Masari urges women to reject ethnic, religious rhetoric ahead of 2027

Former Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has urged women preachers to use their influence to discourage ethnic and religious rhetoric as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.

Masari made the appeal while addressing a gathering of women at a recent event reportedly held in Kaduna. His remarks were contained in a video published by HM Arewa, a Hausa-language media platform.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives questioned the tendency to associate particular religions with specific ethnic groups, urging Nigerians to resist narratives capable of deepening divisions.

“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.

Masari said women had an important role to play in shaping political conversations within their families and communities.

“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.”

While defending President Bola Tinubu’s administration against criticisms of its performance, Masari argued that previous governments had also faced similar accusations.

He cited the administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, saying they were subjected to allegations of sectionalism and tribalism during their respective tenures.

According to Masari, similar criticisms are now being directed at Tinubu.

The former governor also expressed strong support for Tinubu, saying his nearly four decades of involvement in Nigerian politics had not exposed him to a president with better plans for the country.

“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,” he said.

Masari served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007 and governor of Katsina State from 2015 to 2023.

He was appointed Deputy Director-General, Parliamentary Mobilisation, of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid in August.