As debates over the 2027 presidency begin to gather momentum, the Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) has called for continuity, urging support for President Bola Tinubu’s two-term ambition.
In a statement on Sunday in Kaduna, the group’s speaker, Mohammed Salihu Danlami, said its position was driven by the need to promote national unity, political stability, and continuity in governance, stressing that the existing zoning arrangement should be respected.
AYA argued that past political practice allowed former President Muhammadu Buhari to complete two terms without significant opposition from the South, adding that the same principle should now apply to the South under President Tinubu.
It warned that any northern politician who enters the 2027 presidential race would be acting against fairness and the interests of northern youths.
Beyond zoning considerations, the group also praised the Tinubu administration’s reforms in the economy, security, and infrastructure sectors, describing them as significant and impactful.
It claimed that economic policies had led to trillions of naira in annual savings, improved transparency through exchange rate unification, and strengthened external reserves from about $4 billion in 2023 to over $20 billion in 2025.
AYA also said the debt service-to-revenue ratio had dropped from about 97 per cent to below 50 per cent, freeing up resources for development.
The group further noted that international financial institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, had acknowledged the reforms.
On security, it said intensified military operations had led to the neutralisation of insurgents and bandits, as well as the rescue of kidnapped victims, adding that some previously unsafe communities were gradually returning to farming.
It also pointed to ongoing infrastructure projects in rail and road networks as evidence of the administration’s development agenda.
The group cautioned that disrupting the reforms at this stage could undermine progress, insisting they require continuity to fully deliver results.
AYA pledged support for President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 and urged government officials to improve communication of achievements at the grassroots level.
