By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA: In a stinging rebuke of northern political manoeuvres, Director General, Tinubu Support Group TSG, Dr Tanko Yakasai, has warned that it is morally inconsistent for northern leaders to have fought for a Southern exit in 2011 and 2015 only to now challenge President Bola Tinubu’s right to a full eight-year tenure.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday when northern youth leaders recommitted themselves to a southern presidency, Yakasai described recent opposition moves by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai as “selfish” and a threat to national equity.
Yakasai drew a direct historical line to the 2011 elections, recalling how the North insisted on a power shift to complete the eight years of late President Umar Yar’Adua. He also recalled the demands of the North in 2015 after the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan, arguing that the North, having enjoyed eight uninterrupted years under Muhammadu Buhari, must now honour the same principle for the South.
“The North felt justified to demand eight years to balance the equation after Obasanjo. It is only natural law that we allow President Tinubu to also exercise an uninterrupted eight years. You cannot bring an agreement that says justice must be served for your people in 2015, and then ignore that same justice for others in 2027,” he added.
Yakasai further reminded the region that former President Buhari only ascended to power after three failed attempts because of his strategic alliance with Tinubu.
“He [Tinubu] brought the resources and the people of the South. He was a partner, not a contractor, and he gave Buhari a free hand for eight years. Who among these challengers has that kind of patience?” Yakasai queried.
At the event, northern youth leaders under the aegis of Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum NNYLF formally endorsed President Tinubu for a second term, grounding their support in the principle of regional equity and national stability.
Representing grassroots mobilizers and professionals from across all 19 Northern states, the forum presented a N200 million cheque intended for the purchase of the President’s 2027 nomination forms under the APC.
In a communiqué signed by National Leader, Murtala Muhammad Garba and Director of Operations, Dr. Agbana John, the youths cited the need for “policy continuity” and “reform consolidation” under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The youth leaders were unanimous in their criticisms of prominent Northern figures reportedly eyeing the presidency.
On Atiku and El-Rufai: Yakasai stated, “If Atiku wants to contest, he is being selfish. If El-Rufai wants to contest, he is being selfish. An average Nigerian who supports justice knows there is no justification to move power back to the North yet.
“We are for justice and progress,” Yakasai concluded. “Nobody should blackmail us or attempt to undermine our credibility. We supported justice for the North in 2015, and we stand for justice for all Nigerians today.”
On national stability, the NNYLF warned that their endorsement is a move to “dampen early regional tensions” and ensure that the North remains a region of its word.
As part of their resolutions, the youth leaders launched the “Renewed Hope Ambassadors,” a strategic network designed to bridge the gap between the Presidency and the Northern grassroots.
The initiative aims to focus on leadership development and peacebuilding while demanding that young professionals be given a seat at the table in policy-making.
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