Elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakasai believes that President Bola Tinubu has the strongest chances of victory in the 2027 presidential election.
In an interview with Nigeria Press, Yakasai said: “Who else has all what it takes to move into the contest with the kind of stamina and strength to be more successful comparatively with Tinubu?”
Yakasai, a key member of the Arewa Consultative Forum, clarified that the forum has not taken an official position on supporting a candidate from the north for the 2027 presidential election. He said:
“What is tagged the Arewa Consultative Forum or Northern Elders Forum’s position is mere individual opinions, because all sections of the north have not taken a stand on this.”
Yakasai attributed Tinubu’s strong chances to his current position as president, as well as the support he receives from his party members and some opposition governors. He added that the crisis rocking some major opposition parties has further softened the grounds for Tinubu to win in 2027.
Yakasai advised Nigerian politicians to prioritize the interests of the masses and play politics based on ideology and programs. He said:
“Let them envision the way they want the country to be and not targeting to be ministers, governors and president… They should eschew politics of ethnicity and religion because not making our country the focal point of our politics has held us down for so long.”
Yakasai, who will turn 100 in December, attributed his longevity to a gift from God, as well as the combined effects of his parents’ longevity. He said:
On longevity Alhaji Yakasai said “My father died at the age of 107 years and my mother died at almost 100 years… I give glory to God for these.”
While the ACF remains nonpartisan, its Secretary General, Murtala Aliyu, stated that the forum would not support or oppose any candidate, implying that Tinubu’s re-election is not guaranteed.