Former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, has said he is willing to lead a campaign for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 if the president addresses insecurity in northern Nigeria before the polls.
Bafarawa stated this in an interview with RFI Hausa, stressing that the restoration of peace and security would determine whether he would personally support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The former governor, who served from 1999 to 2007, said his priority was to see farmers return to their farmlands without fear of attacks and enable residents to earn their livelihoods in a peaceful environment.
“From now until the election, I can personally campaign for Tinubu for one reason: if he addresses the insecurity troubling our people, by God, I will vote for him,” he said.
Bafarawa argued that northern residents were more concerned about their safety, economic survival and access to basic necessities than political campaigns and spending ahead of the elections.
He urged the Federal Government to prioritise tackling banditry and its consequences, insisting that restoring security would provide relief to communities whose livelihoods had been disrupted by persistent attacks.
The former governor also raised concerns over the number of children in northern Nigeria who remain out of school, both in conventional and Islamic education, warning that the situation could undermine the region’s future.
He maintained that Tinubu still had time to demonstrate his commitment to addressing the challenges facing the North before Nigerians decide on his re-election.
Bafarawa also called on northern political leaders to unite and develop a common strategy for tackling insecurity, blaming divisions among regional leaders for worsening the situation.
On the appointment of Senator Abdulaziz Yari as director-general of Tinubu’s campaign, Bafarawa said he supported the decision and did not fault the senator for accepting the responsibility.
He described the appointment as an act of national service, adding that Yari had consulted northern elders before and after securing the position and received their prayers and advice.
However, Bafarawa noted that Yari’s appointment did not automatically determine the outcome of the 2027 presidential election, stressing that the senator was expected to perform his duties to the best of his ability.
