The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has expressed concerns over the marginalization of Northerners living in Lagos and the inequitable distribution of goods and services by the government of Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The AYCF is calling on the government of Lagos state, under Sanwo-Olu’s leadership, to address the concerns of Northerners living in the state. They demand fair representation in key positions within the government, as well as the equitable distribution of goods and services.
The AYCF stresses that failure to address these concerns may have significant political consequences in the upcoming elections.
The Forum’s President General, Yerima Shettima, in a statement, warned that the Northern population in Lagos will reject any candidate with a similar tribal extremist view as Sanwo-Olu or any person remotely connected to him in the 2027 elections due to growing dissatisfaction with his biased brand of leadership.
According to Shettima, the Northerners trusted Sanwo-Olu’s campaign promises and pledges, supported and invested heavily in his candidacy, which led to a significant majority of votes in his favor. However, these promises have turned out to be mere lies and deceptions.
The AYCF argues that the Northerners who played a significant role in Sanwo-Olu’s victory were ultimately marginalized, betrayed, and let down by the administration.One of the key issues raised by the AYCF is the bias in appointments and patronage.
Shettima claimed that Sanwo-Olu favored Southerners over Northerners in terms of appointments, while even the Igbo, who massively supported and overwhelmingly voted for Peter Obi, received more favorable treatment.
This bias in appointments has further fueled discontent among Northerners in Lagos, resulting in growing dissatisfaction with Sanwo-Olu’s leadership.The AYCF also expressed concerns over the inequitable distribution of goods and services by the San-Olu’s administration.
The Northern population, being a significant part of Lagos state, expects to receive a fair share of resources and development projects in the communities where they predominate. ‘However, the Northern communities in Lagos have been neglected, with resources and projects disproportionately allocated to Yoruba indigenes and residents.
This imbalance has exacerbated economic challenges and deepened the sense of marginalization among Northern communities.”In March 2023, Northern voters in Lagos entrusted their faith in Sanwo-Olu to address their limitations and guide them towards a secure and prosperous future.
They believed that their votes would result in a united Lagos state, where resources and appointments would be proportionately shared. However, months into its inception, the administration has proven to be controlled by Yoruba regional jingoists,” said Shettima.
“The Northerners cannot be marginalized elements in Lagos. They are a people with immense potential, rich resources, and a vibrant population. Dismissing the Northerner’s concerns and aspirations would be a grave mistake, as it would undermine the future success of any political party Sanwo-Olu may associate with. Failure to lead with justice, sensitivity, and recognition of Lagos’ plural nature may result in Northern voters turning their backs on Sanwo-Olu and his party, just as they did with his predecessors,” Shettima added.
ENDS