Kebbi APC Youths warn politicians against using them for thuggery

The Kebbi State All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Alliance has warned politicians not to used Nigerian youths for political thuggery.

Chairman of the group, Alhaji Yahayah Dan-Illela, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that they have been counselling youths engaged in thuggery and drugs abused in the state on the dangers of these vices, assuring President Muhammad Buhari and Governor Atiku Bagudu of 100 per cent of their votes the next year’s general elections.

But the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused APC and other political parties of buying Permanent Voter Card (PVC) at N10, 000 each in the state.

Addressing journalists shortly after its stakeholders meeting in Birnin Kebbi, Chairman, Publicity Campaign Committee, Shuaibu Mungadi, said the parties were found to be purchasing PVCs from villagers.

Dan-Illela expressed happiness over the achievements recorded by the APC-lead administrations and the centre and the state, promising to mobilise thousands of youths for Buhari and Bagudu’s re-election.

“There are over 20,000 register youth under this umbrella. We recently trained about 1,000 of them across the 21 councils on different skills acquisition.

Secretary of the alliance, Nasir T. Gurmata, said they have been creating awareness on the dangers of involving youth in political thuggery and drugs abuse.

He commended Bagudu for providing dividends of democracy to the people, adding: “The CBN Anchor Borrowers programme has reduced unemployed in the state and also made them to be self-reliant. Buhari has constructed many roads across the country, revived the railway, ports and others.”

On his part, Mungadi said: “Some people are going round the state collecting PVC from people. We are not going to tolerate this ugly act. We know them and we have reported to the authorities concerned,” he added.

While accusing APC of using the traditional rulers to achieved their aimed, he called on the traditional institutions to stay away from politics in the state, adding: “All these are threats to peace, because they are also removing our posters and billboards, but left their own. They should also stop using civil servants to achieve their aims,” he warned.

Mungadi who described the defection of the former PDP national treasure as a relief to them, claiming that the former party chieftain decided to leave to rescued himself from being embarrassed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC.

Spokesman of APC, Alhaji Sani Dododo, denied the allegations, saying PDP members are frustrated and also losing bearing.

“They know they can’t win the election in the state. I am assuring you that before elections, many of their member would defected to APC,” he said.