THE Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum (NNYLF) has strongly condemned alleged plans by some political figures to stage a protest in Abuja demanding the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, describing the move as a “desperate political stunt” designed to exploit national sentiments for personal gain.
News Point Nigeria reports that speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the President of the Forum, Comrade Murtala Mohammed Gamji, said the group would not stand by and watch politicians use Kanu’s detention to manipulate public opinion and advance their political ambitions.
Gamji accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore of “playing politics with national security” through their recent calls for Kanu’s release.
“We are here to express our anger, dislike and to show the whole world that we are not with desperate politicians in Nigeria who are using the detention of Nnamdi Kanu to cause tension in the country,” Gamji said.
He added that the so-called protest being planned by the two politicians was “a deceitful agenda masked as a call for justice,” warning that it could endanger national peace and unity.
“Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has joined activist Omoyele Sowore in calling on the Federal Government to immediately release the detained IPOB leader. We advise them to rather wait and allow the due process of the court in the ongoing terrorism trial of the IPOB leader,” he said.
Gamji insisted that Kanu’s case should be left for the judiciary to decide, stressing that no amount of political pressure should interfere with the ongoing legal process.
“As far as it stands now, he is guilty until proven otherwise. The court should be allowed to determine his case without external interference,” he declared.
The NNYLF leader further urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to be distracted by what he described as “antics of desperate politicians”, assuring the President of Northern youths’ continued support for his administration and its Renewed Hope Agenda.
To demonstrate that support, Gamji announced that the forum would mobilise over 63 million Northern youths for a three-day solidarity march in Abuja from October 21 to 23, in appreciation of the President’s youth-friendly initiatives, particularly the student loan scheme.
“We are coming out to celebrate the President and his policies that give hope to Nigerian youths. This is a message of hope, whether or not one supports the President politically,” Gamji stated.
He noted that several youth-based and paramilitary organisations—including the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Man O’ War, Boys’ Brigade, and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) would participate in the solidarity march, which aims to promote national unity across ethnic and religious lines.
Gamji also warned Sowore to be cautious in his comments and actions, accusing him of making inflammatory remarks capable of inciting public unrest.
“We warn Omoyele Sowore to be mindful of his utterances and not to set the country on fire through careless activism,” he said.
The NNYLF leader emphasised that the forum’s position was not about ethnicity or politics, but about defending the nation’s stability and preventing opportunistic figures from exploiting sensitive issues for electoral advantage.
“The day they are planning to protest for Kanu’s release is the same day millions of patriotic Northern youths will take over the streets of Abuja in solidarity with President Tinubu. We are saying no to division and political manipulation,” Gamji concluded.
