2027: Northern Muslim Women Declare Support for President Tinubu

By Saheed Olatunji, Reporter

Over 700 northern Muslim women gathered in Kaduna under the Muslim Intellectuals Forum to pledge their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

A communique read by Aisha Iliyasu Tukur from Jigawa State reiterated the women’s support for the ruling party.

The meeting was attended by Muslim women scholars, preachers and Da’wah leaders, who deliberated on Islam, national development, good governance, security, education, the economy and Nigeria’s political direction ahead of the elections. NigeriaNews Subscription

Participants were briefed on selected projects, programmes and policies of the Federal Government through presentations supported by images, facts and illustrations.

The meeting was attended by Governors Uba Sani (Kaduna), Babagana Zulum (Borno) and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe); former governors of Katsina and Zamfara states; and the Special Adviser to the President on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Kabir Masari.

The women said their endorsement was based on the achievements of the Tinubu administration in education, security, infrastructure and economic development.

They said continuity would allow the administration to consolidate ongoing programmes, complete important projects and deepen reforms aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerians.

“In light of the aforementioned achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the open government policy, [the participants] endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office in the 2027 general election.”

The women hailed the establishment of the Muslim Intellectuals Forum, describing it as a platform for Muslim scholars, intellectuals, preachers and other stakeholders to engage constructively on issues affecting Islam, Muslims and Nigerian society.

They expressed their willingness to participate actively in advancing the objectives of the forum.

The meeting resolved to establish a women’s chapter of the MIF with a leadership structure to coordinate their activities and contribute to the objectives of the organisation.

The women noted interventions in education, security, infrastructure and economic development, saying the initiatives demonstrated the government’s commitment to addressing challenges confronting Nigerians.

They particularly commended the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund), describing it as an important intervention aimed at expanding access to tertiary education and reducing financial barriers facing students and their families.

The communique stated that participants were informed that 70 per cent of NELFund beneficiaries were Northerners.

The women also noted concerted efforts to combat insecurity in Northern Nigeria, including the establishment and reinforcement of military formations, procurement of equipment and recruitment of additional security personnel.

They urged the Federal Government to sustain and expand programmes capable of improving security, education, infrastructure, employment opportunities and economic well-being.

The Ulama also called for continued consultation between the government and religious scholars, traditional institutions, community leaders, women, youths and professionals.

They said regular engagement with stakeholders would strengthen public confidence, provide the government with valuable grassroots perspectives and facilitate the peaceful resolution of emerging concerns.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to constructive engagement, peaceful democratic participation, national unity and prayers for the peace, security and prosperity of Nigeria.

Sani said the women had come from the 19 Northern states to express support for the President.

Sani said: “They are not endorsing President Tinubu based on sentiments or other selfish reasons.

“It is simply because of what he has done for Nigeria, and for Northern Nigeria in particular in the area of education, in the area of infrastructure, in the area of health care, and in the area of agriculture, and even more importantly, in the area of security.”

The governor described the women as religious leaders representing millions of followers across Northern Nigeria, saying their participation was significant because of their influence in communities and ability to communicate government policies to the grassroots.

Sani said the North had benefited substantially under the Tinubu administration, particularly in education and skills acquisition.

He said the President had invested in conventional, technical and vocational education and the NELFund scheme, adding that the North had also benefited from skills-based interventions.

The governor described Tinubu as a detribalised leader who believed in one Nigeria without discrimination.

He said the women’s position should be taken as a call for continued engagement with citizens across the Northern states, adding that APC leaders would support them in taking their message to the 19 Northern states, local government areas and wards.

Sani urged the women to focus on issues and the achievements of the administration rather than allow political arguments based on ethnicity and regional sentiments to distract them.

He said the debate should focus on what successive administrations had done for Northern Nigeria and what the Tinubu government had achieved.

Yahaya said the gathering demonstrated the importance of unity, planning and collective responsibility in political engagement.

He said he was encouraged by the participation of women, youths, experts and grassroots stakeholders from different parts of the region.

Yahaya urged the participants to remain focused, listen to advice and work together to achieve their political objectives.

He said: “We will stand by President Tinubu. Just as Malam Masari stated earlier, I have no contrary opinion. I stand with him, our people stand with him, and God willing, we will succeed.”

The Gombe governor also urged APC members to remain united and resist attempts to intimidate, confuse or divide them ahead of the elections.

Special Adviser to the President on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Kabir Masari, reaffirmed the commitment of the political leadership to the Muslim-Muslim ticket and Tinubu’s re-election.

He said the gathering was known to the President, adding that he had sent his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to represent him.

He explained that Gbajabiamila was unable to attend because he had taken his mother to hospital after she fell ill.

Masari prayed for the recovery of Gbajabiamila’s mother, who is in her 90s, and assured the women that their trust would not be betrayed.

He urged the women to reject ethnic and regional discrimination, stressing that Islam did not support discrimination based on skin colour or language.

Masari said Muslims should judge leadership by justice, fairness, competence and the fear of Allah.

He also urged the women to stay away from fraudsters, deceivers and those engaging in petty political scheming.