The Arewa Youths have distanced themselves from a SaharaReporters publication on the Nigeria Football Federation leadership crisis, calling it false and unauthorised.
In a video statement on Friday, Arewa Youths President, Alhaji Danbature Abdul, said the report credited to the group did not come from them. He urged Nigerians to ignore it and called on journalists to verify facts before attributing comments to organisations or individuals.
Danbature reaffirmed the group’s backing for NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau. According to him, northern youths remain solidly behind Gusau’s leadership.
He also faulted SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, over what he described as repeated attacks on prominent northern leaders, citing former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. He warned that the Arewa youths would no longer overlook such criticisms.
The Arewa Youth President further appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step into the NFF dispute and allow Gusau to serve out his eight-year tenure as provided in the mandate under which he was elected.
Describing Tinubu as a leader with deep ties to the North dating back to his time as Lagos State Governor, Danbature said the President has always acted like a father to the region. He urged Tinubu to use his experience to resolve the matter through due process, fairness and institutional stability, rather than pressure or political interference.
