January 02, (THEWILL) – The Arewa Youths Coalition for Peace and Political Development and the Northern Elders Progressive Group, have faulted the recent allegations made by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the Military Head of Niger Republic, against Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of conniving with France to destabilise his country.
The Coalition in a communiqué issued at the end of its 8th joint meeting, regarded the allegations as “unguarded utterances, lacking decorum and unpresidential”.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the convener, Hon Yusuf Abubakar, and representatives of Youths Group, Alhaji Yasir Ramadan Kano and Northern Elders Progressive Group, Engr Mustafa Aliyu Dutsin-Ma.
The coalition said General Tchiani’s views are baseless and capable of overheating the polity in Nigeria.
“Our stance on this saga is total support and endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, especially with his giant strides of positive development, ensuring political unity, security and restoration of peace in our troubled northwest zone.
“We call on the President of the Niger Republic to tender an immediate apology to Nigeria and stop creating the tension of disunity between the two-brotherly nations that have a common historical understanding, unity and regard for each other decades ago.”
The Coalition, however, cautioned some groups hiding under ulterior motives to “refrain from fanning embers of hatred, considering its consequences for our collective survival as a people and nation in general”.
It commended Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser to President Tinubu, on his ceaseless efforts towards ensuring security and peace across the country, particularly through kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.
“These have led to improved stability and security in some of the deserted areas, due to constant attacks and insecurity challenges.”
The Coalition called on the Security Adviser to use his good office and bring an end to bandit kingpin, Bello Turji’s nefarious reign of terror in Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina states.
While commending the efforts of the Federal government towards sustaining the fight against insecurity, it urged political leaders who are of the northern extraction to come together and bring lasting solutions to the numerous challenges facing the region.
“Unarguably, the development has retarded our collective progress, unity, cohesion and development; because unity, peace and development of our dear North must be non-negotiable and sacrosanct to ensure cohesion and political understanding amongst all Nigerians”, the Coalition added.
It also appealed to clerics to stop creating unnecessary tension as a result of their unguarded utterances which are capable of inciting and destroying the peace of others.
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
