Yari Settles Into Princely Life

By Shuaibu Shuaibu

Former governor of Zamfara and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, appears to have settled into a life of an ‘oil sheikh’ or, in his case, a power-generating and energy sheikh.

Yari, who was first elected to the Nigerian Senate in 2023, almost immediately made a spirited run to become president of the Senate, coming close to matching the votes garnered by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Yari shook the establishment in the process and alleged he was betrayed by some colleagues who he was certain had his back.

But from his princely lifestyle and venture into corporate business, observers would be forgiven for believing Yari has plans to retire from politics, while only occasionally showing up at the Senate, where he represents the people of Zamfara West senatorial zone.

Late last year, Yari emerged as the new chairman of Geregu Power PLC, replacing Femi Otedola and also taking over control of the power-generating company.

The deal, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, was between Yari’s company, MA’AM Energy Ltd, and Otedola’s Amperion Power Distribution Company Ltd.

Geregu Power is valued at N2.83 trillion.

But Yari, it appears, still has an eye for politics despite his lukewarm approach to Senate activities and political gatherings in his state.

Before the APC primaries, during which the party decided the fate of aspiring politicians seeking its ticket into the National Assembly, Yari skipped the stakeholders’ meeting on how to reach consensus on all elective positions.

Virtually every other recognisable name in Zamfara politics was present, including former governors Ahmad Sani Yarima, Mahmuda Shinkafi, and Bello Matawalle.

Apart from state party officials, national-level officials, and other sitting senators, Sahabi Yau Kaura and Ikra Aliyu Bilbis were also present.

Nevertheless, Yari still managed to secure the APC senatorial ticket for his zone almost effortlessly.

In fact, youth groups are vigorously campaigning for President Bola Tinubu to appoint Yari as the director-general of the presidential campaign council. The campaign is being extended to unions and political groups associated with the president.

Leading the presidential campaign could be an appropriate assignment to reignite an energy sheikh’s competitive politics.