Former Sokoto State governor and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has declared that efforts to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 are a matter of national consensus rather than a northern conspiracy.
Speaking during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television program monitored in Abuja on Friday night, Tambuwal addressed issues ranging from insecurity in Sokoto to the call for state police and the future of opposition politics in Nigeria.
On State Police and Insecurity
Tambuwal threw his weight behind President Tinubu’s push for the establishment of state police, describing it as a crucial step in tackling the country’s worsening security challenges.
“I am no longer a governor but I support state police. Yes, we have federal police, but part of the problem is that when you post someone from Sokoto to Enugu, he doesn’t understand the terrain or the language. In any case, we need more boots on the ground in the police and the army,” he said.
The senator stressed that for state police to be effective, the government must also prioritize recruitment, welfare, and modern tools for security operatives.
“We need to recruit more hands. Their welfare and remuneration are also key. When a personnel gets killed in the field, what happens to their families? This welfare should go beyond the personnel alone,” he noted.
On Banditry in Sokoto
Tambuwal painted a grim picture of the security situation in Sokoto South and Sokoto East, claiming terrorists and bandits have seized control of several local government areas.
“They have almost taken over every local government in Sokoto South and Sokoto East. As I speak with you, Shagari Local Government has been evacuated — the villagers have fled and the terrorists are in charge. The same thing is happening in Tureta, Bodinga and other areas,” he lamented.
The lawmaker called for a coordinated and simultaneous military offensive across states, noting that criminal gangs often retreat from Zamfara into Sokoto when under pressure.
On allegations that the federal government was paying bandits, Tambuwal said he had no knowledge of such arrangements. “I am not aware. I do not know. I cannot claim to know that bandits are being paid by anyone,” he stated, responding to claims by former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai.
On Opposition Politics and 2027 Elections
Turning to politics, Tambuwal reaffirmed his commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but emphasized the importance of a united opposition front to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
“The battle to send Tinubu packing in 2027 is a national consensus, not a Northern conspiracy,” he said.
He cautioned that it would be nearly impossible to defeat Tinubu if opposition figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Goodluck Jonathan, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso pursue separate presidential ambitions instead of rallying behind a single candidate.
Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, insisted that only a broad coalition — cutting across regions and political parties — could dislodge Tinubu in the next election cycle.
