Northern youths support Wike as Atiku’s running mate

Urge CAN, MURIC to float political party
Arewa Youth Awareness Forum (AYAF) has said the choice of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State as running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, demonstrates the party’s determination to win the 2023 election.

Besides, it called on religious groups, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), to float political parties with their ideological direction, instead of criticising existing parties.

In a statement issued by AYAF Chairman, Mohammed Sani-Kabir; Vice Chairman, Salihu Abdulrahaman and Secretary-General, Ben Alege, the group said the capacity to roll back poverty, insecurity, illiteracy and other vices matter more than sentiments.

The Northern youths urged religious leaders to allow political parties choose their flagbearers.

“In view of deep-rooted economic, security and other challenges of nation-building the country faces today, one thing that is more needed than religious and ethnic sentiments is good, impactful governance characterised by inclusiveness and leadership that has capacity to move mountains.

“The PDP is demonstrating a keen sense of reward because Wike’s contribution to the party is unmatched by any of his peers in the South South. Despite criticisms against him, his impact had been felt in the party from Abia to Zamfara states,” the group stated.

Believing that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will do well as a progressive party by following PDP’s method of involving every level of the party in the choice of a vice president backed by voters, they said that would considerably incapacitate the purveyors of religious and other sentiments, as the nation goes ahead to pick next leadership.

“Criticising PDP’s choice of Wike on the basis of religion is absolutely unhelpful to democracy. If PDP and its presidential candidate see the inclusion of Wike on the ticket as a strategy to mobilise huge votes, so be it.

“While we respect all our religious leaders, we must all caution ourselves a bit to curb the way occasional admixture of politics and religion further divides people and lead to combustible reactions. If MURIC, which dislikes Wike, and CAN, which is criticising APC’s choice, like, they may float a political party and share positions of presidential candidate and running mate between one another on the basis of religious considerations in future elections.

“As far as we are concerned, Atiku’s choice of a Southerner in the person of Wike, who has a record of developmental projects, including those commissioned by our revered Sultan, remains a very reasonable strategy for winning the 2023 elections,” AYAF insisted.