‘It will exacerbate hardship’ — northern group withdraws from protest

The Northern Youth Forum (NYF) says it has withdrawn from a nationwide protest which began today. 

In a statement released on Wednesday, Kabir Musa and Moses Itodo, the group’s coordinator and secretary respectively, said joining the protest may exacerbate insecurity in the north.

“The Northern Youth Forum (NYF) has decided to withdraw from the planned protest against President Tinubu’s administration,” the statement reads.

“This decision was made after careful consideration of the current situation in the northern region which is still recovering from insecurity.

“We believe that protesting at this time would only exacerbate the situation and hinder the progress being made.

“Furthermore, we have observed that Minister of State Defence Bello Matawalle and other northern leaders are working tirelessly with the government to address the region’s challenges.

“We do not want to undermine their efforts or create unnecessary tension. Instead, we will support and collaborate with them to ensure the region’s stability and development.

“Our decision not to protest is also driven by our commitment to peace and progress in the north. We recognize that the region has suffered enough and that it’s time for us to come together and work towards a brighter future.

“We also commend President Tinubu for his impact so far, especially in the area of security.

“His administration’s efforts to address the nation’s security challenges have been commendable, and we believe that he deserves our support.

“We call on other northern youths and Nigerians to support the government and work towards peace and progress. Let us put aside our differences and come together for the greater good.”