Northern Groups Reject FG’s Plan to Celebrate Tinubu’s Achievements in Kaduna

The Coalition of Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders has strongly rejected the Federal Government’s planned engagement in Kaduna, describing it as politically motivated and disconnected from the true aspirations of the northern populace.

At a press briefing held at the NUT-End Well Hotel in Kaduna, the group criticized the initiative as “a government-orchestrated jamboree,” aimed at promoting a selective narrative of federal achievements while excluding critical voices from the North.

“We are not interested in tokenism,” said Muhammad Isah Imam, Secretary of Media and Public Affairs for the coalition. “This planned engagement is not rooted in transparency, inclusiveness, or sincerity. It is a calculated political show, not a true dialogue.”

The coalition referenced the October 2022 Kaduna Engagement, which they described as a genuine, inclusive forum involving youth groups, traditional leaders, political figures, and civil society, where presidential candidates listened to the North’s key demands.

“That forum was the product of a truly inclusive coalition,” Imam stated. “What we see today is the federal government partnering only with the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation — just one of many conveners of that historic event. Why are others being sidelined?”

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The group raised critical questions, asking why the government has resumed dialogue after two years of silence, why it is excluding original stakeholders, and why youth voices are being ignored. They also faulted the silence of northern elders who had played prominent roles in the 2022 engagement.

“Where are our elders now?” Imam queried. “Why have they gone quiet while a government-led process seeks to undermine the spirit of unity and self-advocacy we once shared?”

The coalition called on the Federal Government to ensure transparency in the objectives, agenda, and outcomes of the planned Kaduna event. They demanded the inclusion of all relevant northern stakeholders — particularly youths, women, civil society organisations, and religious leaders.

“The North must lead its own engagements,” the statement concluded. “The government should play a responsive, not directive, role in any genuine dialogue with the region.”