From: Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
A group, Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), on Thirsday, declared ‘war’ on any group, individuals or cabal working to hinder Acting President Yemi Osinbajo from functioning as as a substantive president if President Muhammadu Buhari eventually resigns or declared unfit to rule.
The Forum said though it had prayed fervently for the full recovery of President Buhari for him to return and complete his tenure, it maintained that “Osinbajo remained unstoppable by any group from making progress according to the constitutional provision, even if the circumstances turned otherwise”.
NYFL, led by the national chairman, Pastor Elliot Afiyo, gave this declaration during a press conference, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Afiyo, who informed journalists that the group was in the state to hold a meeting with some opinion leaders and interest groups on the direction towards 2019, however, expressed worry over a media report, alleging a meeting in Saudi Arabia where some cabal discussed how to stop Osinbajo from becoming a President if circumstances compelled the need on the country.
Flanked by the political secretary and woman leader of the Forum, Abubakar Tijani and Hassana Iliya respectively, Afiyo said, “Nigeria and Nigerians have reached a stage where a group of few and selfish individuals should no longer be allowed to determine their destiny”.
“We want to state that no individual or cabal can stop Prof. Yemi Osinbajo from becoming substantive president if President Muhammadu Buhari resigns or declared unfit to continue in office.
“It is our sincere prayer that President Buhari recovers and completes his term in office. Osinbajo is unstoppable by any group, no matter how powerful or connected the group may be”. He stated.
The NYFL national president, who said the group would not support Buhari if he decides to contest for the same seat in 2019 adding his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) had failed to deliver on its promises.
” Even if Buhari recovers and he decides on his own to contest we will not support him. The reason is because we entered into an agreement with him on the fight against corruption and he agreed to pursue it. That was why it took him almost a year to bring out a list of his cabinet. The list that was presented contained all corrupt people and he told us. He eventually appointed people who were allegedly indicted by security reports of corruption.
“He is surrounded by corrupt people and non-progressive elements. We voted for Buhari on our agreement to tackle corruption and not for All Progressives Congress (APC).
” In fact, the worst Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is better than the best of APC.
“The time has come that Nigerians must use the broom to sweep out the APC. We all voted for Buhari not APC because we knew that APC had nothing to offer Nigerians apart from classical corruption and propaganda,” Afiyo submitted.