2027: North Vs Tinubu, The Facts Remain, By Kunle Oyatomi

Whispers are growing that the relationship between President Bola Tinubu and power brokers in the North is showing signs of strain.

Across political circles, there are talks that the North is regretful that despite pulling all strings to install Tinubu in Aso Rock, he is neglectful of their core interests, which range from dehumanising poverty and insecurity to political appointments and policy choices that disadvantage them.

Many of these rumours, which lack substance, are being fanned by a crass, uninventive and failing opposition looking to hijack power in 2027. However, they will certainly fail, regardless of their propaganda against President Tinubu, whose fairness and impartiality have been a source of commendation among Northern elites.

Have they so soon forgotten that just recently, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, openly praised President Tinubu’s dedication to the North-West and the entire northern region?

Ganduje, who cited the President’s intervention projects in infrastructure, agriculture and social development are unmatched, also hailed him for the establishment of the North West Development Commission, saying they are proof of Tinubu’s love for the region’s development.

And what of Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe State, who praised Tinubu’s substantial investment in the livestock sector? In his words, no northern leader in nearly 50 years has done more for the livestock value chain than Tinubu has achieved within his first year in office. If this is neglect, then it is a curious brand of it. Why then weaponise what is untrue? Why fan flames that have no heat?

It was the philosopher, Plato, who said: “No evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death.” And like Kurt Cobain, Tinubu would rather be hated for who he is than loved for who he is not.

Much of that love for Jagaban Borgu was visible in 2023 when the North-Central gave Tinubu 1,760,993; the North-East gave him 1,185,458; and the North-West handed him 2,652,235. Put together, out of Tinubu’s 8,794,726 votes in the election, the North accounted for 5,598,686 or 64 per cent

It is their love, which culminated in the massive votes, that stimulated Tinubu to bring Northerners into his government.

In the current administration, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abu Kyari, is from the North, as well as the Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi.

Both appointees have just delivered 2000 tractors with over 10,000 implements. This is the first trench of a proposed 10,000 trucks. Over 2.1 million bags of fertiliser were distributed to farmers in the last farming season, with an unprecedented drop in food prices.

Already, these moves have resulted in a significant reduction in the price of beans. Food security, which is first on the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is well on track. Food scarcity is out of the conversation, and availability is in!

Again, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar from Bauchi State, is another senior figure. He previously served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany for almost eight years in the last administration. Under the current government, Tuggar has been given a free hand in steering Nigeria’s foreign policy, thereby bringing in investors from Qatar to Dubai, and from Brazil to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He has also revived joint counterterrorism and insurgency efforts between Nigeria, Chad and Niger.

Like his appointment, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, is also from the North. He has courageously taken the war directly to the terrorists. Today, Turji is begging for amnesty and dialogue after his top lieutenant was neutralised by a joint team of vigilantes and a DSS special force.

The two Defence Ministers, Alhaji Badaru and Alhaji Bello Matawalle, are both Northerners. Despite initial scepticism over their appointments, we cannot ignore the major milestones achieved in modernising the military, especially in the acquisition of fighter jets, attack helicopters and the training of military personnel and special forces units across the country.

Ministers of Housing, Culture and Tourism, Women Affairs, Police Affairs, Works (State), and Regional Development (State), among many others, are also Northerners. The new Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, is from the North. The Education Minister was initially from the North, even though he dropped out a few months ago. Nevertheless, the current Minister of State for Education is Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, a distinguished academic in science education.

The list of influential Northern voices in the Tinubu administration continues: Hadiza Bala Usman is Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination; Ya’u Darazo is Special Adviser on Political Matters; and former Governor Masari serves as Senior Special Assistant on Political Affairs. Abdulaziz Abdulaziz is the President’s Special Adviser on Media.

Former Governor Masari is Chairman of TETFund; former Governor Ganduje is Chairman of FAAN; and Dr Aminu Maida heads the NCC. A few days ago, Governor Al-Makura was appointed Chairman of UBEC. NASENI is led by a young Northern innovator, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu.

Adamu Garba, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, is from the North, as is the Director-General of NEMA, Ms. Zubaida Umar, who was recently celebrated by the agency’s entire staff for exceptional leadership. The DG of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, is also a Northerner.

To crown the long list is our Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, whose PULAKU Initiative is working tirelessly to restore and rebuild terrorism-ravaged communities across the North. The initiative has already secured over N50 billion in seed funding and has commenced in pilot North-Western states, with Tudun Biri in Kaduna as a prime example.

Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, who resigned as the National Chairman of the APC, has also retained his position as Board Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, a core agency in the air transport sector. So, who then is fooling whom? The failing opposition, who, as a result of their many lies against the impartial and performing prisoner, would crumble before 2027.

But in the end, as American essayist Lysander Spooner aptly warned: “Those who are capable of tyranny are capable of perjury to sustain it.” The opposition may twist the facts, but facts remain. These facts bare the major reason President Bola Tinubu will triumph in 2027, no matter the growing opposition and their false narratives.

Oyatomi Esq., is a member of the Board of Independent Media and Policy Initiative, a Think Tank, based in Abuja