2027: No better candidate than Tinubu, Ganduje says

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has declared that there was no better candidate to lead the Nigeria beyond 2027 than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Ganduje, also a former governor of Kano State, made the assertion when he received a delegation of Northern Nigeria youth leaders from the 19 northern states in Abuja on Thursday.

The former APC National Chairman told the youths who are on courtesy visit and also decorated him as their patron that it will be a big mistake to also assume that voters in the Northern part of the country will abandon Tinubu in 2027.

According to him, Tinubu is head and shoulder above other aspiring to govern the country in 2027 with his political experience, commitment to national unity and reform-driven leadership.

He added that Tinubu’s political pedigree, role in the pro-democracy struggle that forced him into exile during military rule also stand him apart from others.

The former Kano governor said Nigeria is fortunate to have President Tinubu, who he described as a seasoned and genuine politician whose life and career were rooted in politics and democratic struggle as a leader..

“As we approach the 2027 elections, those who are assuming or hoping that the North will support another candidate other than Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu are making a big mistake,” Ganduje said.

“This is the first time Nigeria is fortunate to have a president who is a complete politician. Politics is his constituency; politics is his upbringing. He believes deeply in the unity of this country. He fought for democracy and even went into exile so that democracy could survive in Nigeria.

“There is therefore no better person to be elected in 2027 than Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

The former governor also said the agreement that power would shift to the South after the completion of the eight-year tenure of the late president Muhamadu Buhari must be respected.

“Asiwaju has been in office for less than four years, yet we have already seen the impact of the reforms he has introduced reforms aimed at improving the socio-economic development of this country,” he said.

Ganduje also said the Tinubu administration’s removal of fuel subsidy was a difficult, but necessary step that previous administrations avoided.

“All the candidates who contested the 2023 election promised to remove fuel subsidy. Even the previous government made similar promises, but nobody was bold enough to take that decision. Asiwaju did,” he stated.

The former governor noted that the removal of fuel subsidy had resulted in increased revenue for states across the federation, regardless of party affiliation.

“Today, all governors, irrespective of political party, acknowledge that they are receiving more funds for development. The president did not remove subsidy to favour APC governors; he did it for the good of the nation. These are measures that will ultimately strengthen Nigeria’s economy,” Ganduje added.

While assuring the Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders of his continued support, Ganduje commended the group for their commitment, courage, and organisational strength , particularly their resolve to mobilise support and raise funds for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

“There is no better demonstration of commitment than this. You are contributing your funds, your intellect, your energy, and your time to ensure the re-election of Asiwaju. For this, I sincerely commend and thank you,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the youth group, Murtala Muhammad Gamji, described Ganduje as a role model.

He recalled that Ganduje, as governor of Kano State empowered young people and elevated youth participation in governance.

Gamji also dismissed claims that the North would not support Tinubu in 2027.

He said such claims are false and misleading: “Nobody has supported us in the North the way Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has. Any suggestion to the contrary is simply not true,” he declared.

“We are here to tell you that wherever you lead, we will follow. We have unanimously agreed to support the re-election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by massively mobilising youths across the 19 Northern states and raising funds to purchase his nomination form ahead of the election,” Gamji said.