The Supreme Forum of Yoruba Youths (SFYY) has faulted an inflammatory and insulting statement credited to the president of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Shettima Yerima over who takes over the presidency in 2023.
In a statement by the SFYY National President, Comrade Femi Awogboro stated that the forum who is working assiduously to support the government of southwest region on tackling the spread of Corona Virus disease through community sensitization programmmes and possible local means to curb novel COVID-19 condemned the tribalistic statement from some jobless Arewa youths which is becoming unjustified as Nigerians team up in battling our common enemy, COVID-19.
The AYCF President, Shettima Yerima on Tuesday said that the North still wants the presidency in 2023 and will not cede power to South.
‘The South is in charge of the economy and they have everything, so why would they want to take away the only thing we have’ Yerima said.
According to Awogboro, the SFYY are mainly for progress of the South west region and oneness of Nigeria but statement credited to one Mr Yerima lacks integrity and sincerity in its entirety.
“It is high time Yerima realized that the strength of democracy lies in its inclusiveness,it is a form of government that gives power to all not a section of the country .So,any region that possesses megalomaniac traits is endangering the lofty ideals of democracy’ he said.
He stressed further to say that Arewa Consultative Forum statement displays arrogance and high level of selfishness and insincerity hence the need to remind Yerima and his group that this is Nigeria and not the feudal North.
“Any individual who is devising sordid means to be getting crumbs from greedy politicians, any jobless youth who wants to use politics as a means of ng wall of poverty should not use our multi-ethnic structure in a negative way to achieve that.
“The submission of Yerima clearly portrays him as a puppet, histrionic, and someone who wants to advance a course that notable northern leaders are dissociating themselves from.
“Nigeria is a developing country, this status gives anybody that really wants to grow the ample opportunities in different fields of human endeavors rather than thinking on how to become a political jobber and a willing tool in the hands of political Shylocks.
“As youths, we should eschew primordial and primitive tribal/regional sentiment, Nigeria needs a leader that can unite, build our economy, fight insecurity, reposition almajiri system, fight thuggery, and hooliganism. Hunger is rife in a major oil-producing country of ours, a leader that will take the mantle and guide us into achieving these should be our thematic preoccupation, not someone sitting in the comfort of his room advancing tribal/regional sentiment.
Awogboro on behalf of SFYY thereby asked Yerima to withdraw his statement and apologize for the interest of peace.