Northern leaders on Monday declared their unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, pledging to stand solidly behind him as he seeks a second term in 2027.
Under the banner of the Arewa Think-Tank (ATT), the leaders said their renewed alliance with the Southwest geopolitical zone is a deliberate move to strengthen national unity and sustain the country’s democratic stability.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the residence of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, leader of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, in Akure, Ondo State capital, the group expressed satisfaction with President Tinubu’s mid-term performance and reforms, describing him as a visionary leader steering Nigeria toward economic recovery and national cohesion.
The delegation, led by Muhamadu Alhaji Yakubu, with other members including Muhammad Ibrahim, Ahmed Tijani Hamisu, Wasila Abdul Hamid, and Adamu Sani, emphasized that the North is committed to ensuring Tinubu completes the constitutional eight-year tenure for the South, just as former President Muhammadu Buhari did for the North.
Yakubu, who represented the group’s convener and former Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, said the visit symbolized a rekindling of the age-long political understanding between the North and Southwest — two regions he described as “the pillars of Nigeria’s political foundation.”
“We are here to renew our relationship with the Southwest and reassure the region that the North will stand by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. We thank the Southwest for giving Nigeria a leader with vision, courage, and a clear mission. His performance in just two years has given us confidence that he will take this nation to the promised land.”
He added that the ATT’s engagement with other regions is part of a broader agenda to deepen inter-regional collaboration, promote sustainable development, and ensure the nation’s continued unity.
“Our visit today marks a pivotal moment in the enduring alliance between the North and the Southwest — one that has always shaped Nigeria’s destiny. We are happy with the President’s mid-term scorecard. It is impressive, and it gives us hope for a better tomorrow,” he said.
Responding, Oba Olu Falae, Chairman of Afenifere’s National Executive Committee, lauded the Northern leaders for their show of goodwill and reaffirmed the Yoruba group’s belief in a united and peaceful Nigeria.
Falae, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), described President Tinubu as a courageous reformer who is confronting Nigeria’s structural economic challenges head-on.
“We all knew that the fuel subsidy was benefiting only a few individuals who became billionaires at the expense of the people. No previous government dared to remove it, but Tinubu had the courage to act. Likewise, his decision to unify the exchange rate was painful but necessary for our economy to attract investors and grow sustainably.”
The elder statesman, who is also a traditional ruler, noted that while the initial hardship caused by the reforms was undeniable, the economy was beginning to show positive signs of recovery.
“As a farmer, I can tell you the prices of food have started coming down. A truckload of cassava that sold for ₦450,000 last year now sells for ₦150,000. A congo of gari that was ₦1,500 now goes for ₦700. Even rice has dropped from ₦3,500 to ₦1,500. These are practical outcomes, not theories,” Falae noted.
He encouraged those supporting the President to highlight these improvements and not allow misinformation to overshadow the progress being made.
In the same vein, a communiqué signed by Otunba Kole Omololu, Afenifere’s National Organising Secretary, the Yoruba socio-political group commended the Arewa Think-Tank for promoting unity, truth, and fairness in their approach to governance and national dialogue.
Omololu disclosed that both groups agreed to strengthen collaboration on key national issues, including constitutional reform, security, and economic development — all geared toward building a prosperous and equitable federation.
“The revitalized collaboration between the North and the Southwest builds upon the legacy of Nigeria’s founding fathers. It is a partnership grounded in mutual respect and a shared vision for a stable and flourishing Nigeria.”
Fidelis David
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