Former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa has said he would support President Bola Tinubu in Nigeria’s 2027 general election if the administration succeeds in bringing security and stability back to Northern Nigeria.
Bafarawa said his support would depend solely on Tinubu restoring calm in Sokoto State and across other troubled areas of the North.
“The only requirement for my vote to go to President Tinubu is that he must deliver peace and return full normal life to my community and other parts of the North,” he said.
He argued that the President has little time to address the crisis, but has access to the funding, authority and security institutions required to improve the situation.
“A leader with power, money and security should be able to alter the insecurity situation in the North within one month, or at most three months,” Bafarawa said.
The former governor said he was not seeking campaign funds or personal benefits, but wanted communities to be secure enough for economic and social activity to resume.
“I have no interest in anything described as campaign money. What I want is for President Tinubu to use every available means to restore peace, so that markets can operate, schools can reopen, farming can resume and other means of livelihood can return in our communities. If he does that, I assure him of my vote,” he said.
Bafarawa said he had met Tinubu only once since he became President, during an encounter at a mosque.
He further alleged that an individual directed by Tinubu to bring him to the Presidential Villa later declined to do so and blocked his telephone lines.
Although he is not a member of the All Progressives Congress, or APC, Bafarawa said he would back any candidate, including Tinubu, who could re-establish security in the North.
“It is unacceptable that our children are now unable to attend school. Does anyone who takes education away from you not also take life away from you? Rural residents cannot access their farms, while many communities have been entirely deserted. That is why, at this point, Tinubu becomes my candidate if he delivers peace,” he said.
Yari’s campaign appointment
Addressing the appointment of former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari as director-general of Tinubu’s campaign, despite continuing banditry in Zamfara, Bafarawa defended Yari’s decision to take the role.
He said Yari, as an APC member, was obliged to comply with his party’s decision, particularly because the appointment came from the President.
“I see nothing improper in Abdulaziz Yari accepting the position of campaign DG for President Tinubu. He is carrying out an assignment given to him, and it would have been disrespectful for him to reject it,” he said.
Bafarawa added that Yari had sought advice from several people before accepting the role and later returned for additional consultation.
He said Yari’s conduct reflected personal integrity.
