Northern Elite Declare Support For Tinubu’s Re-Election, Launch Movement

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Prominent political leaders and elites from across the northern region have formally declared their support for the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu, announcing the establishment of a dedicated political organisation named ‘Arewa For Asiwaju’.

​The delegation, comprising key stakeholders from the North-West, North-Central, and North-East geopolitical zones, announced the move after paying a courtesy call on Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

​Speaking on behalf of the group, former Kano State Governor and former Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, stated that the movement was formed to mobilise voters across the North and counter claims regarding the administration’s performance in the region.

​“The business of today – it is a movement that has been established to promote the election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, His Excellency the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, within the Northern Region of Nigeria,” Shekarau declared.

​“We call this movement Arewa for Asiwaju, simply indicating that the entire region is ready and committed to the re-election of Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.

​Shekarau described the initiative as a coalition of key Northern political figures structured across several operational directorates to effectively carry out campaign strategies and public enlightenment.

​Addressing critics of the administration, Shekarau emphasised that one of the core objectives of the group is to challenge narratives alleging that the Federal Government has neglected the North.

​“This outfit is a collection of who is who—prominent citizens of the North within the three geopolitical zones of North-West, North-Central, and North-East—that have come together and established this movement with so many directorates to handle different aspects of the election and the promotion of the understanding of the good works of Mr. President within the Northern region,” he said.

“This is so that we debunk the wrong narration and the wrong claim that the government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done nothing up in the North, which we believe is a mischievous, wrong narration.”

​Explaining the group’s decision to visit the Presidential Villa, Shekarau noted that Vice President Shettima represents a fundamental arm of the presidency’s joint ticket.

​“We decided to pay a courtesy call to the Vice President, who is part of the ticket of Mr. President. If you elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you are as well and as good as electing Vice President Kashim Shettima,” Shekarau said.

​He disclosed that the delegation briefed the Vice President on the structure and objectives of the new movement, adding that Shettima welcomed the initiative and pledged his full support.

​“We have briefed him, and he has expressed his support, his commendation for this commitment, and his readiness to give us all the encouragement, the support, and the fatherly role to promote this mission. This is why we are here,” Shekarau concluded.

​The launch of the Arewa for Asiwaju movement marks a major political step in consolidating support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) across Northern Nigeria ahead of the upcoming electoral cycle.

Members of the group include former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello; former Governor of Jigawa State and former Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; former Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong; former Governor of Bauchi State, Isah Yuguda; and Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marawa, among others.