Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has declared his unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, insisting that his backing for the president is based on conviction despite widespread public concerns over economic hardship.
Sani made the declaration during an interview on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme on Tuesday, saying he had no regrets supporting Tinubu and would continue to stand by him.
“I have no apology supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and I will continue to support him till the last minute,” the governor said.
Asked whether he was prepared to take a political bullet for the president, Sani expressed confidence that time would vindicate his position.
“I can tell you today, tomorrow, and next tomorrow, that I will be vindicated,” he added.
The governor attributed his support for Tinubu partly to their longstanding relationship, which he said dates back to 1994, when both were involved in the struggle for the restoration of democratic rule in Nigeria.
According to Sani, Tinubu’s association with the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and his support for pro-democracy activists during military rule contributed to the trust and political relationship between them.
He said their shared commitment to democracy and the devolution of power had influenced his assessment of the president’s leadership.
Sani also pointed to several federal projects and initiatives he said had benefited Kaduna State under the Tinubu administration.
Among them are the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Southern Kaduna, the Federal University of Education in Zaria, the Federal University of Petroleum Resources in Rigachikun, and the proposed conversion of Kaduna Polytechnic into a federal university of technology.
He also cited the reconstruction of the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road and the appointment of Kaduna indigenes to senior positions in the federal government as evidence of the state’s representation and development gains under Tinubu.
The governor, however, maintained that the projects were benefits to Kaduna State rather than personal favours to him.
“The favour he has done is not to me, because he has not given me. It’s to the state,” he said.
On the prospects of Tinubu securing another term in 2027 amid economic hardship and dissatisfaction among voters, Sani challenged opposition parties to present credible alternatives rather than relying solely on calls for Nigerians to reject the president.
“When you say don’t vote for Asiwaju, you must bring an alternative,” he said.
The governor acknowledged the longstanding challenges of poverty in northern Nigeria but argued that the region’s difficulties predated Tinubu’s presidency and had worsened over the years.
He likened the situation to a dilapidated building that had been neglected for so long that repairing it had become increasingly difficult.
“If we had addressed this problem even before Asiwaju ever thought of becoming president, we wouldn’t be where we are,” he said.
Sani further criticised northern political leaders for failing to adequately address the region’s challenges, recalling that he had previously urged them to examine their records and acknowledge their shortcomings.
“The northerners are their own problem. We shouldn’t run away. The only way to help, I think, is for us to sit down and look at ourselves in the mirror, and accept that we are the problem,” he said.
His comments come as political parties and influential figures begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, with economic hardship, insecurity and the performance of the Tinubu administration expected to shape campaigns and voter choices.
Meanwhile, the governor acknowledged continuing security concerns in Kaduna State, particularly attacks in the Millennium City area.
He said he had discussed the situation with military and security officials and that plans were underway to strengthen security presence in the area.
Sani’s declaration reinforces his position within the camp supporting Tinubu’s re-election, even as opposition parties seek to capitalise on public dissatisfaction over economic conditions and insecurity ahead of the 2027 polls.
