The Northern Youths Conscience has blasted a faceless group that took a dig at President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other APC members over Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid.
In a statement issued on Friday by the group’s director of media and publicity, Comrade Ibrahim Muazzam, said the comments made against the President and his deputy was unacceptable.
“The attention of Northern Youth Conscience (NYC) has been drawn to a story published by an online medium and credited to the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum,” the statement read.
“The so-called Forum in a statement by one Mr. Shettima made vague attempts to accuse the President and Vice President of not backing the APC presidential candidate, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He also alleged conspicuously that the VP is even holding grudges.
“In as much as the NYC views clout-seeking Shettima as another mole in the APC ranks, planted to cause disaffection especially within the North bloc, his comments should be treated as a mere distraction from the business of the day and task at hand undeserving of the attention of any serious minded individual or group. It is however pertinent to clear any doubts that may have been created by his concocted lies, illusions and misconceptions.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has proven, over the years, to be a complete gentleman, a dependable friend, ally and above all, a man of unquestionable integrity.
“Regardless of his differing political views with BAT, Prof. Osinbajo has always demonstrated his loyalty to his friends and associates and has done same with BAT even in the aftermath of the APC Presidential Primaries in 2022.
The NYC noted that, “Contrary to the falsehood churned out by Mr. Shettima, Prof. Osinbajo has nothing against BAT, in fact, shortly after the primaries, Tinubu visited the VP at his residence in the Presidential Villa and Prof. reciprocated same in different ways afterwards. In an interaction with his supporters at their office in Abuja, a few days after the primaries, Osinbajo declared support for Tinubu.
“Since then, both leaders (Tinubu and Osinbajo) have met at different fora, discussing issues bothering on the polity. As a matter of fact, Osinbajo paid Tinubu a visit last December indicative of the cordial relationship that exists between the two of them despite the speculations in some quarters.
“This is aside the meeting between both men at the Presidential Villa during the Ministerial Retreat also in 2022.
“So, Mr. Shettima, who claims to be a well-wisher of the Tinubu campaign team should be calm and be assured of Prof. Osinbajo’s esteemed regards for Tinubu. He is indeed a friend and not a foe.
“Prof. Osinbajo’s absence from the APC Presidential campaign trail which has been the basis of Mr. Shettima’s vituperations is rather pedestrian as his decision to focus on governance was a presidential directive to allow the President join the campaign trail while the VP and other ministers focus on the issues of governance.
“And President Buhari, in keeping to his promise of joining the campaigns in 10 States, has made appearances in 2 out of the 10, while Prof. Osinbajo and other top officials remain focused on finishing what is left of the Buhari administration delivery of democracy dividends.
“Besides, other party structures at the subnational levels are with BAT in the campaigns, 20 APC State Governors are mobilising for BAT contrary to Mr Shettima’s claims. If he however has incontrovertible proofs that the governors aren’t with BAT, let him make them public and stop using them as bargaining tools to extort money from BAT. His claim about Amaechi’s lack of support for Tinubu is also unfounded as the former Minister has since joined the campaign trail and has been seen in at least 3 of the campaign stops by BAT and the rest of the team.
“What is however glaring from the foregoing is that, Mr Shettima is seeking attention and probably presenting a false picture to BAT and the APC PCC in order to be patronised for selfish reasons. He seems to be the only one seeing this gloom picture of a gang up against Tinubu in the APC.
“Whichever way the average political watcher sees it, this unknown Shettima guy is clearly on a voyage of destruction to achieve cheap personal gains, he wants to be patronised by the BAT team.
“The questions however begging for answers are; Who is Shettima? Who are his sponsors? What are his antecedents? And What is his mission and can he shed more light on the alleged cracks in the APC? Is he a mole or a true friend of BAT and the APC?” the group quizzed.
