There
are indications that the North is divided over having a former minister of the
Federal Capital Territory, Nasir el-Rufai, and an Action Congress of Nigeria
presidential candidate in 2011, Nuhu Ribadu, as presidential candidates of the
All Progressive Congress.
are indications that the North is divided over having a former minister of the
Federal Capital Territory, Nasir el-Rufai, and an Action Congress of Nigeria
presidential candidate in 2011, Nuhu Ribadu, as presidential candidates of the
All Progressive Congress.
Opposition parties – All Nigeria
Peoples Party, Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change and
the All Progressive Grand Alliance – which recently announced their merger to
form APC, were said to have preferred younger candidates, with el-Rufai and
Ribadu in their consideration.
Peoples Party, Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change and
the All Progressive Grand Alliance – which recently announced their merger to
form APC, were said to have preferred younger candidates, with el-Rufai and
Ribadu in their consideration.
A member of the CPC, who recently
spoke with SUNDAY PUNCH, had said,
“We are working on a plan B. If Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) does not contest,
the party will shift attention to younger candidates.
spoke with SUNDAY PUNCH, had said,
“We are working on a plan B. If Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) does not contest,
the party will shift attention to younger candidates.
“Our search will be extended to
non-politicians, including young technocrats from the North. El-Rufai and
Ribadu will be among the pool of candidates who will be screened.”
non-politicians, including young technocrats from the North. El-Rufai and
Ribadu will be among the pool of candidates who will be screened.”
The Arewa Youth Forum has however said
youth support for the duo might not be automatic, noting that that both Ribadu
and el-Rufai were far from events at the grass roots.
youth support for the duo might not be automatic, noting that that both Ribadu
and el-Rufai were far from events at the grass roots.
National President, AYF, Mr. Yerima
Shettima, told our correspondent in an interview that, “the two have a lot of
work to do because they are not in touch with the reality in the North. Neither
Ribadu nor el-Rufai is in touch with the youth in the northern part of the
country.
Shettima, told our correspondent in an interview that, “the two have a lot of
work to do because they are not in touch with the reality in the North. Neither
Ribadu nor el-Rufai is in touch with the youth in the northern part of the
country.
“They live all their lives in the
capitalist world; they are not in touch with the reality of things. It’ll take
them a lot of time to build the confidence of the youth in the northern part of
the country.
capitalist world; they are not in touch with the reality of things. It’ll take
them a lot of time to build the confidence of the youth in the northern part of
the country.
According to the group, el-Rufai and
Ribadu are far from the grassroots. “Neither el-Rufai nor Ribadu has done
anything meaningful to the well-being of northern youth. As far as I am
concerned, they are not popular. They are only known at the national level by
the elite and they make their contributions within the confinement of the
elitist setting.
Ribadu are far from the grassroots. “Neither el-Rufai nor Ribadu has done
anything meaningful to the well-being of northern youth. As far as I am
concerned, they are not popular. They are only known at the national level by
the elite and they make their contributions within the confinement of the
elitist setting.
“When it comes to the grass roots
level, coupled with the situation of northern youths, I don’t think they have
much to say. It is a process; I will not conclude that they won’t have the
support of northern youth but they need a lot of work; they need to face the
realities on the ground,” Shettma added.
level, coupled with the situation of northern youths, I don’t think they have
much to say. It is a process; I will not conclude that they won’t have the
support of northern youth but they need a lot of work; they need to face the
realities on the ground,” Shettma added.
However, The North’s apex body, Arewa
Consultative Forum, the youth should share in the blame of misrule of Nigeria.
Consultative Forum, the youth should share in the blame of misrule of Nigeria.
The forum said the youth had continued
to blame older politicians for the nation’s woes, while feigning ignorance of
the fact that most past leaders ruled the country when they were under 50 years
old.
to blame older politicians for the nation’s woes, while feigning ignorance of
the fact that most past leaders ruled the country when they were under 50 years
old.
National Publicity Secretary of the
forum, Anthony Sani, told our correspondent that there was no correlation
between good leadership and age.
forum, Anthony Sani, told our correspondent that there was no correlation
between good leadership and age.
He said, “You may wish to know that
the youth are part of the problem. This is because they are more in number and
so are in position to produce leaders of their choice for the country in a
democracy.
the youth are part of the problem. This is because they are more in number and
so are in position to produce leaders of their choice for the country in a
democracy.
“Yet, they are the ones who snatch
ballot boxes, who thump print ballot papers and who change results.
Consequently, feckless leaders emerge. We cannot forget the truism that when
people do not make judicious use of their democratic rights to elect leaders of
their choice, they get the leadership they deserve.”
ballot boxes, who thump print ballot papers and who change results.
Consequently, feckless leaders emerge. We cannot forget the truism that when
people do not make judicious use of their democratic rights to elect leaders of
their choice, they get the leadership they deserve.”
Source:
Punch
Punch
