The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has issued a statement criticizing recent protests conducted by the All Progressives Congress Young Leaders Alliance (APC-YLA) at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission headquarters in Abuja. In their press release, AYCF questioned the legitimacy of the Kaduna-based group’s demonstrations regarding alleged corruption involving former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle.
The youth organization expressed skepticism about the protesting group’s connection to Zamfara affairs, asking how a group “with no direct ties to Zamfara State” could claim to represent local concerns. According to AYCF’s statement, their investigation concluded that the protesters were actually affiliated with the People’s Democratic Party rather than the APC, characterizing the demonstrations as part of a pattern of “sponsored protests” designed to create “unnecessary public unrest.”
The statement directly addressed Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, whom AYCF identified as the alleged sponsor behind these protests. The youth forum claimed that Governor Lawal has received more federal government grants than his predecessor did throughout his entire tenure, while suggesting his administration suffers from “governance deficits” and “serial misgovernance.” The organization proposed that imposing a state of emergency and replacing Governor Lawal is “the only viable solution” for Zamfara State.
AYCF concluded by calling for constructive dialogue rather than divisive tactics, stating that Nigeria’s youth “deserve better.” The statement was signed by Yerima Shettima, AYCF’s President General.