Northern Youths Seek Elders’ Intervention Over Alleged Marginalisation By Seyi Tinubu

Northern youth leaders have called on elders and political leaders from the region serving in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene over what they described as the alleged marginalisation and exclusion of Arewa youths from leadership positions and decision-making processes.

The call was made in a statement on Saturday following a joint stakeholders’ meeting involving leaders of the Northern Youth Solidarity for Good Governance, Arewa Youth Assembly and Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum.

The meeting was convened to address what the groups described as growing concerns over the alleged exclusion of northern youths from leadership opportunities in youth-related organisations and political mobilisation structures ahead of the 2027 general election.

The youth leaders alleged that Seyi Tinubu, son of the President, was deliberately and systematically blocking northern youths from accessing leadership opportunities in youth-related organisations.

President of the Arewa Youth Assembly, Ambassador Abdul Garba Danbature, urged the Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum to establish a high-powered youth leaders’ consultation committee to engage northern elders and Arewa leaders serving in the Tinubu administration.

Danbature identified Vice President Kashim Shettima, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, among others, as leaders who could help address the concerns.

He said the alleged exclusion of northern youths from leadership positions in ruling party affairs, government, student affairs and other youth-related organisations required urgent intervention.

Also speaking, Secretary-General of the Arewa Youth Solidarity for Good Governance, Hon. Iliya Baban Yawo, alleged that Seyi Tinubu was pushing for the involvement of only two youth movements in the APC’s 2027 mobilisation activities.

He identified the groups as the City Boy Movement and the Relax, Tinubu is Fixing Nigeria Movement, which he described as being led by Seyi Tinubu’s associates.

Baban Yawo argued that northern APC support groups should not be compelled to operate under the two organisations, saying the region should have an independent structure for mobilising support for President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.

He commended the Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum for directing northern youths to resign from appointments allegedly given to them by the two groups.

According to him, northern youths had been campaigning for greater representation in the Tinubu administration, including the appointment of a Minister of State for Youth Development.

He said the campaign was aimed at ensuring that northern youths were adequately represented in government alongside youths from other parts of the country.

Baban Yawo further alleged that Seyi Tinubu influenced the appointment of individuals from the South-West to some youth-related positions, including the APC National Youth Leader, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Affairs and leadership positions within the National Youth Council of Nigeria.

He alleged that the development had resulted in the exclusion of northern youths from opportunities to lead major youth organisations.

Baban Yawo said the alleged pattern of exclusion was unacceptable, particularly ahead of the 2027 election, when youths would constitute an important constituency for political mobilisation.

He also alleged that the City Boy Movement operated a structure that favoured Yoruba-speaking members, a claim he said had generated dissatisfaction among some northern youths.

He questioned how a movement seeking national political relevance could operate in a manner that, according to him, allegedly favoured one ethnic group.
Baban Yawo appealed to President Tinubu to address the allegations and ensure equitable access to political opportunities for youths across the country.

He also warned that perceived discrimination against northern youths could have political consequences for the administration if not addressed before the 2027 general election.

Responding, the leadership of the Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum, represented by Hon. Haruna Sardauna, called for unity among northern youth organisations in addressing the concerns.

Sardauna directed the Forum’s Organising Secretary, Hon. Bello Shehu Funtua, to constitute a high-powered engagement committee to consult northern elders and political stakeholders over the allegations.

He said the Forum had received reports and data from APC support group leaders in the North-Central through Mallam Idiriss Jibrin, while similar consultations were ongoing in the North-East and North-West.

Sardauna said the Forum would work towards ensuring that northern support groups maintained independent structures in their mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 election.

He stressed that the objective was to ensure fairness, equal representation and inclusion of northern youths in political and governmental affairs.

He called on northern elders and leaders serving in the Federal Government to urgently intervene, saying greater inclusion of young people from the region would strengthen political participation, national unity and the political prospects of the region ahead of the 2027 elections.