The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Senator Abdulaziz Yari, says President Bola Tinubu cannot be blamed solely for the widespread insecurity.

Speaking, on Monday, during a visit to Kebbi, where he met with Governor Nasir Idris, traditional rulers and other party leaders in Birnin Kebbi, Yari said ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired General, did his best but could not tackle insecurity completely.

He commended the governor and other APC leaders for their efforts in mobilising support for the party, expressing confidence that their collective commitment would ensure victory for Tinubu and other APC candidates in 2027.

“We are leading the campaign for the President’s re-election and other candidates of our party. We appreciate you for bringing the emirs together under one umbrella at the Emir of Gwandu’s palace.

“We recognise what you are doing as governors and your contributions towards ensuring victory for our party in 2027,” he said.

Yari said the campaign council would work with all individuals and groups committed to Tinubu’s re-election, regardless of their positions, to achieve the party’s objectives.

He expressed confidence in the APC’s chances in Kebbi, citing the support observed during his visit to the state.

On insecurity, Yari acknowledged the challenges facing the country but maintained that the Tinubu administration was making efforts to address them.

He recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired Army General, had also made efforts to tackle insecurity during his administration, although the challenge was not completely eliminated.

“If a retired general did his best but could not completely tackle insecurity, what do you expect of President Tinubu, who is not a general? Nevertheless, the President has done his utmost best to address the security challenges confronting the country,” he said.

Yari also urged Nigerians to reflect on their relationship with God, noting that addressing insecurity required collective responsibility alongside government efforts.

On the economy, he said the hardship being experienced by Nigerians was not peculiar to the country, adding that inflation had declined and fertiliser prices had reduced.

He said the Federal Government was implementing measures to ease the burden on citizens, including cash transfers to vulnerable households.

According to him, the measures are intended to strengthen the economy and improve living conditions for Nigerians.

Yari acknowledged that governments worldwide faced challenges, citing the United States and Saudi Arabia as examples of countries still working to address various national concerns.

He urged Nigerians to appreciate the efforts of the Tinubu administration and support its development agenda.

In his response, Governor Idris described the visit by the PCC delegation as a welcome development, expressing happiness over the gathering of APC leaders and traditional rulers to receive the team.

He said the emirs decided to come together at the palace to demonstrate solidarity and welcome the delegation.

Idris said Kebbi had benefited from federal government projects under Tinubu’s administration, adding that the development initiatives had strengthened the state’s support for the President.

“We have no reason not to support the President. We have prominent leaders such as Sen. Atiku Bagudu, Sen. Adamu Aliero and Amb. Saidu Dakingari.

“You have seen the people of Kebbi and their overwhelming support. We are for the APC and we are for President Tinubu,” Idris said.

The governor expressed confidence that the state would continue to support the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

(NAN)

Angry youths booed the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Malam Mani Mummuni, and attacked his convoy in Gwashi community, Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, on Sunday.

The incident occurred when the deputy governor visited the community on a condolence visit following last week’s attack that led to the killing of nine security personnel and civilians.

According to report, a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the community was angry with the deputy governor and the state government over the security challenges in the area said to be one of the largest political wards in the local government.

“The last time they visited us was more than three years ago; they visited us during the 2023 election campaign. Since then, neither the deputy governor nor any state government delegation has visited us to show concern about our growing security challenges.”

“Today, we have shown the world the situation we are in. We have expressed our grievances on several occasions, but no action has been taken to address insecurity and the lack of development projects,” he said.

The resident added that following the bandits’ attacks, members of the community spent six consecutive days without going out to purchase essential items.

“We spent six to seven days without leaving our community. Security personnel stopped escorting people, and nobody could risk his life by going out. If we spend more days like that, believe me, even salt will become unavailable,” he said.

He also lamented the lack of basic amenities in the community.

“We do not have an access road, a good hospital or portable drinking water. Our school buildings are dilapidated,” he said.

Another resident issaid the secondary school in the community had deteriorated to the extent that animals now use the premises for shelter.

He said women, children, youths and elderly residents came out to express their grievances to the deputy governor and demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the administration.

“We came out in large numbers, with women, children, youths and elderly people booing the deputy governor and chanting ‘Bamayi, Bamayi’ [we will not]. We know he came to canvass for votes, and we will not vote for them,” he said.

The resident further alleged that the angry youths attacked the deputy governor’s convoy.

“Even the deputy governor narrowly escaped, and a vehicle was destroyed,” he claimed.

However, a member of the deputy governor’s entourage, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, denied that the convoy was attacked.

He said the protesters were around the market area while the deputy governor’s gathering took place near the community’s hospital.

“What they are saying is not true. We were in an entirely different location, and the car they claimed was destroyed was a security vehicle that developed a mechanical fault. It was later towed away,” he said.

Another source said the deputy governor was accompanied by many security personnel who blocked people from accessing the venue where he addressed some persons on the issue of insecurity.

“Massive deployment of security personnel prevented people from getting close enough to register their grievances. However, we booed the deputy governor and stoned the convoy,” he said.

“Even the deputy governor narrowly escaped because the youths were angry over the lack of government concern and intervention.”

Yoruba Social Cultural group, Afenifere , has announced it’s decision, to repeat it’s 2023 surport for the Presidential candidacy of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the approaching 2027 presidential election.

In an exclusive interview with Miliki FM, the Chairman of the Lagos arm of the national group, Chief Deji Wellignton, informed that the decision to back Tinubu’s second term shot at the presidency, is in line with the group’s philosophy to serve and protect the interest of the Yoruba race.

To this end, the Chairman said the decision was affirmed and passed down to members at it’s national caucus meeting held about a month ago regarding the surport to ensure Tinubu retain the Presidency for a second term .

The Chairman explained that though there are other Yoruba candidates in the presidential race, including Messrs Omoyele Swore, Seyi Makinde and Adewole Adebayo , he said however that, the group decided to pitch tent with Tinubu because among the Yoruba candidates, he is the most capable to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people and represent the race better.

He submitted that the Afenifere group has embarked on a campaign to pass the message to the Yorubas and Afenifere sympathisers in the Southwest with Kogi and Kwara states, to ensure that Tinubu secure a second term mandate, because according to the Chairman, the fortune of the Yoruba race in the country Nigeria will become absolutely unpredictable should President Tinubu fail to retain the seat.