The Coalition of Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders has firmly rejected the federal government’s planned engagement in Kaduna, denouncing it as politically motivated, one-sided, and disconnected from the true aspirations of the northern populace.
At a press conference held at the NUT-End Well Hotel in Kaduna, the coalition voiced strong opposition to what they described as a “government-orchestrated jamboree” aimed at showcasing selective federal achievements while deliberately sidelining key regional voices.
“We are not interested in tokenism,” stated Muhammad Isah Imam, Secretary of Media and Public Affairs for the coalition.
“This planned engagement lacks transparency, inclusiveness, and sincerity. It is a calculated#NorthernNigeria #KadunaEngagement #YouthsDemandInclusivity not a true dialogue.”
The group recalled the widely praised Kaduna Engagement of October 2022, which successfully brought together a diverse spectrum of northern stakeholders, including youth organizations, traditional leaders, political actors, and civil society representatives. That forum provided presidential candidates with a platform to hear and address the North’s core concerns.
“That historic engagement was the product of a truly inclusive coalition,” Imam noted.
“Now, we see the federal government aligning solely with the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation just one of the many conveners of the 2022 forum. Why are other vital voices being excluded?”
The coalition raised serious questions about the motives and timing of the new engagement:
Why is the dialogue being revived now, after two years of silence?
Why is it driven solely by government interests?
Why are the original stakeholders especially youth voices absent from the process?
They also expressed disappointment at the silence of northern elders who were instrumental in organizing the 2022 event, accusing them of enabling the process to be hijacked by external political interests.
“Where are our elders now?” Imam questioned.
“Why have they remained quiet while a government-led process seeks to dismantle the spirit of unity and self-advocacy we once built together?”
In response, the coalition called for a complete reset of the engagement process. They demanded:
Full disclosure of the event’s objectives, agenda, and expected outcomes
Inclusion of all relevant northern stakeholders, particularly youths, women, civil society groups, and religious leaders
“The North must lead its own engagements,” the coalition stressed.
“The federal government should adopt a responsive, not directive, role in any genuine dialogue with the region.”
The group’s firm stance underscores growing frustration among Northern youths about political marginalization and the manipulation of regional engagement for partisan gain.
