Tinubu deserves second term, says ex-Kwara APC gov aspirant

A former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State, Yahaya Seriki, has declared support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027, saying the President deserves a second term in office.

Seriki, who is also the North-Central Coordinator of the City Boys Movement and Chairman of Kursi Group, said Nigeria had not experienced the kind of policy direction being pursued by the Tinubu administration, expressing confidence that the policies would produce a better country.

He made the declaration while speaking at an empowerment programme in Ilorin on Saturday, where he unveiled a package worth over N4bn, comprising N1bn in cash and about N3.2bn in equipment and other items.

According to him, the package includes no fewer than 150 vehicles, sewing machines and other equipment aimed at supporting beneficiaries in different businesses and economic activities.

Seriki emphasised that the initiative was designed to help people make progress in their respective endeavours and give back to the society that contributed to his success.

“The purpose of the empowerment is to help people progress in their own way. All I am doing here is giving back to the society that brought me on board. In life, when God blesses you, and you have enough, failing to make other people smile means you are poor. Making other people smile is one of the things I strongly believe in and love doing,” he said.

Explaining his position on the 2027 presidential election, the former governorship aspirant said he believed the Tinubu administration had demonstrated a commitment to changing the country’s fortunes through its policies.

“If you look at it, you will see that we have never gotten it right like this in the history of Nigeria. We have never had a president who believes in a better Nigeria. If you look at the policies, you will see that we have never had it like this before. He is a president who strongly believes in changing the narrative for the better. With the policies we have in place, I can tell you that Nigeria is looking even greater,” Seriki said.

He added that the empowerment initiative was also an expression of his support for Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general election.

“This empowerment is being done in support of President Bola Tinubu. To tell you the truth, I am from Kwara, Ilorin, Gambari. All I will say is that we Kwarans are one and believe in unity. We do not have any other home apart from Nigeria. We have never gotten it right like this before. We, the younger generation, are pleading with our people to understand that we have no other person apart from President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

Seriki also said he extended invitations to people across political divides for the programme, adding that he hoped for divine guidance for the state’s political leadership.

“I did not leave anyone out of my invitation. Everyone was invited. I pray that God guides the Governor of the state. I also extend my greetings to our leader, Distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki. I pray that God guides and protects our leaders in Ilorin Emirate. I am not directing my words at anyone in particular, but what I will do is already in my mind,” he added.

Meanwhile, Seriki dismissed suggestions that the Rainbow Coalition, also known as G15, had collapsed in Kwara State, insisting that members of the group remained united.

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He spoke amid questions surrounding the coalition’s activities and his involvement, saying its members were present at the empowerment programme.

“I said that members of the G15 are present here. Whoever says the coalition has crashed in the state is out of his mind. Our leader in the G15, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe, is also here,” Seriki said.

Also speaking, Oloriegbe, who is the immediate past Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, rejected claims that the group had become inactive, saying its members remained committed to the coalition despite the absence of some members from the gathering.

“No, my presence also represents the presence of all members of the G15. Some of them are present here, while others are away attending to other matters. We are very much together, united and strong,” he said.

On the group’s political direction ahead of the 2027 governorship and legislative elections in the state, the former senator said its immediate priority included securing the re-election of the senator representing Kwara Central, Saliu Mustapha.

“As far as 2027 is concerned, we are working hard for the re-election of Senator Saliu Mustapha for Kwara Central. As for others, we are working for progress and a greater Kwara. Our slogan is ‘Greater Kwara’,” Oloriegbe said.

He also took a swipe at the political slogan of some rival groups, arguing that their promise of moving forward did not necessarily translate into progress for the state.

“Some people are chanting, ‘We are going forward’, but going forward does not always mean progress. Their own idea of going forward means moving into more challenges,” he said.

Oloriegbe further explained that the Rainbow Coalition was an alternative political platform for members who, according to him, were unfairly denied tickets during the APC selection process.

“We, at the G15, are not going backwards, and we are core APC members. The Rainbow Coalition is about our people who were wrongly denied tickets in the APC, and we have to seek an alternative. The Rainbow is an alternative way of achieving greatness for our state,” he added.

On the chances of Mustapha retaining his seat in 2027, Oloriegbe expressed confidence in the senator’s prospects, dismissing the suggestion that incumbency would determine the outcome of the election.

“Insha Allah, we are men of faith. Senator Saliu Mustapha will win Kwara Central in 2027. We did it in 2019, even against an incumbent, and we are going to do it again in 2027,” he said.