2027: Yari Visits Obas Of Benin, Lagos, Seeks Blessings For Tinubu

The Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Abdulaziz Yari, has called on Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, citing what he described as economic gains recorded by the administration since assuming office.

Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State, made the call yesterday when he led members of the campaign council to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku’Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, to seek royal blessings, prayers and support for the president’s re-election.

He had earlier led members of the PCC to the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, as part of the council’s engagements ahead of the 2027 presidential election, where he urged Nigerians in the northern region to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying there is no justification for the region to withhold its backing.

Yari, on Monday, led the delegation to meet the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar, in Sokoto.

Explaining the purpose of the visit to the Benin Monarch, Yari said: “Our mission today is simple: Mr. President formed the campaign council for his re-election. We are here to seek royal blessings, prayers and support for the re-election of your son, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, come 2027.”

The former governor said the Tinubu administration had made progress in key economic indicators, claiming that annual GDP growth increased from 2.7 per cent in 2023 to 3.9 per cent, while inflation declined from 22.9 per cent to 15.9 per cent.

Yari also said the administration had stabilised the foreign exchange market, describing Tinubu as the right person to lead the country.

He urged Nigerians to recognise the administration’s economic policies and support the president as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing the need for continuity in governance.

Responding, Oba Ewuare II said there was no need to seek change merely for its own sake, urging Nigerians to consider continuity where it served the national interest.

The monarch, however, clarified that the Benin throne remained non-partisan and that his remarks should not be interpreted as support for any political party.

“There is no point for change for the sake of change. That is not to say that I belong to one party or the other,” the Oba said, while appealing to political leaders across party lines to cooperate in the interest of the country.

Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, thanked the monarch for his royal blessings and expressed support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.

In Lagos, Yari urged Nigerians in the northern region to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027, saying there is no justification for the region to withhold its backing.

The former Zamfara State governor said the North should reciprocate the support Tinubu gave former President Muhammadu Buhari during his presidential campaigns and subsequent re-election.

He recalled that Tinubu resisted pressure from some members of the APC to challenge Buhari for the presidency in 2019, insisting that it was the North’s turn to produce the president.

Yari, who represents Zamfara West in the Senate, said Tinubu’s decision to support Buhari at the time created an obligation for northerners to reciprocate by supporting the incumbent president in 2027.

“For us in the North, I think it is time for us to pay Tinubu back for allowing the North to complete its full term,” Yari said.

He said some members of the APC had attempted to persuade Tinubu to contest the 2019 presidential election against Buhari, but he rejected the move.

“I remember there was a struggle by some power-mongering bloc within the APC that tried to convince Tinubu to contest the presidential election in 2019. He resisted the pressure and said it was the turn of the North.

“Tinubu said as long as Buhari can come out and ask people to vote for him, he would be with Buhari till the end. And that was what Tinubu truly did,” he said.

Yari said the APC campaign council was also backing Tinubu’s second-term bid based on what it described as the president’s performance and efforts to tackle challenges inherited from previous administrations.

“Today, I don’t think there is an excuse for us from the northern region not to support Tinubu to continue the good job he started and complete his tenure,” he said.

“The message from northern Nigeria, where I came from, is that there is nothing to worry about. There are still people of high calibre and character who believe in justice and fairness.

“We will do our best to ensure Tinubu’s journey continues to the end. He can count on us.”

The APC campaign council DG further said Tinubu had undertaken what he described as significant restructuring of the country despite inheriting a difficult situation from previous administrations.

He, however, stressed that the council’s support for Tinubu was not based solely on the principle of power rotation.

According to him, the campaign council believes Nigerians want Tinubu to remain in office and continue with the policies and programmes of his administration.