A coalition of Arewa youth groups has called on President Bola Tinubu to compensate Kano State with an additional ministerial slot following the resignation of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The youths made the appeal during an emergency meeting of the coalition’s northwest branch held in Kano, where they also endorsed Nasir Bala Aminu, popularly known as Ja’oji, for appointment as minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation.
Ganduje, a former governor of Kano, stepped down amid mounting pressure within the party, leaving the northwest zone with reduced representation in the APC’s national leadership structure.
In a communiqué signed by Balarabe Abdullahi Jega, the coalition’s northwest zonal coordinator, the group argued that Kano deserves compensation, having delivered the highest number of votes for Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
Part of the statement read: “With Ganduje’s exit, Kano State has lost a prominent seat at the national level.
“It is only just and strategic for Mr President to reward Kano with an additional ministerial slot.”
The youths said Ja’oji, a board member of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum, is well-positioned for the humanitarian affairs ministry due to his track record in grassroots mobilisation, philanthropy, and youth development.
“Hon Nasir Bala Aminu (Ja’oji) has consistently championed the cause of northern youths and the underprivileged,” the group said.
They noted that Ja’oji runs scholarship schemes for students in Nigeria and abroad and has remained loyal to the APC and the president’s development agenda.
“His capacity, political will, and commitment to Mr President’s vision make him an ideal fit for the role,” the statement added.
The coalition assured President Tinubu that appointing Ja’oji would reinforce the support base of the APC in the northwest, particularly Kano, ahead of future electoral cycles.