By Divine Sam

Former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, has declared that he would support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections if his administration succeeds in restoring peace to Sokoto State and other parts of Northern Nigeria.

Bafarawa made the position known during an interview with FRI, an online Hausa-language medium, stressing that his decision would depend on the President’s ability to tackle insecurity and return affected communities to normal life.

“My only condition for allowing my vote to go to President Tinubu is for him to ensure peace and allow full normalcy to return to my area and other Northern parts,” he said.

The former governor maintained that Tinubu still had the time, financial resources and security apparatus needed to change the security situation in the region. However, he warned that the President could not afford to delay action.

“As a leader who has power, money and security, three months or even one month is enough for him to change the insecurity narrative in the Northern region,” he said.

Bafarawa stressed that his demand was not driven by political interests or expectations of campaign-related financial benefits. Rather, he wants the government to create a safe environment where residents can return to their daily activities without fear.

“Look, as far as I am concerned, I don’t want anything in the name of campaign money. What I want is for President Tinubu to do everything he can to ensure peace and allow markets, schools, farming and other livelihood activities to return to our communities. I assure him that I will vote for him,” he said.

The former governor also disclosed that he had met Tinubu only once since he assumed office as President, claiming that their encounter took place at a mosque.

He further alleged that an individual whom Tinubu had directed to facilitate a meeting between them later failed to do so and subsequently blocked his telephone numbers.

Although Bafarawa clarified that he was not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he insisted that his political support would go to any candidate capable of restoring peace to the North, including Tinubu.

Expressing concern over the impact of insecurity on ordinary people, he lamented that children were being denied access to education, farmers could no longer safely access their farmlands, and several communities had been deserted because of persistent attacks.

“But it is unacceptable that today, our children cannot go to school. Don’t anybody who denies you education deny you life? Villagers cannot go to farms, and so many towns have been completely sacked. That is why, at this juncture, if Tinubu ensures peace, he is simply my candidate,” he said.Bafarawa also weighed in on the appointment of former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, as Director-General of Tinubu’s campaign, despite the continuing bandit attacks affecting Zamfara State.

He defended Yari’s decision to accept the position, arguing that, as an APC member, the former governor was expected to respect his party’s decisions. He also noted that rejecting an appointment from the President could be difficult.

“So I don’t see anything wrong with Abdulaziz Yari accepting to be DG of the campaign for President Tinubu because he is doing a job he has been appointed to do. And don’t forget, it would be disrespectful for him to say no,” he said.

According to Bafarawa, Yari sought advice from several individuals before accepting the appointment and returned for further consultations afterwards.

He described the move as an indication of Yari’s integrity, suggesting that the former Zamfara governor had carefully considered the decision before taking up the political responsibility.