Akpabio Fighting North, Says Arewa Group

The Arewa Youth Assembly For Good Leadership (AYAGL) has averred that putting into perspective the former and recent actions of the Senate President Godswill Akpabio against Northern Senators, it is crystal clear that the Senate President has something against the northern region, hence fighting the North directly and indirectly.

AYAGL also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call him to order

in the interest of justice, harmony and peace, and posited that “For us as Northern Youths, we feel Akpabio is fighting the entire Northern region and would want to silence all the notable voices from the region who are critical of his high handedness and sectional politics”.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, the speaker of the AYAGL, Ambassador Abdul Danbature reiterated that, “going by what has happened under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio, we believe Akpabio is fighting the North directly or indirectly. Our reasons for this belief are not farfetched. The perfunctory suspension of distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti recently has reinforced our beliefs that Akpabio is fighting the North”.

The youth group queried’ “What has Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduanghan done to warrant her suspension from legislative duties for 6 months, what has she done to warrant her change of seat? What has she done to warrant her removal as Senate Committee Chairman on Local Content and above all, what has Northern women done for continued harassment?

“What has Northern Nigeria done against Senator Akpabio to stop a motion moved by Senator Natasha on the NLNG gas pipeline project to Northern Nigeria? A lot of questions are begging for answers, and we hope Senator Akpabio will provide answers.

“Northern Nigeria deserves more than what it is getting from Akpabio as Senate President. Without the overwhelming support of our Senators from the North, Akpabio wouldn’t be sitting as Senate President today. He must stop the victimisation of Senators from the North. He must stop his selective justice. He should realise that power, position and influence are ephemeral.

“Since Godswill Akpabio’s emergence as the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there has been one drama after another, and as discerning Northern Nigerian youth, we are gradually coming to the conclusion that Akpabio has an axe to grind with some section of the country, especially the North.

“As Youth who constitute the bulk of the population of Northern Nigeria, we have unanimously resolved to lend our voice in condemnation of the mistreatment and maltreatment Northern Nigeria Senators have been subjected to under the leadership of Akpabio.

We have endured and tolerated Akpabio beyond limit and now it is time to speak out. We have realised our Senators from the North are afraid to call a spade a spade because of fear of witch hunting and suspension from the Senate,” he said.

Danbature further said that Senator Akpabio must stop relegating the North, stressing that “He must stop his anti-North policy. Let Akpabio quickly recall Senator Natasha Akpoti in the interest of justice; otherwise, posterity will remember him harshly.”