Northern youths to Yerima, Others: Stop disparaging our leaders

A group of northern youths under the auspices of Arewa Youth
Grand Alliance Tuesday alleged that the leader of the Northern
group issuing quite notice to Igbos to leave the north of
disparaging the traditional institution and political leaders in
the north, accusing them of trying to set the country “ablaze”.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja and signed by
the National President of the group, Alhaji Inuwa Idris said after
running out of ideas and support from the north, Yerima Shettima
who issued the quite notice to Igbos has resorted to sponsoring
people to disparage those spoke against his threat.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn a report
credited to one Abdullahi Marusa claiming to be the Secretary
General of Katsina State Progressive Youth Alliance who spat on the
revered Katsina Emirate by disparaging His Royal Highness, Alhaji
Abdulmumin Usman and two prominent northern leaders; former Vice
President Atiku Abubakar and Dr Usman Bugaje calling them
“political opportunists.”

“The outburst of this young man is to say the least incredibly
callous, ridiculous and uncharitable, unbecoming of Northern
tradition where the youth hold leaders and constituted authority in
high esteem.

“It is even more disturbing to note that the young man who
signed the press statement was only a puppet in the hands of
fame-seekers like Nastura Ashir Sharif and Yarima Shattema – who
have since lost grip on their ill-fated “quit notice” to Igbos in
the north and are now running helter-skelter blackmailing
well-meaning northerners into silence despite the looming danger
their infamous action portends to the continuous corporate
existence of Nigeria.

“We wish to reiterate to Mr. Nastura Ashir Sharif and his
cohorts that they lack requisite moral ground to speak for and on
behalf of the north because Sharif, an immigrant, who has Nigeria
as his second home cannot be allowed to set our dear country ablaze
simply because he has another country to run back to.

“While we caution Yarima Shattema (The Lagos Boy) to stop his
brigandage attack on our leaders forthwith because in a short
while, we will open up his dossier to the world.

“We remind the duo of Sharif and Yarima to note that by whatever
standard, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who has been Vice President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria and Dr Usman Bugaje a respected
academic and political leader deserve respect and courtesy in
keeping with the cherished tradition and culture of the North.
There is no community on earth that is built on disrespect to
leaders and elders.

“As youth, we must be careful that we do not cultivate a culture
of destruction and disrespect for our community value. The antics
of resorting to blackmailing some northern notables into submission
are not going to work.

“Many from other regions have tried it on many Northern leaders
since pre-school, during and post-independence and all failed. If
Sharif and his foot soldiers are willing cannon fodder in the hands
of such enemies of Arewa to be used to destabilise the region, we
make bold to say they will fail as we will resist them.

As young people, if tomorrow you assume position of leadership,
how would you want to be treated?

A group of northern youths under the auspices of Arewa Youth
Grand Alliance Tuesday alleged that the leader of the Northern
group issuing quite notice to Igbos to leave the north of
disparaging the traditional institution and political leaders in
the north, accusing them of trying to set the country
“ablaze”.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja and signed by
the National President of the group, Alhaji Inuwa Idris said after
running out of ideas and support from the north, Yerima Shettima
who issued the quite notice to Igbos has resorted to sponsoring
people to disparage those spoke against his threat.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn a report
credited to one Abdullahi Marusa claiming to be the Secretary
General of Katsina State Progressive Youth Alliance who spat on the
revered Katsina Emirate by disparaging His Royal Highness, Alhaji
Abdulmumin Usman and two prominent northern leaders; former Vice
President Atiku Abubakar and Dr Usman Bugaje calling them
“political opportunists.”

“The outburst of this young man is to say the least incredibly
callous, ridiculous and uncharitable, unbecoming of Northern
tradition where the youth hold leaders and constituted authority in
high esteem.

“It is even more disturbing to note that the young man who
signed the press statement was only a puppet in the hands of
fame-seekers like Nastura Ashir Sharif and Yarima Shattema – who
have since lost grip on their ill-fated “quit notice” to Igbos in
the north and are now running helter-skelter blackmailing
well-meaning northerners into silence despite the looming danger
their infamous action portends to the continuous corporate
existence of Nigeria.

“We wish to reiterate to Mr. Nastura Ashir Sharif and his
cohorts that they lack requisite moral ground to speak for and on
behalf of the north because Sharif, an immigrant, who has Nigeria
as his second home cannot be allowed to set our dear country ablaze
simply because he has another country to run back to.

“While we caution Yarima Shattema (The Lagos Boy) to stop his
brigandage attack on our leaders forthwith because in a short
while, we will open up his dossier to the world.

“We remind the duo of Sharif and Yarima to note that by whatever
standard, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who has been Vice President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria and Dr Usman Bugaje a respected
academic and political leader deserve respect and courtesy in
keeping with the cherished tradition and culture of the North.
There is no community on earth that is built on disrespect to
leaders and elders.

“As youth, we must be careful that we do not cultivate a culture
of destruction and disrespect for our community value. The antics
of resorting to blackmailing some northern notables into submission
are not going to work.

“Many from other regions have tried it on many Northern leaders
since pre-school, during and post-independence and all failed. If
Sharif and his foot soldiers are willing cannon fodder in the hands
of such enemies of Arewa to be used to destabilise the region, we
make bold to say they will fail as we will resist them.

As young people, if tomorrow you assume position of leadership,
how would you want to be treated?