Northern youth leaders have called on elders and political leaders from the region serving in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene over what they described as the alleged marginalisation and exclusion of Arewa youths from leadership positions and decision-making processes.
The call was made in a statement on Saturday following a joint stakeholders’ meeting involving leaders of the Northern Youth Solidarity for Good Governance, Arewa Youth Assembly and Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum.
The meeting was convened to address what the groups described as growing concerns over the alleged exclusion of northern youths from leadership opportunities in youth-related organisations and political mobilisation structures ahead of the 2027 general election.
The youth leaders alleged that Seyi Tinubu, son of the President, was deliberately and systematically blocking northern youths from accessing leadership opportunities in youth-related organisations.
President of the Arewa Youth Assembly, Ambassador Abdul Garba Danbature, urged the Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum to establish a high-powered youth leaders’ consultation committee to engage northern elders and Arewa leaders serving in the Tinubu administration.
Danbature identified Vice President Kashim Shettima, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, among others, as leaders who could help address the concerns.
He said the alleged exclusion of northern youths from leadership positions in ruling party affairs, government, student affairs and other youth-related organisations required urgent intervention.
Also speaking, Secretary-General of the Arewa Youth Solidarity for Good Governance, Hon. Iliya Baban Yawo, alleged that Seyi Tinubu was pushing for the involvement of only two youth movements in the APC’s 2027 mobilisation activities.
He identified the groups as the City Boy Movement and the Relax, Tinubu is Fixing Nigeria Movement, which he described as being led by Seyi Tinubu’s associates.
Baban Yawo argued that northern APC support groups should not be compelled to operate under the two organisations, saying the region should have an independent structure for mobilising support for President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.
He commended the Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum for directing northern youths to resign from appointments allegedly given to them by the two groups.
