In a recent interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, a senior member of the Arewa Consultative Forum, expressed strong confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s prospects for the 2027 presidential election.
Yakasai stated that no other candidate currently matches Tinubu’s political strength and support network.
Yakasai noted that the northern region has not yet taken an official stance on the 2027 presidential race. “I haven’t heard anybody making any proposition about the 2027 presidential election from Arewa Consultative Forum,” he said, emphasizing that what is often presented as the forum’s position are individual opinions. “All sections of the north have not taken a stand on this,” he added.
He urged Nigerians to wait for a formal northern position before drawing conclusions. “In Nigeria today, Bola Tinubu is the president. He has his ministers and governors who are backing him,” Yakasai remarked, questioning who else could compete with Tinubu’s political stamina and resources.
He highlighted the ruling APC’s dominance in most states and noted that some opposition governors also support Tinubu, strengthening his re-election bid. “We should all wait and see if the picture will change drastically, otherwise for now, the odds are in his (Tinubu’s) favour,” he said.
Yakasai dismissed claims that Tinubu has acted against northern interests, stating, “He hasn’t done anything against the north in my understanding and the north alone cannot decide who becomes the president of the country.” He also mentioned that opposition party crises have weakened their electoral chances.
Regarding governance, Yakasai refrained from evaluating Tinubu’s administration but advised politicians to focus on ideology and the welfare of the masses rather than ethnic or religious politics. “Our politicians should see politics as a dynamic game. Let them envision the way they want the country to be,” he said.
On a personal note, Yakasai, soon to be 100 years old, attributed his longevity to divine grace and family genetics, with his father living to 107 and mother nearly 100. “My children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are more than 80 and still expanding. I give glory to God for these,” he concluded.
