Planned protest: Northern youth leaders pull out, give reason

The Coalition of Northern Youths Leaders Forum has formally announced its decision to pull out of planned protests by the youths across the country.

The Coalition said as the initiators of the protest, they have observed that some politicians and hoodlums have concluded plans to hijack the protest for personal gains and create chaos in the country.

The National President of the Coalition, Comrade Murtala Mohammed (Gamji), while addressing journalists on Monday in Abuja, called on the government to arrest any youth using the name of Arewa youth to protest.

He said as it stands, the Coalition is no longer part of any plan to protest against the government, as he cited some developmental projects the government has embarked on aimed at addressing current hardships.

While acknowledging that there is hardship in the country, Mohammed highlighted the efforts made by the present government to address the situation.

He said the recent local government autonomy and the creation of the Livestock Development Ministry are some of the efforts the government is making to reposition the country and create jobs for the youth.

“The Northern Youths Leaders forum wishes to dissociate its members and the entire youths of northern Nigeria from the planned protest against the Federal Government of Nigeria by some disgruntled elements who do not mean well for the country base on our finding it discovered many reliable information that the groups of people involved in the process of airing our opinions have different opinions such as sinister motives to cause mayhem and economic sabotage by blocking federal roads in Jos, Kaduna, and federal capital thereby increasing the hardships faced by the ordinary people.

“Northern Youths leaders forums appreciate the fact that there is hardship in the land, but at the same time, acknowledge the effort of the government in tackling them, e.g the recently granted local government autonomy which will tale government to the grassroots, and the creation of a livestock ministry which is one of the most important aspects needed over time which will solve the centuries-old farmers-herders crises.

“While we encourage the government to do more to improve the lives of citizens, we stoutly oppose any form of protest or demonstrations across northern Nigeria which will be hijacked by hoodlums to achieve the sinister motive of evil-minded people and enemies of Nigeria,” he said.