Northern Youths Emancipation Vanguards (NYEV) has referred to the news linking Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe state to the sponsorship of the ongoing protest demanding ailing President Muhammadu Buhari to either return or resign as “a political handicraft of some disgruntled elements.”
It stated that the story was “a hatchet job meant to satisfy the whims and caprices of certain shadowy paymasters of the fictitious Centre for Truth and Justice (CTJ) and its affiliates.”
NIEV National President, Comrade David J. Joshua, at a press briefing in Abuja at the weekend, said: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication that governors Mimiko and Dankwambo were behind the protest against the Buhari administration. While we take it as myopic and laughable efforts by some political bellyaching elements out to smear the image of the duo, it’s a mischievous allegation in its totality.
“Dankwambo is busy providing selfless governance to the good people of Gombe, and all that anyone in doubt as to how the man has totally transformed Gombe with the unprecedented achievements he has recorded is to go to the state and see for oneself. A leader busy discharging his mandate does not even have the luxury of according full time for himself, not to talk of engaging in needless mischief. On many occasions, despite being in opposition party, Dankwambo has been lending his vast experience to the Buhari administration in various committees.”
The group said it was not Dankwambo’s fault that joblessness had pushed “these jesters to making blackmail a means of livelihood.”
It advised them to engage themselves positively and creatively, and not allow some misguided politicians who have an axe to grind with Dankwambo to hire them two for a penny.