In 40 years, I’ve never seen president with better plans than Tinubu — Masari

Former Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu, saying his nearly 40 years in Nigerian politics have not exposed him to a president with better plans for the country.

Masari made the remarks while speaking to a group of women at a recent public function reportedly held in Kaduna.

His comments, contained in a video published by HM Arewa, a Hausa-language media platform, came as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to Masari, criticisms that Tinubu’s administration has achieved little are similar to attacks previous governments faced during their respective periods in office.

He cited the administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, saying both faced accusations of sectionalism and tribalism.

“The people who claim that Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done nothing are the kind of people who never appreciate when someone is doing well,” Masari said.

He added: “A short look at our history shows that in 1999, after Obasanjo finished his first four years, these same people came out with issues of sectionalism and tribalism. They did the exact same thing to Goodluck Jonathan, and that is exactly what they are doing now.”

Masari also questioned the use of religion and ethnicity in political mobilisation, arguing that religious identity should not be treated as the preserve of any ethnic group.

“What surprises me about our people when they talk about religion is this: is religion exclusive to the Hausa, the Yoruba, or even the Igbo?” he asked.

He urged women preachers to use their influence within their families and communities to discourage divisive political rhetoric as the country approaches another election cycle.

“Each and every one of you knows how to talk to her husband or children better than anyone else can,” he said.

“This divisive talk is only being pushed by people who are deeply selfish.”

Masari, who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007, said his assessment of Tinubu was based on his long experience in Nigerian politics.

“Even if I were asked to swear, on my age and my political involvement for almost 40 years, I can confidently say I have never seen a president with better plans to make Nigeria great than Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I have simply never seen anyone like him,” he said.

Masari was governor of Katsina State from 2015 to 2023. In August, he was appointed Deputy Director-General, Parliamentary Mobilisation, of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.

INEC has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027.