No fewer than 600 Northern academics have endorsed President Bola Tinubu for reelection in the 2027 presidential election.
The academics made their position known in a communiqué issued on on Saturday in Kaduna after a stakeholder meeting of senior academics from universities and higher institutions across Northern Nigeria.
The meeting, hosted by Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, Special Adviser to the President on Political and Other Matters, was held in Kaduna.
The communiqué was read by Prof. Abdullahi Musa, Vice Chancellor, Kaduna State University (KASU), at the end of the meeting.
The meeting, themed “Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda: Three Years of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Achievements and the Road to 2027,” reviewed national developments.
The participants assessed the Tinubu administration’s economic, political, security and social policies since its inauguration in May 2023.
They said academics had a democratic responsibility to examine public policies, acknowledge achievements, identify shortcomings and contribute knowledge toward solving national challenges.
The academics acknowledged that Tinubu inherited significant fiscal, monetary and structural challenges, alongside insecurity, infrastructure deficits and human capital gaps.
They said the administration responded with major reforms, including changes to the petroleum subsidy regime and foreign exchange system.
According to them, the reforms have created short term hardships through increased living and transportation costs and inflationary pressures.
They, however, said the reforms should be assessed based on their ability to create a productive economy, jobs, stronger institutions and improved living standards.
The academics identified increased government revenue, the National Education Loan Fund and wider access to tertiary education among areas of progress.
They also acknowledged the Compressed Natural Gas initiative, alternative energy transition, business financing and investments in roads, railways, power, and airports.
The participants commended the administration’s increased emphasis on agriculture, food processing and agricultural value chains.
They also recognised the government’s efforts in social protection, human capital development, tax reforms, fiscal reforms and attracting domestic and international investments.
The academics further acknowledged institutional reforms and increased attention to the digital economy, technology, artificial intelligence, innovation and digital skills.
They, however, stressed that increased revenue and investment must translate into improved public services, employment, infrastructure and human development.
They called for greater access to finance, infrastructure and emerging opportunities for Northern entrepreneurs, farmers, women-owned businesses and youths.
On insecurity, the academics said terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence had continued to undermine farming, education, commerce and investment.
They called for a comprehensive security strategy combining military operations, intelligence gathering, effective policing, community engagement, economic opportunities, deradicalisation and development.
The participants described food security as a national security issue, stressing that farmers could not produce adequately amid attacks, kidnapping and displacement.
They commended government’s efforts in education but called for sustained investment in basic education, girls’ education, teacher development, vocational training and universities.
The academics also called for improved roads, electricity, rail connectivity, irrigation, healthcare, broadband infrastructure and industrial clusters across Northern Nigeria.
“Following extensive deliberations, we resolved to express our support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.”
They said their support was based on the need to allow reforms initiated since 2023 sufficient time to mature and deliver institutional and economic benefits.
The academics warned that abrupt changes in economic direction every four years could undermine long-term planning and discourage investment.
They, however, said their endorsement should not be interpreted as a “blank cheque,” urging the administration to listen to citizens and respond to legitimate criticism.
They called for urgent action on food prices, transportation costs, unemployment and insecurity, describing the challenges as genuine concerns requiring government attention.
The academics recommended measures to reduce the cost of living and strengthen intelligence networks to curtail terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
They also called for a comprehensive Northern agricultural transformation programme covering irrigation, mechanisation, storage, processing, financing and marketing.
The participants urged government to consolidate its achievements in education, vocational training, youth employment and social protection.
They further advocated improved communication between government and citizens, particularly through platforms capable of reaching people at the grassroots.
The academics urged political actors preparing for the 2027 elections to promote issue based politics and elevate the quality of political debate.
They rejected ethnic mobilisation, religious manipulation, personal attacks, misinformation and fake news, urging politicians to present practical solutions to national challenges.
The participants said Nigeria needed competing ideas capable of addressing poverty, insecurity, education, employment and infrastructure development.
They pledged to promote evidence-based public discourse, peaceful democratic participation and efforts to combat misinformation, disinformation and fake news.
The academics stressed that their support for Tinubu would not diminish their responsibility to scrutinise his administration and provide constructive criticism.
“Constructive criticism is one of the highest forms of democratic patriotism.”
The participants concluded that continuity, rather than abrupt policy reversal, offered a better opportunity to consolidate ongoing reforms and achieve sustainable development.
They urged Nigerians to ensure that democracy remained the vehicle through which citizens determined the country’s future.
“Nigeria must win, Nigeria must progress, and democracy must remain the vehicle through which Nigerians determine their future.”
