The Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum (NNYLF) has cautioned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore against using the detention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to advance their political ambitions.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the National President of the forum, Murtala Gamji, accused the duo of exploiting Kanu’s incarceration to score political points and destabilise the country.
Gamji said the group would not “stand by and watch desperate politicians use the ordeal of the Biafran activist as a chessboard to launch their political campaigns and set the country on fire.”
“Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has joined human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, in calling on the federal government to immediately release detained leader of the IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu,” he stated.
“We advise them to wait and allow due process to take its course in the ongoing terrorism trial of the IPOB leader,” he added.
The youth leader urged President Bola Tinubu not to be distracted by what he described as the “antics” of Atiku and Sowore, reaffirming the group’s support for the President and his administration.
“We are here to express our anger, dislike, and to show the whole world that we are not with desperate politicians in Nigeria using the detention of Nnamdi Kanu to cause tension in the country,” Gamji said.
He alleged that Atiku and Sowore were planning a rally to demand Kanu’s release, but insisted that Northern youths would not participate. “The former presidential candidate and owner of Sahara Reporters, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, and our father, the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, are coming to organise a rally to free Nnamdi Kanu,” he said. “We are not with them on this and we say no.”
Gamji further described the planned protest as a disguise for selfish political motives, warning that such actions could heighten divisions in the country.
“The greatest mistake they are making is that the day they are coming out is the day more than 63 million young, vibrant Northern youths will come out to plead with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to continue with his good work,” he said.
According to him, the group will hold a three-day solidarity rally in Abuja from October 20 to 23 to show support for President Tinubu’s administration.
He also cautioned Sowore against making inflammatory statements that could incite public unrest.
“We warn Sowore to be mindful of his actions and utterances that tend to incite people against the government,” Gamji concluded.‘Stop Using Kanu’s Detention for Political Gains’—Northern Youths Warn Atiku, Sowore
By Nafisat Abdulrahman
The Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum (NNYLF) has cautioned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore against using the detention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to advance their political ambitions.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the National President of the forum, Murtala Gamji, accused the duo of exploiting Kanu’s incarceration to score political points and destabilise the country.
Gamji said the group would not “stand by and watch desperate politicians use the ordeal of the Biafran activist as a chessboard to launch their political campaigns and set the country on fire.”
“Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has joined human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, in calling on the federal government to immediately release detained leader of the IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu,” he stated.
“We advise them to wait and allow due process to take its course in the ongoing terrorism trial of the IPOB leader,” he added.
The youth leader urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to be distracted by what he described as the “antics” of Atiku and Sowore, reaffirming the group’s support for the President and his administration.
“We are here to express our anger, dislike, and to show the whole world that we are not with desperate politicians in Nigeria using the detention of Nnamdi Kanu to cause tension in the country,” Gamji said.
He alleged that Atiku and Sowore were planning a rally to demand Kanu’s release, but insisted that Northern youths would not participate. “The former presidential candidate and owner of Sahara Reporters, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, and our father, the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, are coming to organise a rally to free Nnamdi Kanu,” he said. “We are not with them on this and we say no.”
Gamji further described the planned protest as a disguise for selfish political motives, warning that such actions could heighten divisions in the country.
“The greatest mistake they are making is that the day they are coming out is the day more than 63 million young, vibrant Northern youths will come out to plead with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to continue with his good work,” he said.
According to him, the group will hold a three-day solidarity rally in Abuja from October 20 to 23 to show support for President Tinubu’s administration.
He also cautioned Sowore against making inflammatory statements that could incite public unrest.
“We warn Sowore to be mindful of his actions and utterances that tend to incite people against the government,” Gamji concluded.
