on how best to tackle these critical security problems so that our people will have a sense of security to pursue their normal lives.
In like manner, another concern is the need for our teeming youths to go to school and acquire sound education. This is one major concern in the North and we have been calling on the government to not only enhance school enrollment, but also promote the acquisition of sound education in a way that will prepare our teeming youth population for the challenges of the modern world. Yet, we call on the government to engage in robust empowerment programmes such as skills acquisition, grants and women digitnity kits distribution, among others. These will undoubtedly lead to raising responsible population, ultimately promoting economic integration and social stability.
Moreover, it is also our great concern to see that our farmers are greatly supported with tools and chemicals for bumper harvest at all times. Yet, we want to see that those who have lost their farmlands to insecurity are reintegrated back, as this will not only provide food security, but also create a sense of pride in our local farmers.
Meanwhile, for a so called Arewa group to think of the far-away 2027 general elections amidst these pressing concerns forced one to question if they are in touch with our realities on ground.
Although free speech and freedom of political association are recognized constitutional rights, but the rationale behind these calls is far from the sensibilities of our current realities. No doubt, these calls are characterized by non-patriotic dispositions. And are uncalled for!
Finally, we are calling on this so called Arewa group to swiftly retract their calls. We invite them to join us in the movement of rescuing our region from security challenges to create a sense of pride and confidence in every Northerner. In the meantime, when it is time to make our choice, the North and Nigeria will hear from us loud and clear, as our selection will be based on candidate’s credibility, competence and performance – which are under our close scrutiny over time.
