I believe President Tinubu will win the 2027 general election – Musa

The National Coordinator of the Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative, Samaila Musa, told Peoples Daily Weekend in an interview that President Bola Tinubu would win the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the opposition lacked the strength and unity to mount a serious challenge.

“I believe the opposition is weak, and there is no unity among them,” he said.

How have you supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, particularly on economic reforms?

Looking at it critically President Tinubu’s Administration started on the right footing by focusing heavily on Macro fiscal reforms such as fuel subsidy removal, unifying foreign exchange rates and increasing non oil revenue,we have been trying to sensitise the general public and the Nigerian populace on the economic reforms being implemented by this administration. Yes, those policies are difficult. The President did not pretend from the outset that it was going to be an easy journey. When he came on board, he said sacrifices are inevitable going by the situation the country has found itself. We are convinced that is the way to go and bought into his vision bought into his vision.Yes the first two years were not easy which was expected anyway.

We are literally sailing above board now, and things are beginning to take shape. At the macroeconomic level, the country is now stable. It is at the microeconomic level that we are still trying to find our feet. That is part of the sensitisation we have been doing on a larger scale.

A lot of people, particularly at the grassroots, did not really understand the impact of these reforms. To the typical Nigerian, the narrative was simply that things were not working and life was becoming increasingly difficult.

These are the sacrifices we needed to make, and that is what we have been educating Nigerians about. It was a period of sacrifice, and that period is gradually coming to an end because things are beginning to take shape. We are beginning to see some of the dividends of the sacrifices we have made.

These are some of the things we have been doing. On a weekly basis, we are out there sensitising Nigerians and helping them understand what is happening. We know that the major policies that made things difficult were the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira. These are some of the major issues that have been on the front burner. They have their implications, but the long-term dividends are what we consider most important. That is our goal and focus, and that is what we have been trying to enlighten the citizenry about.

How is your group mobilising support for President Tinubu?

We have been mobilising support because you cannot mobilise support for an incumbent without being able to showcase some of the things he has done, the things he is doing and how he intends to achieve his objectives.

It is like a roadmap. You need to convince people that this is what the President is driving at. There are quite a lot of things on the ground to show that this administration has done a lot, especially in terms of infrastructure and road construction.

Literally every facet of the economy is being addressed, whether education or healthcare. In education, for instance, the student loan scheme is a major step in the right direction.

We can see people from disadvantaged backgrounds who ordinarily would not have been able to afford higher education now benefiting from it. That is part of the dividends of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Those are the things we are taking to the general public. We tell them that, yes, you might not have money in your pocket right now, but the era of simply throwing money around is over. It is time for us to face reality. In other countries that we pconstantly try to copy, the government and the people are more prudent and disciplined financially. That is where we are getting to. But of course the Mr. President was not insensitive to the plight of Nigerians so he introduced some social support measures to cushion the effect of the sacrifices for example MSME intervention funds, Student loan (NELFUND), a new minimum wage(70,000), targeted cash transfers to aimed at vulnerable households.

You cannot exhaust the impact of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the reforms being implemented. We are convinced that the President got it right from the onset and started on the right foot.

Looking at the GMI initiative, what aspects of President Tinubu’s achievements have you focused on in educating the public?

As I said earlier, there are numerous achievements. Across the country, several roads have been constructed since the inception of this administration. These are projects that will bring development and have long-term impacts on the economy. Beyond infrastructure, the President has also made efforts to address insecurity.

The security situation was not better when he came on board. We must remember that insecurity in Nigeria has existed for more than 20 years, so it is not a problem that started yesterday. But this administration is making significant strides in that regard. We are beginning to see how proactive our military has been since Mr President came on board. We have also seen the rejigging of the security architecture of the country.

We know that what some people have used several years to destroy cannot necessarily be fixed in two years. The President never deceived anyone. He was very clear about the challenges from the onset. We are therefore working hand-in-hand with people at the grassroots to help them understand what the administration is doing because the narrative being sold by some people is quite different.

We run a radio programme in Hausa, which we use as a platform to reach the grassroots and help people understand these policies. Not everybody will simply conclude that the President is wicked because things are difficult. Some people would prefer the era when subsidy was still in place because things appeared cheaper.

