Polls aftermath: Arewa youths warn against instigating violence

Doguwa dissociates from post-election mayhem in Kano
Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has cautioned against instigation of political violence arising from the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly polls.

The youths noted reports of elder statesmen allegedly colluding with politicians to overheat the polity and eventually destabilise the nation.

National President of AYCF, Yerima Shettima, explained that the group was worried by comments from important personalities that were not pleased by the outcome of the February 25 polls.

He said: “We have had enough of mindless killings in defence of the personal interest of grabbing power by politicians through the back door. We don’t support any resort to sponsored violence and arson in this country, just because some politicians are trying to mislead our youth to believe their personal political interest amounts national interest.

“We implore Nigerian youths never to allow themselves to be used as cannon-fodders for unpatriotic elements, who are masquerading as democrats. We are watching, closely, the activities of agents provocateurs, operating from the shadows, with the sole aim of creating regional and religious sentimentalism, meant to lead to massive killings of innocent souls in the name of politics.”

Shettima called on all Nigerians of good conscience to intervene in the concerted efforts to promote national peace and stability.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Majority Leader, Alhassan Doguwa, has dissociated himself from the recent killings in Tudun Wada Local Council of Kano State.

Doguwa, who was talking to newsmen in Kano, yesterday, in response to allegations against him over the violence that trailed Saturday’s election in Tudun Wada/Doguwa Federal Constituency.

According to him, all the accusations trending on social media that he has a hand in killing of two people and burning of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) office were baseless.

The lawmaker was declared winner of the constituency House of Representatives, on Sunday, by the Returning Officer (RO), Ibrahim Yakasai, at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Tudun Wada.

Doguwa said: “These pronouncements and media campaigns of calumny were designed by the opposition to discredit the conduct of the credible election conducted on February 25, 2023, by INEC in Doguwa/Tudun Wada, where the electorate voted for my return to the House of Representatives.

“Given the above, I, therefore, wish to make it abundantly clear that, our elections went on successfully and peacefully in all the 21 registration areas of my Federal Constituency. The conduct of elections at polling units was generally hitch-free, while collation of results in the two local councils was also done peacefully and in compliance with extant electoral procedures.”