The group accused the former governor of Borno state of continually undermining its efforts to ensure that APC’s presidential standard-bearer, Asiwaju Ball TinubuHe is victorious in the next elections.
The group’s warning, which comes just 42 days before the February 25 elections, also appears to have caused a stir in the ruling camp, the punch reports.
The northeast APC group is one of the most vociferous voices lobbying the presidency, the Tinubu camp and the party leadership to ensure that the running mate spot would be zoned for the northeast region.
He was also credited with being one of the groups that went to great lengths to ensure that Shettima was considered and chosen as Tinubu’s running mate.
However, things appear to have fallen apart between the two parties, as the political group has threatened to withdraw support for Shettima ahead of the election.
This was made known by the interim president of the APC Northeast Youth and Stakeholders Forum, shaibu tildeat a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, January 12, 2023.
Tilde alleged that Shettima’s unfair treatment of the group shortly after its victory has forced some founding members of the structure to seek refuge with opposition parties.
These include the Zonal Women Leader, Amine Manga of Bauchi, who defected to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) with more than a million women, and another Shettima loyalist and treasurer of the group, Yusuf Bankiwho went to the PPD with more than 500,000 young people.
Tilde words: “We are saddened to be in the news for what others will interpret as a negative reason at this time, but we are also compelled by our love for our great party, the Congress of All Progressives, to make this timely intervention in the face of our party’s fate in the sinkhole of the region.
“We don’t need to emphasize that this is discount time for the game because the general election is less than two months away, which leaves no room for error, but instead the focus should be on tightening all the loose ends, which is not the case. with our party in the northeast.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is with deep regret and concern that we report that the fortunes of our great party in the Northeast are on the brink of collapse due to the stubborn, careless, and exclusive leadership style of our vice-presidential candidate, the Hon. Kashim Shettima.
“The North East APC Youth Forum has watched with tears as many of their supporters continue to defect to the PDP. Unfortunately, the trend in the Northeast is getting worse by the day, and Senator Kashim apparently turns a blind eye to these heinous developments in our party in the region.
“We, the North East Youth, have lost our Zonal Treasurer from his home state of Borno, the Hon. Yusuf Shariff Banki, because he did not support the youth of the region to launch a massive mobilization. It is worth noting, gentlemen, that Sheriff brought more than five hundred thousand young people to the PDP.
“As if that wasn’t enough, our Zonal Organizing Secretary, Hon. Murtala Gamji from Taraba led over two hundred young people to the NNPP, and our Zonal Women’s Leader, Amina Manga from Bauchi led one million women to the PDP.
“Of the 8 million youth votes we have already mobilized for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our presidential candidate for the presidential election, Senator Kashim Shettime has already looted more than 3 million through his actions with the wave of defections from our party. . This is simply unacceptable.!
“In light of this, we urge our party’s vice-presidential candidate, the Hon. Kashim Shettima, to immediately reverse his steps and correct his mistake for the good of the party, the region and the youth of the team.
“It is on record that this group, then led by its current interim president, the Hon. Shaibu Baffa Tilde, supported Senator Kashim Shettima and committed enormous resources, both human and financial, to ensure he emerged as APC’s vice-presidential candidate.
“We are not seeking redress from Senator Shettima, but our resentment stems from Senator Kashim’s failure to acknowledge a formidable party youth force who stood by him through thick and thin after realizing his ambition to come true. as the vice-presidential candidate for the Northeast region.
“As a result, the APC North East Youth Forum wishes to withdraw its unequivocal support for Senator Shettima.
“Our actions should not be misconstrued, but judged by our affection for our beloved party.
“While we intend to take the next steps regarding his candidacy in the coming days, we would like to express our unwavering support for our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the APC. We will continue working for the progress and victory of our beloved party in the next general elections”.
APC reacts to the threat: In his reaction, Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council spokesman Festus Keyamo said that such a misunderstanding is normal in the build-up to a major election.
Keyamo’s words: “It is an election season. Everyone is important. No doubt about that. We can assure you that any complaints you may have will be addressed.
“However, it is necessary to point out corrections on some things they said. There are many support groups working for the party in the northeast and we will try to give them all the same care. While I agree that we need everyone, we don’t see recognizing some people as better than others. Everyone is important.
“If some groups believe they are the most important or deserve to be pampered more than others, we will not accept it. That would be subtle blackmail. The vice presidential candidate is the one who wants to treat everyone as equally as possible. Obviously he’s not going to coddle some over others. All groups are important.
“Again, the numbers cited in your statement are exaggerated for attention. They do not control those numbers and none of those numbers have left the party.
“First of all, based on APC registration, how many registered members do we have in the Northeast as a party? So that means they’re going to take everyone to the party, right?
“However, we need the group and we are going to talk to them. But they shouldn’t overestimate themselves.”
