Shehu Sani Says Northerners Have No Moral Right to Reject Tinubu in 2027
Shehu Sani, former senator for Kaduna Central, has stated that northerners have no moral basis to reject President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections over the controversial tax reform bills. Sani, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a human rights advocate, criticized those from the North opposing the bills, suggesting they failed to hold former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration accountable during his time in office.
The tax reform proposals, which President Tinubu presented to the National Assembly in 2024, sparked significant controversy, particularly in the northern region. Governors, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, and other key northern stakeholders voiced concerns, urging for the bills’ withdrawal. Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, expressed his opposition, claiming that the reforms were hasty, unfair, and could harm states like Bauchi by centralizing revenue and depriving them of crucial funding.
In an interview with The Sun on January 9, 2025, Sani urged the northern region to reassess its approach, encouraging the region’s leaders within Tinubu’s government to prioritize regional development. He noted that during Buhari’s administration, despite appointing many northerners to significant positions, they failed to address the needs of the region.
Sani emphasized, “When our own was in power for eight years, nothing changed. There were no significant infrastructure projects in the North, and essential initiatives like the Mambila power plant or the dredging of the River Niger were never realized. We didn’t hear a word of criticism, and that silence is telling.”
He went on to argue that if the north did not hold Buhari accountable for his administration’s shortcomings, it should not now turn its frustration toward Tinubu. He asked, “If you were silent during Buhari’s tenure, what moral ground do you have to demand accountability from someone else now?”
In contrast, Murtala Aliyu, Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), defended the criticism of Tinubu’s administration, stating that it had been consistent, applying the same level of scrutiny to Tinubu as it did to Buhari. Aliyu denied claims that the criticisms were rooted in the president’s southern origins.
