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ABUJA, Nigeria (CHATNEWSTV) — The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has expressed deep dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying northern Nigerians regret supporting his election in 2023.
Alhaji Shettima Yerima, AYCF’s president, said Tinubu has failed to meet expectations, raising concerns over his ability to address the country’s economic and security challenges. “In some quarters, there are regrets by the northern region,” Yerima said.
He noted that northern voters backed Tinubu with hopes he would resolve longstanding issues. “The expectation was so high,” Yerima said. “We believed he knew the country’s problems and would approach them as a democrat, not as a military man.”
However, Yerima criticized Tinubu’s policy implementation, saying it has deepened hardships. “People have suffered enough,” he said, adding that reforms should come with measures to ease the burden on citizens.
Yerima hinted that the north might not support Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027 unless significant changes occur. “If he doesn’t do anything that will positively impact lives, we can gang up against him and look for alternatives,” he warned.
The AYCF leader also condemned state governors for over-reliance on federal allocations, accusing them of lacking creativity in generating revenue. “Many governors prefer to share federal funds with their cronies rather than invest in development,” Yerima said.
He advocated for decentralizing the federal structure to make states more self-sufficient. “A restructured federal system will compel productivity and benefit the entire country,” he argued.
Despite his criticisms, Yerima urged patience, acknowledging the challenges Tinubu inherited from Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. “The situation was very bad,” he said. “Let us give him the benefit of the doubt and encourage him.”
Yerima concluded by warning that northern stakeholders are closely monitoring Tinubu’s next steps. “The government still has an opportunity to turn things around,” he said.
