By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.
The National Youth Council of Nigeria has condemned calls by the Arewa Youth Assembly for the impeachment of Dapo Abiodun and Peter Mbah, describing the demand as misguided and unhelpful to national development.
Reacting to the controversy, the National Vice President of the Council, Kehinde Olorunjubelo, advised youth groups across the country to avoid being drawn into political conflicts that do not directly affect the welfare and future of Nigerian youths.
Olorunjubelo maintained that issues relating to the Progressive Governors Forum are internal party matters that should be resolved within established political structures, warning that youths should not be used to advance the interests of aggrieved political actors.
He noted that involving youth organisations in partisan disputes could damage the credibility and integrity of youth advocacy in Nigeria, reducing young people to instruments in political battles instead of agents of meaningful national engagement.
“The Progressive Governors Forum is an internal structure of the All Progressives Congress with laid down mechanisms for resolving disputes,” he said. “Using the name of northern youths or any youth bloc to pursue partisan interests is unacceptable and harmful.”
The NYCN leader urged Nigerian youths to focus on pressing national challenges such as unemployment, insecurity, poor education, and economic hardship, stressing that issue-based advocacy would produce greater benefits for young people.
According to him, dragging youth groups into intra-party disagreements only diverts attention from critical national concerns and weakens the collective voice of youths in demanding accountability from leaders.
Olorunjubelo further called on youth organisations nationwide to remain independent, principled, and committed to promoting policies that positively impact young Nigerians rather than serving as proxies in political power struggles.