NEF Endorsed Tinubu On Expectations, Not Principle — Masari

• Aminu Masari criticized the Northern Elders Forum for regretting support for Tinubu, saying their support was based on expectations, not principles
• Masari emphasized it’s premature to judge Tinubu’s administration and noted fuel subsidy removal was promised by all major candidates

Former Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has criticized the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and others who regret supporting President Bola Tinubu. Masari argued that such regret indicates their support was based on expectations rather than principles.

Masari’s comments come after the NEF, through its spokesman Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, stated that “the North made a mistake in voting Bola Tinubu to the presidency in 2023, and it is unlikely that they will repeat the same error in the future.” This statement has sparked various reactions, including criticism from the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

In an interview with Daily Trust, Masari said it is premature to judge the Tinubu administration, which has been in office for less than a year. He noted that all major candidates during the 2023 presidential campaign promised to remove the fuel subsidy, which caused significant hardship.

“Those who regret supporting him (Tinubu) are saying it because they did not support on principles. They supported him on expectations, and when those expectations were not met for them, they could say they regretted it,” Masari stated.

He emphasized that moral support is necessary, and it is unfair to pass judgment on a government that has only been in power for a short period. Masari also highlighted that Nigeria’s economic challenges are not unique.

Masari further argued that no other candidate, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi, could have performed any better under the current circumstances. He pointed out that all political parties had pledged to remove the fuel subsidy during their campaigns.

In response to Masari’s comments, Yunusa Tanko, the LP Presidential Campaign Council spokesman, defended Obi’s capabilities. Tanko stated that Obi’s track record in the private sector and as the governor of Anambra State demonstrates his ability to transform difficult situations. He argued that Obi’s governance plans would have quickly addressed some issues that were causing hardship for Nigerians.

Masari concluded by urging Nigerians to trust the process, emphasizing that the president is aware of the public’s pain and is working to address it. He acknowledged leadership challenges and called for patience and understanding from supporters and critics.