Yobe Youths Knock Peers Over Purchase Of Guber Form For Lawan

A group of youths in Yobe State has criticised some of their peers for allegedly purchasing the governorship nomination form for former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, insisting that he “does not deserve it.”

Several youths across the state, including those from Zone C, which Lawan represents in the National Assembly, argued that the senator has not delivered meaningful development to the state despite his many years in public office.

Lawan, who has represented Zone C, including Bade, Jakusko, Karasuwa, Nguru, Machina, and Yusufari since 1999, served as Senate President from 11 June 2019 to 11 June 2023.

Reacting to reports that a group of youths, commonly known as “Ahmed Lawan boys”, contributed about N188 million to buy the form, a youth political analyst, Abdullahi Mohammed Almajir, dismissed the claim as implausible.

He claimed that the group could not have raised the funds, insisting instead that the money probably came from Lawan himself. According to him, the contributors lacked the financial capacity to amass such an amount, which he said was “not even enough to match the value of the car driven by the senator’s son.”

Almajir challenged the group to identify specific developmental achievements by Lawan, even within a single local government area. He added that if the money truly belonged to them, it would have been better spent on addressing urgent needs such as access to clean drinking water, noting that many communities continue to suffer from waterborne diseases, including blindness and kidney-related ailments.

Also speaking, a Damaturu-based youth leader, Mustapha Musa, cautioned young people against allowing themselves to be used by politicians who only engage them during election periods.
“As the 2027 general elections draw near, we must carefully evaluate those seeking elective offices, particularly the governorship,” he said. “We need to support candidates who have shown genuine dedication to the development of the state, beyond sectional, political, or religious considerations.”

As political activities in the state intensify, various groups, including youths, women, elders, and political stakeholders, are said to be mobilising to shape the future leadership of Yobe State. Many are advocating for a candidate capable of sustaining the development strides of the current administration under Mai Mala Buni, who is set to complete his constitutionally allowed two terms in office.