The Arewa Youth Council has slammed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his unrelenting attacks on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing his posture as bitter, hypocritical, and steeped in desperation following decades of failed presidential bids.

In a statement issued Thursday in Kaduna, Comrade Adams Reuben, President of the Council, said it was both laughable and shameful that Atiku, who “presided over the reckless sale of Nigeria’s national assets to cronies during his time as head of the National Council on Privatisation”, now positions himself as a reformer and moral compass.

“Atiku might be suffering from senility or early-stage brain fatigue triggered by his serial rejections at the polls,” Reuben said.

“How does a man so deeply involved in the systemic weakening of Nigeria’s economic backbone now question a leader who is working tirelessly to repair the damage?

“He supervised the transfer of Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), and other prized national assets to associates under the guise of reforms that left millions of Nigerians worse off. That’s the legacy he’s running from, and he thinks we’ll forget by screaming ‘coalition’ and throwing jabs at Tinubu.”

Responding to Atiku’s recent push for a coalition ahead of 2027, the group dismissed it as another “failed train heading nowhere”.

“Nigerians have seen through that smokescreen. This so-called coalition is nothing but a gathering of political orphans, desperate to regain relevance. It is a failed train heading to nowhere — and Atiku is not only the conductor, he’s the last passenger too,” Reuben declared.

The northern youth group emphasized that while Atiku has been perpetually chasing the presidency, Tinubu got it right on his first attempt because of Nigerians’ trust in his leadership.

Reuben called on Atiku to take a bow from public discourse and stop distracting the current administration from delivering on promises made to Nigerians.

“This is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first time on the presidential ballot — and he won because Nigerians believe in his vision, his intellect, and his ability to take tough decisions. Atiku has contested five times, lost each time, and still thinks we owe him the presidency?,” the group queried.

“He has failed. Nigerians have moved on. It’s time Atiku does the same. His bitterness will not change the fact that the country is finally in the hands of a thinker, a builder, and a leader.”

The Arewa Youth Council concluded by warning that it would continue to speak against “those who sow division, incite bitterness, and attempt to whitewash their tainted legacies in the name of political opposition”.

The APC Youth Network Worldwide has condemned in strong terms the recent outburst by Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, describing his remarks about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointments and alleged mismanagement of borrowed funds as reckless, misleading, and unbecoming of a ranking lawmaker.

A statement issued after a high-level strategy meeting in Abuja on Thursday, the group expressed deep disappointment over Ndume’s claim that the Tinubu administration was spending borrowed funds on frivolities and flouting the constitutional provision on federal character in political appointments.

The group’s National Coordinator, Abubakar Gidado, said Ndume’s remarks were not only factually inaccurate but a deliberate attempt to undermine public confidence in the Tinubu-led government.

“We find Senator Ndume’s comments unfortunate and disgraceful, especially coming from someone who has benefited immensely from the same APC government. His remarks do not reflect the reality of the budgeting framework and reforms introduced by this administration,” Gidado said.

“President Tinubu’s budgeting process has been one of the most transparent and reform-driven systems Nigeria has seen in recent times. From cutting down on waste to prioritising capital projects and reducing recurrent expenditure, the administration has shown a deep commitment to fiscal prudence — something Ndume conveniently ignores in his emotional outbursts.”

The group warned the senator to refrain from making blanket statements without facts, noting that his concerns on federal character lack substance when weighed against actual appointments.

“The president has appointed Nigerians from all regions in strategic positions across federal ministries, agencies and parastatals. If Ndume is still stuck in the past, he should bring himself up to speed with recent developments and stop misleading the public with outdated figures,” Gidado added.

The group further accused the Borno senator of seeking relevance through controversy.

“Ndume should focus more on his legislative duties instead of grandstanding on television. We will not allow political actors to distort the hard work and vision of this administration just to satisfy personal egos or secure media headlines.”

He urged President Tinubu to remain focused and ignore voices that seek to derail the government’s achievements with baseless accusations.

“The youth wing of our party and millions of Nigerians at home and abroad continue to trust in the capacity of this government to deliver on its promises,” Gidado concluded.

A civil society organisation, Citizens for Justice and Accountability in Governance (CJAG), has called for a full-scale investigation into claims by four suspects that they are being pressured to falsely implicate Edison Ehie, chief of staff to suspended Rivers governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in the fire that gutted the state assembly complex in 2023.

The group, led by its president, Stephen Emmanuel, said the recent revelation by the suspects — Chime Ezebalike, Kenneth Kpasa, MacPherson Olumini, and Oladele Lukman — points to a deeply troubling attempt to manipulate justice and escalate the political crisis in Rivers state.

In a statement on Friday, the group said the details shared by the suspects must not be swept under the rug.

“This is no longer just about arson. It is now about a deliberate attempt to destroy reputations, manipulate public perception, and mislead security agencies for political gain,” the statement reads.

“How can anyone in good conscience seek to fabricate allegations so grave, involving murder, attempted assassination, and arson — just to settle political scores? This is criminal, and we demand prosecution of the masterminds.

“What these young men have described — blindfolds, illegal detention, bribe offers, and threats — is a direct assault on human dignity and a violation of every known legal standard. This is a democracy, not a jungle.”

Emmanuel said CJAG is petitioning the Attorney-General of the Federation and the National Human Rights Commission to immediately launch a probe into the circumstances surrounding the arrests and alleged coercion of the suspects.

“We are calling on President Tinubu, as the leader of this nation, to ensure that justice is not perverted. The state cannot allow anyone, no matter how powerful, to weaponise the law for vendettas. It will set a dangerous precedent,” he added.

“If this is part of a conspiracy to silence Ehie or sabotage Governor Fubara, then those responsible must be named and shamed,” Emmanuel said.

“We urge the Inspector-General of Police to order an internal investigation into the role of the Federal Intelligence Response Team (F-IRT) in this matter. Nigerians need to know whether our security operatives are serving the people or acting as pawns in political chess games.”

The group also condemned the continued politicisation of the Rivers crisis, warning that unresolved tensions may threaten national stability if allowed to fester unchecked.

“This is bigger than Rivers state. This is about justice. This is about the soul of our democracy. We cannot claim to uphold the rule of law while innocent people are being used as scapegoats in battles they know nothing about,” Emmanuel added.

CJAG concluded by urging civil society, religious institutions, and the international community to pay closer attention to developments in Rivers, warning that impunity thrives in silence.