North tired of Tinubu, Atiku, Obi: ACF

The North's disillusionment with Nigeria's current crop of politicians has reached a boiling point, with the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, declaring that President Bola Tinubu has lost significant political standing in the region since his 2023 election victory. For Prof. Tukur Mohammed-Baba, the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, this is a stark reality that cannot be ignored. As he navigated the complexities of Nigeria's politics on PrimeTime Arise Television, he couldn't help but express his frustration with the current state of affairs. At stake for him, and by extension, the North, is the need for a credible alternative to the status quo.

Since his election victory in 2023, President Tinubu has struggled to deliver on his promises, particularly in the North. The statistics paint a bleak picture: insecurity has worsened, and the economy has continued to falter. In the North, where Tinubu's support was a crucial factor in his victory, the situation is particularly dire. Prof. Mohammed-Baba cited the example of a northern village where bandits ordered residents off their farmland and threatened to invade their homes, forcing the community to resort to self-help. This is a stark reminder that the government's inability to protect its citizens has led to a normalization of self-help, undermining the very essence of the state's role.

At the heart of Nigeria's problems lies a politics of personality, where leaders are more concerned with advancing their personal interests than addressing the country's pressing issues. Prof. Mohammed-Baba lamented the lack of clear policy ambition or ideological standard among Nigeria's politicians, describing them as bereft of ideas. This has led to a situation where the average northern voter is disillusioned and has been for a long time. The permutations have been endless, northern candidates, Muslim-Muslim tickets, and so on, but the outcome has been the same: a politics of personality that neglects the region's needs.

While Prof. Mohammed-Baba was scathing in his assessment of President Tinubu's performance, he was equally dismissive of the potential alternatives, namely Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. He described Atiku as a recurring decimal who had still not articulated what he would do differently, despite multiple attempts at the presidency. The Peter Obi, on the other hand, had built goodwill in the North before 2023 but had since squandered it. What does the future hold for these two potential alternatives?

As the 2027 presidential election draws near, the North is crying out for a credible alternative to the status quo. The ACF's declaration is a stark reminder that the region's frustration with Nigeria's politicians cannot be ignored. While it is difficult to predict the outcome of the election, one thing is certain: the North will not settle for mediocrity. Prof. Mohammed-Baba's words are a clarion call to action, a reminder that the region's future depends on its ability to demand better from its leaders.

As the 2027 presidential election approaches, the North will be watching closely to see if any of the current crop of politicians can deliver on their promises. For Prof. Mohammed-Baba, the stakes are high, and the consequences of failure will be dire.