But Nigeria could not continue indefinitely on that path. The country could face serious economic difficulties in the long run if necessary decisions are not taken. We are making these sacrifices for the future of our children, and that is the way to go. Understanding Fuel Subsidy and Naira Reforms.

What has been the feedback from your grassroots sensitisation efforts?

The feedback has been awesome because a lot of people did not really understand what fuel subsidy was. When you talk about fuel subsidy, many people ask: what exactly are you removing that is making life more difficult? They would rather the subsidy remained so that they could continue living their lives with cheaper fuel.

We have engaged with people at the grassroots and tried to educate them on what fuel subsidy is and why its removal became necessary at this time.

The same applies to the floating of the naira. That is another area that many Nigerians did not understand.

People did not understand why the naira needed to be floated or what the implications were for the economy.

Today, we have a relatively stable naira-to-dollar exchange rate, which has a significant impact on the economy. Our foreign reserves are also improving.

By the numbers, we believe the country is moving in the right direction. Gradually, we are sailing above board, and we believe that God will take us to the promised land.

Can you share your experience of how your group has helped improve public understanding and acceptance of government policies?

Like I said, our radio programmes are one of the major ways we have been reaching the public. The feedback we are getting is very encouraging, especially from the radio programmes. On a weekly basis, we are also in the national dailies talking about this government and its policies.

People call into our programmes and engage with us through our social media platforms, saying they never understood the issues the way we presented them.

What they had previously heard or understood was different, and we are trying to change that narrative. The perception is beginning to change on a daily basis, which is the way to go.

There was a vacuum in public orientation, which our organisation has been able to help bridge, alongside other organisations doing similar things. By and large, we have made a tremendous impact in trying to manage how people perceive some of these policies.

Some opposition elements may be putting forward what we consider to be a false narrative about what is going on. But none of them actually said there was something fundamentally wrong with fuel subsidy. None of them said there was something wrong with floating the naira. Many of them also wanted to undertake similar reforms.

So why can’t we support whoever started the process? It takes courage for a President to announce the removal of subsidy from the first day of his inauguration and actually implement it.

The same applies to the naira reforms. A lot of people had come into office before and were afraid to take such decisions. So, yes, we are getting wonderful feedback from the populace about some of the things we are doing.

What is your assessment of President Tinubu’s fight against insecurity?

Like I said earlier, this is a battle that has been going on for about 20 years. The battle also goes beyond Nigeria. It is an international problem. Some of the most dangerous terrorist groups in the world have focused on Nigeria for various reasons.

The fact that high-ranking members of terrorist organisations have been arrested or killed on Nigerian soil demonstrates the gravity of the war being fought. Having said that, the President said from the onset that there would be no hiding place for terrorists.

Since the President came on board, we have seen, almost on a monthly basis, reports of high-profile terrorists being eliminated by Nigerian security operatives.

We must therefore give kudos to those at the helm of affairs, from the National Security Adviser to the Minister of Defence and the other security agencies. I believe gradually we are going to get there. What took about 20 years to infiltrate the country cannot necessarily be flushed out in three or four years. But government is a continuum. Gradually, we are going to get there. Tinubu’s Prospects in the 2027 Election.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general election, some Nigerians, particularly in the North, have raised concerns about the high cost of living and are said to be losing confidence in the President. Do you think this could affect his chances?

I think we should be very realistic. This is politics and this is already an election period because the election is approaching. The Southwest, for example, can be said to be automatically secured because that is the region where the President comes from.

But don’t forget that in 2023, the Northwest gave the President significant support. Over time, in the history of Nigeria, no matter how good you are, before you finish your four years, some people must have fallen out with you.

Some people came into government with the expectation that they would be given appointments and did not get them. Some will say they are no longer with you because you did not give them what they wanted.

Everybody cannot get an appointment in any government. So some people will leave in protest because they were not appointed.

But it is visible to everyone that this administration is working. The areas where people have raised concerns are mainly the removal of fuel subsidy, which has multiplier effects, and the floating of the naira.

I believe that President Tinubu will still win significant support in the North, particularly the Northwest. That I can tell you. Atiku Abubakar is also from the Northeast, so I know that the region is going to be a battleground but the vice president is from that zone couple with the fact that five of the six governors are all in the President’s party, so i see victory for the President from that zone in the longrun or worst case scenario 50-50 because there are advantages associated with where political actors come from within the Nigerian political space. But by and large, I believe President Tinubu will win the 2027 general election.

