AL-HASSAN ALI
KEBBI, Nigeria — The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has defended President Bola Tinubu over the worsening insecurity in Nigeria, arguing that even former President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired Army general, could not completely eliminate the threat.
Yari, who spoke on Monday during a visit to Kebbi State, said Tinubu should not be blamed solely for the country’s security challenges, noting that Buhari had also struggled to end insecurity despite his military background.
“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.
The APC campaign council director-general spoke during a meeting with Governor Nasir Idris, traditional rulers and other party leaders in Birnin Kebbi.
Yari commended the governor and other APC leaders for mobilising support for the party, expressing confidence that their collective efforts would secure victory for Tinubu and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
“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,” he said.
He added that the campaign council would collaborate with individuals and groups committed to Tinubu’s re-election, irrespective of their positions, to achieve the party’s objectives.
Yari also expressed confidence in the APC’s political prospects in Kebbi, citing the support he witnessed during the visit.
On the security situation, he acknowledged the challenges confronting the country but maintained that the Tinubu administration was making efforts to address them.
He also called on Nigerians to reflect on their relationship with God, stressing the need for collective responsibility alongside government efforts to tackle insecurity.
On the economy, Yari said the hardship experienced by Nigerians was not peculiar to the country, claiming that inflation had declined and fertiliser prices had fallen.
He said the Federal Government was implementing measures to ease the burden on citizens, including cash transfers to vulnerable households.
According to him, the interventions were designed to strengthen the economy and improve living conditions.
Yari further noted that governments across the world faced challenges, citing the United States and Saudi Arabia as examples of countries still grappling with various national concerns.
He urged Nigerians to recognise the Tinubu administration’s efforts and support its development agenda.
In his response, Governor Idris described the visit by the APC Presidential Campaign Council delegation as a welcome development, expressing delight at the gathering of party leaders and traditional rulers to receive the team.
He said the emirs had chosen to assemble at the palace to demonstrate solidarity with the party and welcome the delegation.
Idris maintained that Kebbi had benefited from federal government projects under Tinubu’s administration, adding that the projects 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.
“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 Kebbi would continue to support the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
