Members of Northern Youth Leaders' Forum (NYLF) have endorsed 11 respectable northern politicians as potential candidates for the 2019 presidential election.
The leader of the group, Comrade Elliot Afiyo who made the disclosure while briefing newsmen, hinted that the move was borne out of ongoing scheming and maneuvers in the Country suggesting that politicians in the South may be angling for the Presidency in 2019.
According to Afiyo “We want to reiterate and clearly warn that the North will not, and will never allow presidency to move to the South in 2019. As much as we can tolerate or pay any sacrifice for the unity of this country, we remain committed to a northern president in 2019.”
He advised political parties contemplating the possibility of fielding a southern politician for the presidency to shelve the idea as it would amount to political suicide.
Afiyo also warned northern politician not t support any candidate from the southern part of the country. “We want to send a message to all political parties that may field southern presidential candidates in 2019 election that such action will amount to committing a political suicide,” a statement by the group said.
The shortlisted candidates include the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki; former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto; Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State, former Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido;; former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff; Governor Ibrahim Shettima of Borno State; Governor Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari of Zamfara State; Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, Senator Bala Muhammed; and Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State.
Meanwhile, the group failed to disclose the parameter used in arriving at these candidates.
