The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum [AYCF] has dismissed claims by Femi Fani-Kayode that Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff of the President, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari [retd], was appointed to ensure the Islamization of Nigeria.

The former Aviation Minister had alleged that Gambari was appointed to further push Buhari’s agenda of Islamization and Fulanization of Nigeria.

But AYCF President-General, Yerima Shettima, has insisted that the North has no plans to Islamize Nigeria.

Shettima charged Fani-Kayode and those behind such claims to be objective because the North in itself can’t be Islamized.

He said:

“I really like people to be more objective when they are talking. Fani-Kayode has been a very good friend of mine but to put the record straight, I do not think there is any need to Islamize Nigeria and if there was a plan to do such, only the Villa can initiate such.

“As far as the North is concerned, I’m also a stakeholder and I do not think there is anybody anywhere plotting to Islamize Nigeria. The North itself can’t be Islamized not to talk of Nigeria.

“People should be objective and if they have to criticize somebody, they should be objective and speak in a way that people will understand and not just because of their hatred for a particular section of the country, group of people or because they hate those in government, and they just generalize issues. I don’t think it’s right.

“Don’t forget that the former CoS, Abba Kyari was a core Northerner from Maiduguri and his successor is from Kwara State and by extension Yoruba and Fulani, so this Islamization claim does not even arise.

“People should be more objective. In as much as I have a personal relationship with him (Fani-Kayode) and respect him as a very intelligent person, I will advise that let things not be overtaken by our personal sentiments because it won’t be good for the country.”