Shettima Declares Tinubu's Love for North: A Strategic Political Pledge

Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima has issued a fervent appeal to the Northern region, urging its leaders and citizens to coalesce in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 presidential election. Emphasizing that the North has absolutely nothing to fear from a second term for the President, Shettima framed the administration’s prospective second-term agenda as a robust guarantee for the region’s future prosperity and stability, thereby imploring for unified support.

The Vice President articulated this call on Monday during a courtesy visit from a delegation of the Arewa for Tinubu (A4A), a prominent northern-based think tank actively engaged in President Tinubu’s re-election efforts. In a statement released by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, Senator Shettima underscored the paramount importance of regional unity, encouraging leaders across the North to form a cohesive front to advance the area’s progress and enhance the well-being of its populace, aligning these objectives with the Tinubu administration’s core priorities.

According to the Vice President, the North possesses no legitimate reason to be apprehensive about President Tinubu’s re-election, citing the immense benefits the region has already accrued through strategic appointments and transformative projects and programs. He specifically highlighted that the Bank of Agriculture has disbursed an impressive N450 billion to 700,000 smallholder farmers across Nigeria, with approximately 70 percent of these beneficiaries hailing from the northern states. Shettima further assured the delegation that the current administration is diligently working towards the completion of landmark and groundbreaking projects nationwide, reiterating President Tinubu’s deep affection for and unwavering commitment to the North.

The Vice President expressed his gratitude to the Arewa for Tinubu group for their consistent and steadfast support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He further appealed to them to intensify their efforts, galvanizing support across various wards, communities, and local government areas throughout the northern region to ensure the President’s successful re-election.

Earlier in the meeting, Abubakar Badaru, the Director General of Arewa for Asiwaju and former Governor of Jigawa State, affirmed the organization’s unwavering commitment to making the North proud through President Tinubu’s re-election. Badaru outlined the group’s strategic plans, which include engaging with influential religious leaders, encompassing both Muslim and Christian clerics, as well as other prominent Nigerians, to elucidate the critical need to back the Tinubu/Shettima ticket in 2027. He noted that substantial progress has already been made in high-profile discussions, with the Board of Trustees scheduled for further meetings to consolidate gains and reinforce the rationale for supporting the ticket. Additionally, A4A plans to provide micro-level support to the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), focusing intensely on grassroots contacts within local government areas and wards to maximize outreach and impact.

Ibrahim Shekarau, the Chairman of the organization’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and former Governor of Kano State, reiterated that the think tank, which played a pivotal role in President Tinubu’s election in 2023, is fully prepared to replicate that success in 2027. Shekarau detailed ongoing collaborations, confirming that the organization has been holding meetings with northern governors and various other stakeholders to exchange insights and coordinate joint efforts towards the President’s re-election. He also announced that A4A has finalized plans for a full-fledged secretariat to enhance coordination, featuring dedicated offices for directors and state coordinators to meticulously compare reports, analyze data, and issue instructions to its extensive membership network. The BoT Chairman formally extended an invitation to the Vice President to officially commission the new A4A office complex on Saturday, October 17, 2027.

The significant gathering also saw the attendance of several high-profile individuals, including former Governors Chief Joshua Dariye and Senator Simon Lalong of Plateau State; Rev. Jolly Nyame of Taraba; Alhaji Yahaya Bello of Kogi; Barr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina; and Mallam Isa Yuguda of Bauchi. Also present were Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to The President on Policy and Coordination, and Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman of the NDLEA, alongside other distinguished officials of government and members of the A4A BOT and Secretariat.