“Northerners Are Not Getting What They Expected from Tinubu” – Arewa Youth President Shettima

Alhaji Shettima Yerima, President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), has expressed disappointment among northerners over the administration of President Bola Tinubu. In an interview with Saturday Vanguard, Shettima stated that many in the region, who had campaigned for and voted for Tinubu in the 2023 elections, are now regretting their decision due to unfulfilled expectations.

Shettima criticized the Tinubu administration for failing to address the economic and governance challenges that were expected to be resolved following the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari. He highlighted the frustration in the north, saying that Buhari’s eight years in power had already left the region disillusioned, and hopes were high that Tinubu would bring much-needed change.

“In some quarters, there are certain regrets in the northern region,” Shettima remarked. “The eight years of Buhari’s administration brought nothing to the north. The expectation was that Tinubu, who many of us viewed as understanding the country’s problems, would approach them democratically and provide solutions. Unfortunately, people are disappointed because they are not getting what they expected from him.”

Reports also suggest that some political stakeholders in the north are beginning to strategize for a leadership change in the 2027 elections. The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), a prominent advocacy group in the region, stated in April 2024 that many northerners regret their decision to support Tinubu in 2023 and vowed not to repeat the same mistake in the next electoral cycle.