‘God Chose Me’: Yari Vows to Deliver Zamfara for Tinubu in 2027

By Taibat Ummi Yakubu

Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, Director-General of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 campaign council, has declared that his appointment to lead the campaign was an act of divine choice, as he rallied party leaders and stakeholders in Zamfara State to unite behind the president’s re-election bid.

Yari made the declaration on Friday in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, while addressing party leaders, ward and local government officials and other stakeholders as part of his nationwide mobilisation campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The former Zamfara governor said his new role would require him to criss-cross the country, explaining the achievements of the Tinubu administration and presenting the president’s plans for the country’s future.

But before taking that message to other parts of Nigeria, Yari said he considered it important to return to his political home and seek the backing of stakeholders in Zamfara.

“This is my homeland,” he said, stressing that success in the state would be central to the overall campaign strategy.

Yari said he expected Zamfara to rank among the states that would deliver the strongest support for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, expressing confidence that the state would play a major role in the president’s bid for another term.

He also reminded party members that winning the election would not be the responsibility of the campaign council alone.

According to him, every member of the party, from ward-level officials to state leaders and other stakeholders, has a role to play in delivering victory.

Yari attributed his appointment as campaign director-general to divine intervention, noting that thousands of people could have been considered for the position.

“Allah chose me to be here as director-general,” he said, urging party members to give the campaign broad support and work collectively towards its objectives.

He said the campaign would rely on consultations, stakeholder engagements, open discussions and large-scale mobilisation rather than being driven solely by political rallies.

More importantly, Yari said the campaign would focus on the record and policies of the Tinubu administration instead of attacking political opponents.

He said Nigerians would be presented with what the administration inherited, what it had done so far and what it intended to achieve if given another mandate.

“Our campaign is not to mention anybody,” Yari said, insisting that the focus would be on Nigeria, its economy, security challenges and the government’s efforts to address them.

Economic reforms

Yari acknowledged that some of the policies introduced by the Tinubu administration had created economic difficulties for Nigerians, but defended the reforms as necessary measures to reposition the country’s economy.

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He argued that some economic changes inevitably come with short-term pain, particularly when governments are attempting to correct longstanding structural problems.

According to him, the president and his team are working to build a stronger economy capable of delivering better opportunities for Nigerians in the long run.

On taxation, Yari said the administration’s reforms were intended to make the system more equitable by linking tax obligations to income rather than placing disproportionate pressure on ordinary Nigerians.

He maintained that people who earn more should contribute more, while those with little or no income should not be subjected to unbearable tax burdens.

Yari further argued that Nigeria could generate substantial revenue through an efficient tax system and use the proceeds to finance development without overburdening citizens.

He also pointed to increased allocations available to state governments, comparing the situation with his own experience as governor of Zamfara.

According to him, states now have access to significantly greater financial resources, which could translate into improved development if properly managed by state authorities.

‘Security is costing Nigeria heavily’

On insecurity, Yari painted a picture of the enormous financial burden created by terrorism and banditry, saying the Federal Government was committing substantial resources to the fight.

He disclosed that President Tinubu had shown him documents relating to the procurement of ammunition and other security equipment valued at more than $7 million.

Yari argued that money spent on weapons and security operations could otherwise have gone into infrastructure and economic development, but said the country had little choice given the scale of the security threats confronting it.

He described the level of security spending as unprecedented and said the government was determined to work with the armed forces and other security agencies to defeat terrorism and banditry.

Once security improves, he said, more resources could be redirected towards development and other priorities that directly affect the lives of Nigerians.

Yari expressed optimism that the Tinubu administration would eventually overcome the security challenges, saying the government would continue working towards restoring stability across the country.

As the 2027 election approaches, the campaign council chief said his message would remain centred on national issues rather than personalities.

He said Nigeria, rather than any individual politician, would be at the heart of the campaign.

“No individual is before us today. Nigeria is before us as Nigerians,” he said, outlining the broad message he wants the Tinubu campaign to take to voters across the country.

With Zamfara now emerging as an important early stop in his mobilisation drive, Yari’s challenge will be to turn the confidence expressed at the stakeholder meeting into an organised political machine capable of delivering the massive electoral support he has promised President Tinubu in 2027.