A coalition of Northern youth groups, the Northern Youth Frontiers (NYF), has called on political stakeholders to allow the South to complete its traditional two-term tenure before the presidency returns to the North in 2031. The group urged stakeholders to prioritize long-term regional development over short-term political gains, insisting that the search for a 21st-century leader for Northern Nigeria should begin immediately.
Support for Power Rotation
In a statement by NYF Chairman Sama Musa, the coalition declared support for the continuation of the current North-South power rotation arrangement. The group stated that it had undertaken a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, including activities within major political parties ahead of future elections, and concluded that Northern Nigeria must adopt a long-term strategy focused on producing a globally competitive presidential candidate.
Rejection of Short-Term Political Traps
The coalition, which represents youth organizations across the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), argued that the region’s future should not be tied to what it described as “transactional politics” or short-term political arrangements. The coalition stated that it had resolved to support the completion of the current administration’s tenure in the interest of political stability and national cohesion.
Musa said: “We are making this concession deliberately, out of political maturity and a desire for national stability. Consequently, we are entirely unwilling to gamble away the future of our region on short-sighted political arrangements that do not serve our long-term interests. We reject two specific political traps currently being floated by political actors:
- “We are completely against the idea of supporting a short-term Northern candidate who will serve only one term (four years) and be forced by national dynamics to hand power back to the South. This option delays our long-term regional positioning.
- “We equally reject any political permutation that introduces a fresh Southern candidate who will serve only one term, promising a hand-over to a Northerner. Neither of these options sits well with us. We refuse to trade the collective destiny of the North for temporary political arrangements.
Vision for 2031
“The time for the north to take over is 2031 straight eight years insha Allah. Rather than settling for stop-gap measures or political experiments, the Northern Youth Frontiers has resolved to use this political window to shop for a stellar, elite-level presidential material.
“The youth of Northern Nigeria are no longer interested in tokenism or outdated governance models. We deserve a leader who understands digital economy, industrialization, security architecture, educational reform, and job creation.
“We need a candidate who sees the immense population of Northern youth not as a liability, but as a driving asset for national transformation. Moving forward, the Northern Youth Frontiers will begin extensive consultations across the length and breadth of the country to identify, vet, and align with leadership materials that meet this premium standard.
“We call on all traditional rulers, political stakeholders, elders and fellow youth organizations across the North to look past short-term gains and join us in this noble, visionary quest. The future of Northern Nigeria cannot be gambled away. The search for a 21st-century leader begins now.”
