The Northern Youth Leaders Forum, an umbrella of 42 Arewa groups, has called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other Nigerian leaders to prevail on the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed to calm the storm within the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum.
This was contained in a statement sent to media houses on Sunday and signed by NYLF President, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, titled, “NYLF begs Obasanjo to intervene in PDP crisis Using Bala Mohammed”.
The group made the appeal after meeting with the former president on Saturday in Abeokuta, saying their discussions were fruitful.
The northern youths also appealed to Obasanjo and other elders in the party to hold a resolution meeting with PDP governors.
“Some of the matters tabled before him include appealing to him to summon a meeting of “Nigeria’s Fathers” with a view to intervening in the country’s woes and proffering solutions,” the statement added.
The group specifically called on Obasanjo to wade into the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, declaring the party remains the hope of Nigerians.
It described Obasanjo as an “advanced citizen who believes in the corporate existence of Nigeria”.
Afiyo, who mentioned other “Nigeria’s Fathers” to include former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), General Theophilus Danjuma (retd), General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), and Ernest Shonekan, listed banditry, kidnapping, corruption, poor economy, agitation for secession as part of the challenges the country faces.
He said that it is high time these ‘patriotic Nigerians’ met and proffered solutions to the challenges before they consume the nation.
He said, “We were part of the groups that brought Buhari in 2015, we thought the Buhari that we knew would change things, but we realised that we have made mistake and we have to correct it. That is why I came personally to see Baba and we have discussed, he has to also be involved.
“We want Obasanjo to do two things – one, to summon the elders, Nigeria’s fathers. They have to meet, discuss and intervene. We also want him to wade into the crisis of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with a view to resolving it.”
