Northern youths defend APC chair, dismisses protest threats as “Fireplay by Lazy Politicians”

Murtala Gamji, the National Leader of the Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum, has dismissed recent calls for the resignation of Nentawe Yilwatda, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, describing them as baseless and sponsored attempts by “lazy politicians” to destabilise the ruling party.

The development comes as a youth group, under aegis of the APC Youth Solidarity Network (APC-YSN­)in  a statement on Friday by Momoh Prince issued a two-week ultimatum to the national chairman to resign or face mass protests.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, Gamji said those behind the purported protest against the APC chairman were not bona fide members of the party, insisting that one of the arrowheads, Prince Momoh, “is not even a member of APC, but a sanctioned member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State.”

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“Any group or individual calling on our national chairman to resign or threatening to protest should know, first of all, that Prince Momoh is not a member of APC,” Gamji declared.

“We schooled together in ABU Zaria; he’s from Auchi, and he belongs to the PDP.

“They have even sanctioned him in Auchi’s PDP chapter. So, we don’t know his link or concern with our untouchable chairman.”

Gamji praised the APC National Chairman, whom he described as “a noble leader and professional democrat,” for revitalising the party and attracting massive defections from other political parties.

“This is a leader that has just come into the party and look at the kind of carnival of people trooping in,” he said.

“Somebody that is not a member of APC and has never been one, we don’t know his reason or his concern.

“But we know that there are people behind him, people trying to jeopardise the success of this great party under the new chairman.”

He warned those behind the calls to desist, saying any attempt to undermine the APC chairman or the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be resisted by Northern youths.

“We are advising them not to play with fire,” Gamji cautioned.

“In this Renewed Hope Agenda, we’re not going to sit and watch anyone jeopardise our survival.

“Any attempt to temper with any leader that means well for the future of Nigerian youths is like joking with our destiny.”

The youth leader also reacted to allegations that the APC national chairman was preventing Caleb Mutfwang, the Plateau State Governor from joining the ruling party.

Gamji dismissed the claim as “laughable,” insisting that the governor himself had publicly acknowledged being under pressure to join the APC.

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“That can never be possible,” he said firmly. “The national chairman is a gentleman, a democrat who welcomes everyone.

“The governor has said there’s pressure on him to join APC, and now someone who’s not even a party member is saying our chairman is blocking him. No, that’s a lie. Nobody is stopping the governor. The APC is open to all.”

Another member of the group who spoke at the briefing added, “There are due processes in joining a political party.

“If the governor of Plateau State is willing to join the APC, he must start from his ward. The national chairman will never stop him because one of his greatest achievements is allowing people to join the party.”

When asked why the youth forum, regarded as a non-partisan umbrella body, appeared to be taking sides with the APC, Gamji insisted neutrality was no longer an option in defending good leadership.

“I don’t know what people mean by being neutral,” he replied.

“If you stay neutral when something good is being destroyed, then you are also an enemy.

“There is nothing like neutrality now. The Renewed Hope Agenda belongs to all Nigerians, whether you’re in PDP, APC, APGA, or any other party. We stand for what is right.”

He continued, “The national chairman is our chairman. We know him and his background from university days.

“We can never be neutral when lazy people are trying to tarnish the image of someone who has spent over 30 years building his career. We will not sit by and watch.”

Responding to a question on whether his group would organise a counter-protest if the critics proceed with their threat, Gamji expressed confidence that no such protest would hold, claiming majority of Nigerian youths were under his forum’s influence.

“They will not even try it,” he said.

“Ninety-five percent of Nigerian youths are under us and they listen to us. We have told our youths not to follow such elements.

“They have nothing to offer except to destroy people’s image. We say no to that and we will never stand by them.”

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Gamji also took a swipe at another critic from Yobe State allegedly calling for the probe of Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, describing such calls as “misguided.”

“These are great people who mean well for Nigeria,” he said.

“We are die-hard supporters of our national chairman and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Any attempt to discredit them will fail because we are ready to show these people that they are playing with fire.”