Vice-President Kashim Shettima has warned supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against taking Northern Nigeria’s political support for granted, insisting that the administration must justify its push for re-election in 2027 with facts, transparency and measurable results.
Shettima said the government and its supporters must demonstrate how ongoing reforms were improving security, creating economic opportunities and easing the hardship confronting Nigerians, stressing that political loyalty must go hand in hand with accountable governance.
The Vice-President spoke on Saturday in Abuja while inaugurating the headquarters and campaign structure of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), a Northern political support group mobilising for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He expressed confidence in the support the President had received across the North but cautioned that such backing should not be interpreted as unconditional approval of the administration’s policies.
“By now, I believe the North has spoken. We have spoken with a resounding voice and unmistakable conviction. From Adamawa to Zamfara, from Borno to Niger, we have spoken. Such confidence places an obligation upon us that no officeholder should ever underestimate,” he said.
According to Shettima, the administration’s quest for another mandate must be based on its performance and a clear explanation of how a second term would advance the interests of Nigerians.
“The mandate belongs to the people. We must account for its use and explain how another term would advance their interests,” he said.
‘Don’t Pretend Nigerians Are Not Suffering’
The Vice-President acknowledged the difficult economic adjustments Nigerians had experienced under the Tinubu administration, warning campaigners against dismissing public concerns or relying on political slogans to defend government policies.
“Our citizens have endured difficult adjustments. We cannot pretend otherwise. What we owe them is an honest account of the decisions taken, the gains achieved and the difficulties that persist. We lose our hearing when applause becomes our only source of information,” he said.
He urged the campaign organisation to consider the experiences of traders facing rising business costs, graduates searching for jobs and families struggling to meet daily expenses.
“A failed policy enters somebody’s home as a missed meal, an unpaid school fee or an opportunity lost,” Shettima added.
He also defended criticism as an essential part of democracy, arguing that the administration should be open to constructive contributions from Nigerians irrespective of their political affiliation, ethnicity, religion or region.
“There is no democracy without critics. Progress demands that our assumptions endure the examination of those who disagree with us,” he said.
Shettima Tasks A4A on Public Engagement
Shettima charged the A4A leadership to look beyond electioneering and establish a platform through which communities could communicate their concerns to government officials and receive responses.
“A complaint should travel from a community to those who can act upon it. The people who speak through this organisation deserve to know that somebody is listening,” he said.
He identified security, economic opportunities, poverty reduction, education and stronger public institutions as key areas requiring sustained attention.
According to him, farmers must be able to work safely, children must have access to education that prepares them for productive lives, while public institutions must inspire confidence that hard work can lead to opportunity.
The Vice-President stressed that public service obligations continued beyond election periods, adding that the responsibility to persuade voters did not diminish the government’s duty to address their concerns.
Barau, APC Chairman Rally Support
Earlier, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin described the inauguration of the A4A structure as timely, saying Northern Nigeria needed an organised platform to mobilise support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.
He expressed confidence that the group would help communicate the administration’s achievements and strengthen engagement with communities across the region.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, also called for support for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, arguing that the administration’s record over the past three years provided grounds for continuity.
Yilwatda attributed support for the President in the North partly to what he described as Shettima’s inclusive leadership and progressive outlook.
He also cited infrastructure projects and the appointment of prominent Northern leaders to key government positions as evidence of the administration’s engagement with the region.
Similarly, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, urged Northern Nigerians to assess the administration on the basis of evidence and performance rather than sentiment when making their political choices in 2027.
Akume said the region’s influence and strategic importance should be harnessed to advance national unity and development.
Badaru Promises Grassroots Mobilisation
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of Northern governors, expressed confidence that the region would support the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, citing what he described as the administration’s performance.
He said the region’s position would be guided by its commitment to fairness, equity, national unity and development.
In his welcome address, A4A Director-General and former Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Mohammed Badaru, said the group was established because its members believed Tinubu and Shettima had performed well and deserved another term.
Badaru assured the President and APC leadership that the organisation would mobilise support for continuity and the completion of ongoing government projects through its network across Northern Nigeria.
The event attracted serving members of the National Assembly, ministers, presidential aides, heads of government agencies, former governors and other prominent Northern political figures.
