Northern youths release a short list of names to replace President

The Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) has made a short list of politicians to replace President Muhammadu Buhari for the 2019 presidential elections.

The group said this is part of its efforts to make sure that the nation's highest political seat does not fall to anyone from the southern region of the country.

The list was released by the group's leader, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, and it includes Senate President Bukola Saraki;former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-rufai; Sokoto Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; Borno state Governor, Ibrahim Shettima, and Gombe state Governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo.

Others on the list are: Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari (Governor of Zamfara state), Alhaji Sule Lamido (Former governor of Jigawa), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (former governor of Kano), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff (Former governor of Borno), Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, and Senator Bala Muhammed.

Relating the group's intentions, Afiyo said, "We want to reiterate and clearly warn that the North will not, and will never allow presidency to move to the South in 2019.

"As much as we can tolerate or pay any sacrifice for the unity of this country, we remain committed to a northern president in 2019."

He also said the group has sent the names of the short listed politicians to the group's leadership of the 42 organisations affiliated to the group.

The group will endorse two of the 12 short listed candidates to contest the 2019 presidential election in the event that President Buhari might be too weak to contest.

There have been concerns about the president's state of health ever since he started campaigning for the position.

The concerns have grown since the president was last seen when he embarked on a medical leave to London since May 7.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has been acting in the president's capacity ever since.