Supporters of former governors Bello Matawalle and Abdulazeez Yari have dismissed the recent coalition of opposition political leaders as a “waste of time,” insisting that President Bola Tinubu remains the North-West’s best bet for the 2027 presidential election.
The group, operating under the banner of ‘Shehi and Matawalle Project for Tinubu 2027 Mandate,’ described the alliance reportedly involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, among others, as “a gathering doomed to fail.”
They made their position known on Saturday in Kaduna during the inauguration of the North-West zonal and state executives of the group, which is spearheading grassroots mobilisation for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“That coalition is nothing but a jamboree. It cannot stand the test of time,” declared the group’s Publicity Secretary, Auwal Mohammed, while addressing journalists after the event.
Mohammed stated that the opposition alliance was devoid of any genuine ideology and driven only by desperation to unseat Tinubu, whose economic reforms, he claimed, were already repositioning Nigeria.
“President Bola Tinubu has shown leadership, courage, and vision. Under the Renewed Hope agenda, policies being implemented today are driving the country’s economy in the right direction,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the group’s Zonal Coordinator, Babangida Damba, argued that the president deserves a second term based on what he described as “bold economic reforms and social investments targeted at the poor.”
Damba cited fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, rural electrification, and road infrastructure development as indicators of a leadership committed to structural transformation.
“The removal of fuel subsidy, though painful at first, is already yielding long-term gains. Government revenue has improved, and funds are now being redirected towards infrastructure and human capital development.
“Your role as newly inaugurated executives is simple – mobilise, educate, and sustain the movement for the return of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, he stated.
In his contribution, the Zonal Secretary of the group, Dr Ahmad Hashim, described the Shehi and Matawalle Project as more than just a campaign initiative.
“This is not just another campaign group. It is a strategic political movement designed to ensure continuity and consolidation of President Tinubu’s leadership,” he said.
Hashim emphasised that the group’s strength lay in its deep roots in the North-West, drawing support from influential political figures like former Zamfara State Governor and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and former Governor Abdulazeez Yari.
“These two leaders – Matawalle and Yari – are political pillars in the region. Their commitment to national unity, governance, and economic development is well known. They are seasoned statesmen who have paid their dues in service to the country,” Hashim said.
He added that their support for Tinubu was based on conviction and a shared vision for a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria.
