By Adeleye Kunle
The Coalition of Arewa Youths for Peace and National Development (COAYPANU) has dropped Senator Kashim Shettima, the Vice Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as its patron.
According to Track News, the group announced this in a statement issued on Sunday by its National President, Alhaji Mohammed Gwadabe.
Gwadabe stated that Shettima was removed because of his controversial comment about the capacity of the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 Presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
He stated that the former Borno governor’s removal was effective immediately and that his statement was inconsistent with the group’s values.
Remember that Shettima said last week that Obi would make a better president in Igboland than a Nigerian president.
“The presidency is not for the unprepared, nor is it an open invitation,” he said. Peter Obi can only become President of Igboland and not of Nigeria. Nigeria is far too large for him to manage.
“He lacks the leadership ideology and experience of President Muhammadu Buhari and our incoming President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Gwadabe responded by condemning Shettima’s remark about Obi’s competence, calling it provocative and perceived bigotry.
He also urged Nigerians to reject politicians who promote bigotry and other tendencies that endanger the country’s peace and unity.
Gwadabe stated that Shettima’s statement against Peter Obi and the Igbo presidency is his personal opinion, not the organization’s.
“Considering the weight of our patron, Alhajji Kashim Shettima’s provocative,divisive, and reckless statement, which is contrary to the spirit of unity we stand for, and following consultations from members across the 19 states of Northern Nigeria, and approval from the National Executive Committee in our emergency congress held, we, by this statement, announced the immediate removal of the APC Vice Presidential candidate as our patron.”
“We are ashamed to be associated with someone of Shettima’s stature who, despite being governor of his native Borno State for two consecutive terms, still does not understand that Nigeria is for everyone, regardless of tribe, religion, or cultural background.”
“The reckless and retrogressive statement he made against Peter Obi and the Igbo presidency is his personal opinion, not the opinion of our organization, of which he was a patron at the time of the provocative statement.”
“The era in which Arewa youths simply accepted whatever choices or decisions the APC made is long gone, and this must not be overlooked.”
“From now on, Northern youths who are distinguished in every way will vote on character and competence, leaving tribe and religion in the dust, in elections that will determine their future.”
“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians, particularly our youth and Northern elites, to condemn – in the strongest possible terms – this unpatriotic statement capable of igniting ethnic tensions in an already-charged polity.”
“We believe that such blatant bigotry should not be tolerated in a decent society like ours, which is multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and secular in nature.”
“As a demonstration of our zero tolerance for rascality and chauvinism in any form, we have removed Senator Kashim Shettima as our patron.”
“We are aware that, as youths from the Northern region, we are undoubtedly on the receiving end of the nation’s insecurity, with its attendant deaths, destruction, and hunger.”
“In fact, there is hardly any peaceful part of the North today, as insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping have become second nature.”
“May we, therefore, use this opportunity to challenge our leaders to avoid bitterness in their pursuit of political power, knowing that as a fragile nation, all efforts must be directed toward Nigeria’s stability and peace.”
This article first appeared on Track News.
