The National President of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), Yerima Shettima, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, labeling it a “waste” for both the northern region and Nigeria as a whole.
In a recent interview with a Nigerian print media outlet, Shettima lamented that the North has long been neglected by its leaders, who have failed to address the region’s challenges, leaving the people frustrated and impoverished.
Shettima’s harsh critique of Buhari’s administration comes amidst growing unrest in the North, with many citizens participating in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.
According to Shettima, the region’s involvement in these demonstrations reflects deep-seated frustrations that, if left unaddressed, could lead to even more severe unrest in the future.
He also highlighted the challenges faced by President Bola Tinubu, who he says has inherited the consequences of Buhari’s ineffective leadership.
Shettima warned that without meaningful action from the current administration, the North could witness more intense protests that could “consume everybody.”
Addressing the issue of appointments in the Tinubu administration, Shettima dismissed claims that the North’s dissatisfaction stems solely from a lack of favorable appointments.
Instead, he emphasized that the region’s problems are rooted in widespread poverty and hunger, exacerbated by the mismanagement of resources meant to alleviate these issues.
Shettima criticized the practice of appointing individuals disconnected from the masses, arguing that this approach has only deepened the disconnect between the government and the people.
He urged the government to prioritize appointing individuals who have a proven track record of working with and for the masses to ensure that the impact of governance is felt by the people.
Reflecting on Buhari’s tenure, Shettima warned that the North cannot endure the current levels of hunger and hardship for another three years, stressing that the mistakes of the past must not be repeated under the current administration.
