- Ex-Tinubu campaign coordinator Kabiru Marafa warns the North may reject the president in 2027, citing neglect and worsening insecurity
- He accused the APC government of sidelining outspoken northerners, ignoring key infrastructure, and deploying security only for elections
- Marafa said Tinubu is not personally nepotistic but faults his government for unfairness, warning of a “use and dump” pattern with loyal allies
Senator Kabiru Marafa, former Coordinator of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign in Zamfara state in the 2023 elections, has said the President is likely to lose the bulk of northern votes in the 2027 election.
Marafa, who spoke during an interview with Channels Televison on Monday, September 1, lamented the current realities faced by the northerners in Nigeria.
Source: Twitter
Specifically, Marafa cited the alleged neglect of the north by the current administration and the APC.
Tinubu’s relationship with north deteriorated, says Marafa
Furthermore, he noted that the president’s relationship with the North has deteriorated since assuming office, with worsening insecurity, uncompleted infrastructure, and the sidelining of outspoken leaders fuelling discontent in the region.
While speaking with Daily Trust in an interview, Marafa, argued that the ruling APC risks alienating its northern base by failing to address what he described as deliberate neglect of the region.
“In two years, I can’t point to any major project delivered for the North. Take our critical Abuja–Kano road, for example; it’s still unfinished. But look at how much has been spent in Lagos alone,” he said.
The politician added that appointments have sidelined outspoken northerners, leaving the region feeling neglected.
“If the North says it is being marginalised, I share that sentiment fully,” Marafa stressed.
Security failures and ‘unfair deployments’
On insecurity, Marafa criticised the federal government’s handling of banditry in Zamfara, alleging that overwhelming security presence was deployed only during elections, not to protect lives.
“Now, when people were being killed daily, they didn’t deploy this kind of force. But for votes, just to ensure APC was declared winner, they sent overwhelming security. That was the final straw,” he said.
He described a brutal incident in which bandits forced kidnap victims to kill one another, noting that no federal delegation visited or provided assistance.
“My brother, no delegation came from the federal government to console the people of Zamfara. No assistance of any kind was provided. Nothing at all,” he lamented.
‘Tinubu is not nepotistic, but his government is unfair’
Source: Twitter
Marafa maintained that Tinubu himself is not a nepotistic leader, but his administration has failed to show fairness in resource allocation.
“From my eight years of friendship and political work with Tinubu, I never saw him as nepotistic. But what hurts me is that not a single person from my camp, people who worked, campaigned, risked their lives, was considered for even a board or agency appointment. That is what I cannot defend before my people,” he explained.
He compared his experience to that of former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, both of whom he claimed were “placed in the cooler” despite their loyalty.
‘Pattern of using and dumping allies’
Marafa suggested a trend of Tinubu discarding allies after benefiting from their support.
“Look at Ganduje, he threw himself into the campaign, was rewarded with national chairman, and then dropped unceremoniously. Look at El-Rufai… he was humiliated in the Senate. So yes, there seems to be a pattern: those who gave the most are left behind,” he said.
No regrets over 2023 support
Despite his criticisms, Marafa said he has no regrets about supporting Tinubu in 2023.
“Regret? No. Based on the reasons I supported him, I don’t regret. He had the courage for a Muslim-Muslim ticket, his Lagos record, and my personal knowledge of him. Those were my reasons,” he noted.
However, he warned that unless fairness is restored, the North may not back Tinubu in the next election.
Source: Legit.ng
