By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) has thrown its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership of the nation’s security architecture, urging him to resist any pressure aimed at removing the country’s service chiefs amid ongoing security challenges.

Speaking at a world press conference on the state of the nation on Wednesday, the group’s spokesperson, Aliyu Mohammed, said the President possesses the exclusive constitutional authority to appoint, direct and retain the leadership of the Armed Forces, stressing that such powers should not be influenced by political interests or pressure groups.

According to the group, Sections 130(2) and 218 of the 1999 Constitution empower the President as Commander-in-Chief to determine the operational use of the Armed Forces and appoint their highest commanders.

“The confidence and trust he has reposed in the nation’s service chiefs should not be undermined by the noise of political opportunists or the machinations of those whose ambitions supersede national interest,” Mohammed said.

The assembly expressed concern over reports suggesting that certain political actors and power brokers may have allegedly held meetings outside Nigeria with the aim of engineering the removal of the current military leadership.

While noting that such claims remain unproven and should be subjected to lawful investigation, the group warned that any attempt to manipulate the nation’s security leadership for political or personal interests would be detrimental to national stability.

“We wish to state clearly that these allegations deserve serious attention and careful scrutiny by relevant authorities. However, until any such claims are officially established through lawful processes, they remain allegations,” Mohammed stated.

The group argued that Nigeria’s security architecture should not be turned into a tool for political contests, particularly at a time when security forces are battling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and insurgency across several regions of the country.

Acknowledging the nation’s security challenges, the Arewa Youth Assembly said citizens have legitimate concerns over insecurity but urged Nigerians to also recognize the sacrifices being made by members of the Armed Forces and security agencies.

It cited the recent rescue of the wife of a retired Major General and other military operations as evidence of the commitment and resilience of the current service chiefs and troops in confronting criminal elements.

“While there remains much work to be done, it would be both unfair and counterproductive to ignore these efforts or diminish these achievements,” the group said.

The assembly maintained that addressing insecurity requires strengthening security institutions, providing adequate resources, intelligence and equipment to the military, and ensuring sustained policy support rather than replacing commanders for political expediency.

It therefore called on President Tinubu to remain steadfast in his support for the service chiefs and resist what it described as attempts to create discord between the President and the military leadership.

“Do not permit those driven by selfish ambitions to dictate the direction of national security. Stand firmly behind your service chiefs, strengthen their hands, empower them with the support they require within the bounds of law and accountability,” Mohammed urged.

The group also appealed to Nigerians across ethnic, religious and political divides to support the Armed Forces by providing credible information to security agencies and promoting national unity.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, stability and national development, the Arewa Youth Assembly expressed confidence in the country’s ability to overcome its security challenges through collective effort and institutional support.