Youths back peace accord, condemn attack on APC secretariat

NIGERIAN youths under the aegis of Coalition of Nigerian Youth Organisation (CNYO) yesterday expressed support for the Abuja peace accord signed by the 14 presidential candidates last week.

   The youths also condemned the recent acts of violence, which included the attack on the motorcade of President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina State and the burning of some state offices of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

   The youth organisations comprising the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Northern Minority Youth for Positive Transformation, Abuja Original Inhabitant Youths Empowerment Organisation, Southern Kaduna Progressive Movement, Northern Youth Democratic Union, Gbagyi Reforms Youth Empowerment, Abuja and Swing Nationalities of Nigeria and Fulani Youth Organisation stated this at a press conference in Abuja yesterday.

   Chief Ezekiel Kuje, who spoke on behalf of the group urged youths across the country irrespective of their political parties or religion to show commitments to the non-violence pact.

   He said: “We vehemently and unapologetically condemn the recent acts of violence on political campaign offices, the burning of campaign vehicles and most recently, the attack on the President’s convoy on his recent visit to Katsina State. We the coalition of youths of the North strongly disassociate ourselves from such misguided elements.

   “No one is above the law. Anyone found wanting of instigating violence, before, during or after the elections must be decisively dealt with by the constituted authority.”

   Also speaking at the briefing, the representative of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima said that the gathering was devoid of any political connotations.

   According to him, the unity of Nigeria and cooperate existence beyond the election was paramount.