Of course, you cannot expect to sweep every state. But when you look at the number of governors and political leaders who have moved from opposition parties, including the PDP and NNPP, into the APC, you can see the political strength of the ruling party.

As the administration came on board, it did not have this number of governors in the APC. Today, we have seen a significant number of governors and political leaders align with the APC. So, no matter how tough or difficult the opposition tries to make things, we are confident that many of these governors will deliver their states. That is why we are telling the President to remain confident. The North will still support him, although the margin may vary from one state to another.

Looking at grassroots support for the President ahead of 2027, particularly among young people, President Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, has been moving around the country mobilising youths. Are young Nigerians ready to work with him to support his father in 2027?

To even have a son like Seyi is a privilege. It is something every parent would pray to have. This is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria, where the son of a sitting President is actively involved in mobilising young people across the country.

Seyi has been involved from the time his father was contesting the presidential primary. He and his friends were involved in grassroots mobilisation, including putting up campaign posters at night. What we were used to in this country was a situation where political leaders moved their children overseas and used other people’s children as political tools.

But Seyi has brought a new perspective to the game by showing that political leaders can also involve their own children in political activities. It sends the message that we are not here to sacrifice other people’s children because of our political ambitions.

Seyi has demonstrated leadership skills and has been actively involved in youth political mobilisation. He has floated different organisations, and one that stands out, in my assessment, is the City Boy movement, which has spread across the country. We are also looking forward to opportunities to work with him to help achieve the political objective of securing victory for his father in 2027.

What plans does your organisation have to take the campaign to the rest of the country?

We are already on the ground. We have structures across all 36 states of the federation. What we are doing now is activating those structures. In some areas, there have been complaints that members have not been given clear direction on exactly what to do. So, in the next few days, we will begin town hall meetings, making use of our structures and collaborating with civil society organisations across the states.

The objective is to educate people, engage communities and establish working relationships with different NGOs so that we can bring them into the fold and work towards victory for Mr President in the 2027 election.

There have been concerns about Tinubu administration weakening the opposition ahead of the campaign. What is your plan to ensure that your campaign remains peaceful?

As far as we are concerned, we see that as a form of manipulation on the part of the opposition. You cannot expect a politician to work for your own victory. Power is not simply given; you have to compete for it.

When President Tinubu contested in 2023, virtually everything appeared to be against him. But he did not wait or start complaining. He went for the power and won it. If you are serious about winning an election, you have to show determination.

The President has never hidden his intention to win re-election. He has made it clear that he will not simply sit down idly but rather go all out for his re-election. The opposition is also trying to move members into its fold, and the President is doing the same. That is politics.

If the opposition accuses the President of weakening the opposition, then they should also understand that political parties everywhere try to attract people to their side. I have not seen a situation where people were coerced into joining the APC.

In fact, it would have been more worrying if the President were not taking steps towards the 2027 election. If he were simply sleeping and relaxing without showing any signs that an election was approaching, then people should be worried ask whether the President intended to hold an election or he simply intend to hold on to power.

But the President started mobilising even before some opposition groups were able to put themselves together. He is already far ahead in trying to attract people to his side.

That is the way politics works. He has not done it through violence, and we are also going to emulate that approach by encouraging conversation and dialogue. If there are grievances, we should bring people to the table and talk them through. Our objective is to persuade more people to our side and ensure that the President is returned to office.

What is your message to Nigerian youths, particularly regarding their role in the country’s political development?

Through his son and other initiatives, the President has supported greater youth participation in politics and public office. For perhaps the first time, we are seeing more young people occupying public offices and receiving political appointments, including people who do not necessarily have traditional political godfathers.

We have seen young people without strong political connections occupying important positions, which is not something that has been the norm in Nigeria. We have also heard commitments that the administration intends to increase youth representation in government.

That is the way to go. We need a combination of the younger and older generations. That is how leadership should work. As young people are coming up, they should receive guidance, tutoring and mentorship from the older generation before the baton is completely passed to them.

Young people should not simply be left on their own because they also need mentorship and guidance from the older generation to avoid making mistakes. That is what this administration is trying to demonstrate, and we believe that by 2027, youth participation will become even more pronounced.