By Shola Abayomi.
The All Progressives Youth Forum (APYF) has dismissed widely speculated claims of internal rancour within the Presidency.
The group, in its reaction to a statement credited to the Coalition of Northern Nigerian Youths (CNNY) which had alleged that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was being maltreated, noted that the claims were imaginary and a mere opposition gimmick aimed at causing disaffection in the Presidency.
The APYF’s National Field Director, Mr. Alwan Hassan, disclosed that the group deduced from its findings that the purported witch-hunt of Prof. Osinbajo was a grand opposition conspiracy aimed at breeding estrangement between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President.
Hassan said, “We understand that the statement by CNNY was largely based on the widespread rumor of a ‘cabal war’ against the vice president, but we must clarify that there is no threat or any form of maltreatment against the person of Mr. Vice President.
“As young people with significant contacts within the government and the party, we have made our findings and come to the realization that the imaginary witch hunt of Professor Osinbajo is a mere opposition gimmick aimed at causing disaffection in the Presidency and cause crisis of confidence between President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice.
“The fictitious story of a 90 billion naira election fund which was made against vice president Osinbajo by a certain opposition figure further confirms this grand opposition conspiracy.
“APYF is not the only group that has seen beyond the smokescreen of a nonexistent ‘witchhunt game’ against the Vice President. Many discerning individuals and organizations within and outside the country have since realized that the news of any threat against Prof. Osinbajo or his office is just a grand opposition conspiracy.”
The group’s National Field Director also made reference to a recent comment made by the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay SAN, who described reports of the alleged witch-hunt as fake news being sponsored by the opposition and enemies of the government.
Hassan emphasized that the tact team led by President Buhari and Prof. Osinbajo which terminated the long years of misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, remains impenetrable and firmly committed to its goal of revamping the economy of Nigeria and stamping out corruption.
“Finally, as a formidable youth group within the ruling party, the APC, we wish to reiterate that if at anytime we become aware of any threat against the person of Vice Professor Yemi Osinbajo from any quarters, we would stand by the Vice President who we are sure will also continue to receive the support and backing of his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, in his dedicated service to Nigeria and her people”, the APYF official added.