In a recent interview, Yerima Shettima, the National President of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), expressed his views on the participation of the North in the ongoing protests. He highlighted that the region’s involvement, which took many by surprise, is a sign of deep frustration stemming from years of neglect by Northern leaders. Shettima criticized these leaders for their failure to address poverty and hunger, which have long plagued the region. He emphasized that the eight years under Buhari’s leadership were particularly wasteful, and the current administration, led by Tinubu, has inherited these unresolved issues.
Shettima dismissed the notion that the North’s dissatisfaction is driven by a lack of government appointments. Instead, he pointed to the extreme poverty and recent policies of the Tinubu government as the primary sources of discontent. He also criticized the Northern elites for failing to ensure that federal assistance reaches the people, arguing that there should be better coordination between the federal and state governments to improve the lives of Northern citizens. He noted that the appointments that do exist are often given to elites who are disconnected from the masses, further exacerbating the region’s problems.
The North, Shettima stated, has been hit hardest by the current hunger crisis, which has been worsened by ongoing insecurity that prevents people from farming. He argued that the federal government should have worked more closely with state governments to address these issues, but instead, the situation has only deteriorated. Shettima criticized Northern appointees who remain silent on these issues, unlike figures like Ribadu and Matawalle, who have spoken out.
Reflecting on the EndSARS protests, Shettima suggested that they were primarily driven by concerns over “Yahoo Yahoo” (internet fraud) in the South, which does not resonate in the North. The current protests, he argued, are driven by a different set of concerns—namely hunger and the lack of basic necessities. He lamented that Northern political leaders have contributed to the region’s endemic poverty by prioritizing their interests over those of the people.
Shettima warned that if the government does not take immediate action to address the insecurity and poverty in the North, the region could be pushed towards a revolution. He called for a state of emergency on insecurity and emphasized the need for policies that empower people, particularly through education. Shettima stressed that the protests have shown that people in the North are no longer willing to endure the status quo and that the government must act quickly to restore hope and provide for the needs of its citizens.
Finally, Shettima rejected claims that the protests are being sponsored, arguing that the widespread frustration and desperation in the region are sufficient to drive people to the streets. He urged the government to prioritize the education of Northern citizens and to implement modern agricultural technologies to improve food production and reduce hunger.
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