A fresh protest against President Bola Tinubu took place in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, on Monday. Hundreds of youths gathered at Freedom Square, a major junction in the metropolis, displaying T-shirts with the inscription "TINUBU MUST GO". The protesters chanted solidarity songs, disrupting traffic in the area. Videos from the protest showed young men and women dressed in white T-shirts, with some riding motorcycles. A vehicle with a public address system was positioned at the centre of the gathering.
The protest comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections and renewed public opposition to the Tinubu administration. In October, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called for the immediate release of five Nigerians arrested in Borno State over T-shirts bearing the same inscription. Atiku argued that wearing a political slogan should not constitute an offence in a democratic society. He questioned the circumstances surrounding the arrests.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has defended Tinubu's economic policies, arguing that the president inherited an economy on the verge of collapse when he assumed office in 2023. Mutfwang made the remarks at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council in Jos. He urged Plateau residents to support Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027. According to the governor, the previous administration left the country in a difficult economic situation.
Mutfwang claimed that Nigeria's external reserves had fallen to slightly above $3 billion from more than $40 billion accumulated over the years. He added that the figure had now risen above $50 billion. The governor accused the previous administration of printing more than N30 trillion to manage the economy. He insisted that the Tinubu government had stabilised the Central Bank of Nigeria.
On the removal of fuel subsidy, Mutfwang described the previous arrangement as fraudulent. He alleged that public funds were used to settle claims backed by fictitious documents. The governor acknowledged that fuel had become more expensive under the current administration but maintained that its availability had improved. He cited the introduction of metro buses and the revival of the railway system within Jos metropolis as measures to ease the impact of the economic situation.
Mutfwang also commended the Tinubu administration's Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). He said hundreds of millions of naira had been disbursed to Plateau indigenes studying in different universities. Some beneficiaries receive N20,000 or N40,000 monthly under the scheme. The governor expressed confidence that Tinubu would win Plateau State in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
The governor backed power rotation between the North and South, arguing that the South should be allowed to complete another eight-year tenure after the North's previous eight years in office. He declared that there would be no vacancy in the Plateau State Government House ahead of the 2027 governorship election. Mutfwang urged APC candidates and campaign council members to take their message to voters with facts and avoid actions that could deepen political divisions.
Key points
- The protest in Zamfara State was against President Bola Tinubu's administration.
- Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called for the release of Nigerians arrested over 'Tinubu Must Go' T-shirts.
- Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang defended Tinubu's economic policies.
