The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), a prominent socio-cultural group representing northern Nigeria, has publicly declared regret over its support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election.
Alhaji Shettima Yerima, the president of the forum, stated that the northern region is disillusioned with the current administration and is considering taking action against Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027 if the situation does not improve.
Yerima expressed the growing frustration among northerners, particularly over the government’s inability to address pressing issues such as insecurity and economic hardship, which were central to Tinubu’s campaign promises.
“We are regretting our support for Tinubu,” Yerima remarked, citing unmet expectations from his government. “The northern people had high hopes that Tinubu would bring the needed change after eight years of Buhari’s administration.”
The remarks are a significant indicator of the mounting dissatisfaction in the north, a region that traditionally plays a crucial role in determining the outcome of Nigerian presidential elections.
Yerima’s criticism of Tinubu’s leadership is rooted in the deep-seated concerns of the northern population. He explained that many northerners believed Tinubu, having been an experienced leader, would approach Nigeria’s challenges with fresh solutions, particularly focusing on the nation’s security crisis and economic difficulties.
“People believed that Tinubu understood the country’s problems well. I worked with him and saw him as a role model. We thought he would handle Nigeria’s issues like a democrat, not as a military man,” Yerima stated, reflecting the disillusionment that has grown over the past two years of Tinubu’s leadership.
While Yerima acknowledged that the challenges inherited from the Buhari administration were significant, he stressed that the Tinubu government had not made enough progress to justify the expectations of the northern populace.
“In fairness to him, the situation was very bad. We knew whoever succeeded Buhari would face a tough road, but the expectations were high. We didn’t expect miracles, but we hoped for policies with a cushioning effect to reduce the burden on the people,” he said.
The northern region, which has been heavily affected by economic difficulties and rising insecurity, has seen little relief under the current administration. The region’s vast population of young people, many of whom are unemployed and facing insecurity, has become increasingly vocal in its frustration with the federal government’s inability to deliver on promises.
Yerima also highlighted the government’s failure to improve security, a critical issue in the north where terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings remain rampant. The region had hoped that Tinubu would bring about a more effective approach to security but, according to Yerima, the reality has been far from reassuring.
“The situation in the north is worsening. People are suffering from both economic hardship and insecurity,” Yerima lamented. “What we are seeing from the government is not enough. We cannot afford to keep waiting for promises that are not being fulfilled.”
Despite the mounting frustration, Yerima emphasized that it was still too early to conclude that Tinubu’s administration had failed the north completely. He called for patience and suggested that the government still had time to address the concerns of northerners.
“The north is angry, but we are not in a hurry to conclude that Tinubu has failed. He still has less than two years to turn things around,” Yerima said. “We are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and encourage him to do better.”
However, Yerima made it clear that if Tinubu’s government continued to neglect the needs of the north, the AYCF would work to find alternatives for the 2027 elections. He warned that the northern electorate could mobilize against Tinubu, especially if no significant changes occurred.
“If nothing is done to improve the lives of the people, some of us will rally together and put our votes where we know we will get better treatment,” he declared. “We will consult with all stakeholders, and if necessary, we will find an alternative candidate.”
Yerima also turned his criticism towards the leadership at the state level, particularly calling out governors for their failure to generate revenue and reduce dependency on federal allocations.
He argued that many northern governors had been complacent, relying too heavily on federal funds and neglecting their responsibilities to generate income within their states.
“Some of the governors lack creativity and initiative,” Yerima said. “Instead of focusing on developing their states, they prefer to share federal funds with their cronies rather than invest in the future of their people.”
The youth leader advocated for decentralizing the federal system, suggesting that giving more power to the states would force them to be more self-sufficient and innovative in their governance. He argued that a shift towards state-driven development would benefit the entire country.
“We need a more decentralized federal structure that will allow states to generate revenue and take responsibility for their own development,” Yerima added. “This will encourage states to be more productive, benefiting not only their citizens but the country as a whole.”
Despite the frustration, Yerima concluded that the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum was not giving up on the Tinubu government just yet. He said there was still time for the administration to correct its course and address the issues of insecurity and economic hardship that have plagued the northern region.
“There is still time, and we are not in a rush to pass judgment,” Yerima said. “But if the government continues to ignore the needs of the people, we will take action in 2027.”
