‘Our support isn’t ceremonial’ — northern students endorse Tinubu for 2027

Student leaders representing tertiary institutions across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027.

The students, drawn from universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, announced their support for the president on Tuesday at the inauguration of the students’ wing of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A).

Abdulmudallib Sheriff, coordinator of the A4A students’ wing and president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of Bayero University, Kano, said the endorsement was based on the Tinubu administration’s interventions in education, student financing, skills acquisition and youth empowerment.

Sheriff said the group would soon begin coordinated mobilisation for the president across campuses.

“We are for Asiwaju. Our support is not passive or ceremonial; it is organised, deliberate, and ready for action. We will take this message to our campuses and communities. We will mobilise, communicate, and organise,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, attributed the students’ endorsement to Tinubu’s “giant strides” in education, infrastructure, healthcare and agriculture.

Sani said the administration’s focus on education and technical skills is particularly relevant to the north, citing the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) initiative and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

The governor said educational empowerment should be accompanied by greater economic and digital opportunities for young Nigerians.

“Through TVET and NELFUND, the president has done a lot for the north. Available programme data indicate that Northern Nigeria accounts for over 60 per cent of beneficiaries under key interventions. That is measurable impact,” he said.

“We cannot meaningfully empower young Nigerians politically while leaving them educationally, economically and digitally excluded.”

Sani also advised the student leaders to base their mobilisation on verifiable achievements rather than personal attacks against political opponents.

“Do not campaign with insults; campaign with evidence. Do not answer criticism with abuse; answer it with facts,” he said.

Muhammad Abubakar, director-general of Arewa for Asiwaju, said the movement would rely on the administration’s record in seeking support for Tinubu’s re-election.

Abubakar added that students across the north were prepared to mobilise in support of the president.

“President Tinubu has already delivered, and the record speaks for itself. The students of Arewa are ready to stand with President Tinubu. We are ready to mobilise, organise, engage, and deliver,” he said.

The development comes after similar endorsements by northern lecturers and women Ulama for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. (TheCable)