Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged northerners to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, assuring them that they have nothing to fear about his second term.
Shettima made the appeal on Monday while receiving a delegation of Arewa for Tinubu (A4A), a northern-based group campaigning for the President’s re-election.
The Vice-President called on northern leaders and residents to unite behind the administration, arguing that the region had benefited from government appointments, projects and programmes.
He expressed confidence that the North would benefit further if Tinubu secured a second term in office.
“Let’s unite as a people and work for the development of our region and the progress of our people through the re-election of this administration. We are benefiting and we stand to benefit more from this government in many ways,” Shettima said.
The Vice-President disclosed that the Bank of Agriculture had disbursed ₦450 billion to 700,000 smallholder farmers across Nigeria, adding that about 70 per cent of the beneficiaries were from the North.
He also said the Tinubu administration was working to complete major projects in different parts of the country.
“I can assure you that the President loves the North and the President will work for the North,” he added.
Shettima commended the group for its continued support for Tinubu and urged its members to intensify mobilisation efforts across wards, communities and local government areas in the region.
Earlier, former Jigawa State Governor and Director-General of Arewa for Asiwaju, Abubakar Badaru, said the organisation would continue working towards Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Badaru disclosed that the group planned to engage religious leaders, including Muslim and Christian clerics, as well as other prominent Nigerians, to seek their support for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.
He added that the organisation was working with the Presidential Campaign Council while prioritising grassroots mobilisation across local government areas and wards.
Similarly, former Kano State Governor and Chairman of the organisation’s Board of Trustees, Ibrahim Shekarau, said the group would renew its support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Shekarau revealed that the organisation had been meeting with northern governors and other stakeholders to discuss ways to strengthen collaboration ahead of the polls.
He also said plans had been concluded to establish a full-fledged secretariat to coordinate activities, monitor reports and issue directives to members across the region.
Shekarau invited Shettima to commission the organisation’s office complex.
Former Plateau State governors Joshua Dariye and Simon Lalong, former Taraba State Governor Jolly Nyame, former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, former Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema and former Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda were among those present at the meeting.
Also in attendance were the President’s Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, and the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), alongside other government officials and members of the organisation.
