The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has expressed deep dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing regrets from northern Nigeria for supporting him in the 2023 elections.
In a statement by AYCF President, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, the group warned that the North might oppose Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027 unless significant changes are made to improve the country’s socio-economic conditions.
Yerima highlighted the growing anger among northerners, who feel let down by the president’s performance, particularly given the high expectations placed on him to address pressing issues like insecurity and economic hardship.
Reflecting on Tinubu’s leadership, Yerima noted that the North had hoped for a departure from the shortcomings of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, which he described as a period of unfulfilled promises for the region.
“In some quarters, there are certain regrets by the northern region. Don’t forget the eight years of Buhari’s administration brought nothing to the North,” he said.
“The expectation was so high that Tinubu, being a democrat, would approach the issues differently and proffer solutions.
But the people are disappointed because they are not getting what they expected from him.”
Yerima acknowledged that Tinubu inherited a challenging situation but criticized the administration for failing to provide adequate relief to mitigate the impact of its policies.
“Yes, there are expected reforms, but what is expected from the government is that whatever policy you are bringing, there must be a cushioning effect so that people do not unnecessarily suffer,” he added.
Yerima also condemned some northern governors for relying heavily on federal allocations instead of generating revenue through innovative means.
He accused them of prioritizing personal gains over the development of their states, advocating for a more decentralized federal structure to promote self-sufficiency.
“Some governors rely heavily on federal allocations, preferring to share federal funds with their cronies rather than investing in their states’ development,” Yerima remarked.
Despite his criticisms, Yerima called for patience, urging northern stakeholders to give Tinubu time to implement meaningful reforms.
However, he issued a stern warning that failure to address the concerns of the North could result in a united front against Tinubu’s reelection in 2027.
“The North is angry with the government, but the government still has another opportunity in less than two years to turn things around,” Yerima said.
“If Tinubu doesn’t positively impact the lives of the people, some of us can gang up against him and put our vote where we know we can get better treatment.”
The AYCF leader emphasized that while it is too early to declare Tinubu a failure, the administration must act swiftly to rebuild trust and deliver on its promises to the northern region.
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