Northern Youths, under the umbrella body of Arewa Youth Integrity Forum has promised to mobilise 20 million youths across the 19 northern states for President Goodluck Jonathan's second-term bid.

They commended the President for his visit to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital last week, describing it as a bold step.

The youths, in a statement issued by its national president, Hamid Usman, on Sunday in Abuja described Jonathan as a statesman who was sympathetic to the plight of his followers, commending his courage and bravery.

They described the courage shown by the president in "travelling to Maiduguri which is seen as a hotbed for crisis as not only commendable but exemplary for all intending leaders."

While expressing their support for the second-term bid of the President, the group said Jonathan had proved that he had what it takes to drive Nigeria to the next level, having defeated the local content of insurgency and ready to fight the foreign elements that had joined insurgents to make Nigeria ungovernable for the citizenry.‎
"The president had proved wrong a section of northern elders who said the president can not campaign in the north.
"We are confident that Mr. President will campaign anywhere in Nigeria even the north where it has been proved that he is popular against the propaganda advanced by spent horses.
"We are also confident that he will trump his opponents at the polls."

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