The Reformed Arewa Youth Council of Nigeria, or RAYCN, has accused Rotimi Amaechi and a few other opposition politicians of conspiring to topple President Bola Tinubu’s administration, so the issue surrounding his recent political remarks appears to have no end in sight.
As you may remember, Amaechi stated at a symposium on bolstering Nigerian democracy in January that if Nigerians want to unseat Tinubu, they must be prepared and prepared to make sacrifices.
Tinubu would not relinquish power easily, so the people should be ready for a fight, said Amaechi, a leader of the All Progressives Congress, or APC, who was the Minister of Transportation in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The only way Ibrahim Shekarau (ex-Kano State governor) became governor was because people lined up. It happened in Ghana before the election of the last President. Two days, a lot of us were called to intervene. But why did they do that? The people were ready to die.
“You are talking and abusing everybody. Nobody has power and will give it to you — not even me. If you want a pastor as President, go and get one. The politician is there in Nigeria to steal, maim, and kill to remain in power.
“If you think Tinubu will give it to you, you are wasting your time,” Amaechi said.
Responding to the comment, the Presidency, through the Special Adviser to President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, accused Amaechi and other critics, including former Kaduna State governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, of heating up the polity.
At a press event in Abuja on Thursday, the Reformed Arewa Youth Council of Nigeria, or RAYCN, expressed more worry about the incident and a purported scheme by Amaechi and former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa to topple Tinubu’s government.
The Arewa group claimed that Amaechi and Bafarawa are conspiring with other dissident elements to overthrow Tinubu and his administration through its national president, Bilal Abdullahi.
Specifically, the politicians were accused of preparing to foment major rallies against Tinubu across the North-West, starting from Bafarawa’s home state, Sokoto.
The group asserted that Amaechi and the others’ actions pose a threat to national security and urged the appropriate security services to look into the purported conspiracy.
In a similar spirit, the Reformed Arewa Youth Council of Nigeria called on young people, religious institutions, and supporters of democracy and peace to denounce the purported conspiracy and aid Tinubu’s government in its reform initiatives.
“Their intention and their several meetings is aimed at intimidating the government of President Tinubu and the various organs of government, and make the citizens feel that the government and its various organs are not doing enough to take the people to prosperity.
“This is a matter of utmost state security concern. We cannot fold our arms until we are submerged or over awe by their evil machination and subterfuge.
“It is clear that ever since their incontrovertible defeat at the polls by President Bola Tinubu, these elements have not hidden their hate and disdain for the person of the President and the various organs of government.
“It is however unfortunate that this hatred and disdain is pushing them to act against the Office of the President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and becoming direct threat to our democracy and the rule of law.
“They must consequently be stopped with all might and not be allowed to go further, to serve as deterrence to others.”
