Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on the North to unite behind President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid, saying the region has nothing to fear from a second term. He made the statement on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when he received a delegation of Arewa for Asiwaju, a northern think tank working for Tinubu's re-election in the 2027 presidential poll. Shettima emphasized that the North had benefited immensely from the administration in appointments and game-changing projects and programmes.
According to Shettima, the Bank of Agriculture has disbursed N450 billion to 700,000 smallholder farmers in Nigeria, with about 70 per cent of the beneficiaries from the North. He added that the present administration is working towards completing landmark and ground-breaking projects in parts of the country. Shettima assured that President Tinubu loves the North and will work for the region's development.
The Vice President thanked the group for its steadfast support of Tinubu and urged members to work harder and mobilise across wards, communities, and local governments in the North for the President's re-election. He encouraged northern leaders to form a single front and work for the development of the region and the wellbeing of its people. Shettima expressed confidence that the North stands to gain more from Tinubu's administration.
The Director-General of Arewa for Asiwaju and former Jigawa State governor, Abubakar Badaru, said the group would not rest on its laurels until it made the North proud by re-electing Tinubu. He disclosed that the group planned to meet religious leaders, including Muslim and Christian clerics, and other prominent Nigerians to explain why they should support the Tinubu/Shettima ticket in 2027.
Badaru revealed that the group had met high-profile individuals severally and would consolidate its gains to convince them to support the ticket. He added that the group was supporting the presidential campaign council with whatever they wanted, focusing on grassroots mobilization. The group's efforts aim to promote Tinubu's re-election in the North.
The chairman of Arewa for Asiwaju's Board of Trustees and former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, said the think tank would repeat its 2023 feat by ensuring Tinubu's re-election in 2027. He disclosed that the group had been meeting northern governors and other stakeholders to compare notes and collaborate on the re-election. Shekarau formally invited Shettima to inaugurate the A4A office complex on Saturday, October 17.
Shekarau described the movement as a collection of prominent citizens drawn from across the North, organized into multiple directorates to handle different aspects of the electoral campaign and public communication. He noted that the group had briefed Shettima on its structure and intentions, receiving his full backing and support. The movement aims to debunk the narrative that the government has done nothing for the North.
Key points
- The North has benefited from the administration in appointments and game-changing projects and programmes.
- The Bank of Agriculture has disbursed N450 billion to 700,000 smallholder farmers, with 70% from the North.
- Arewa for Asiwaju aims to promote Tinubu's re-election in the North by mobilizing grassroots support and meeting with high-profile individuals.
