2027: Weighing Tinubu’s Second Term Factor -By Adamu Yalwa Gabi

There has been wide conversations among Nigerians in different parts of the country on whether the President, Bola Tinubu will have it easy in 2027, returning to office. Some attribute this opinion to the state of insecurity and the recent sharp increase in fuel pump price.

Others measured his performance based on electricity supply and economy. In all of these, the President, his supporters are telling Nigerians to be patient while they are fixing the country.

In my last piece, I was thrown into public controversy on what some described as peccadillo or misdemeanour for expressing my opinion on the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This has generated mixed feelings –with many expressing commendation while others felt offended over my piece on Mr. President’s policies and programmes and his second time ambition.

Some of the readers —APC loyalists, though infuriated me but will not deter my clear conscience.

One of the misgivings of the administration of Bola Tinubu which many express fear is insecurity. Talking about insecurity which began in 2009 in the North-East, during the Yar’Adua tenure, he tried to shut the fire before things finally got out of hand when Goodluck Jonathan inherited the remnants of the insurgency.

When Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner with military background, campaigned with insecurity and took over power in 2015, Boko Haram was only confined in a few local government areas of Borno State before escalating to the North West to serve as a divine lesson to one of the country’s best experienced security personnel who has vowed to fight insecurity within the possible shortest period but to no avail.

Although, Tinubu administration has funded the Military more than before, it was reported that the armed forces got over N3.2trn within 2 years. Military hardware and welfare have been prioritised.

Another yardstick to measure Tinubu is the non-operational N3.56 billion Baro Inland Port in Niger State due to poor access roads, rail connectivity and limited dredging was one of the few major capital projects initiated by the Buhari administration in 2019.

The Port, first established in 1908 by the British colonial government of Lord Lugard, as a key link for cargo between northern and southern Nigeria with the aim being defeated termed to be misplacement of priority, was constructed to boost regional trade.

With the huge amount expended on such an infrastructure without providing the requisite supporting works which will not lavish the said figures or initial total cost of the project did not meet the yearning and aspirations of the citizens. The Hausa proverb says “Maganin bari kar a fara” translated to: ‘better to stop it before it begins.’

Education support

Critical sectors like education in the past have suffered neglect and agitation from within and outside the university. University lecturers were always at the loggerheads with the government over the welfare and working conditions, also more concerning is the poor funding of education.

Today, friends in academia acknowledge and appreciate the giant stride made, particularly the implementation of the 40% non-taxable increase of their monthly pay. On this improved welfare and achievements, those inflicted with pains in the past and their families will never forget.

A lecturer friend told me that a professor was earning between N416,000 and N500,000 but with the recent increment, professors earn above N1million while some senior professors receive higher amounts as their take home which is very encouraging. The laudable part of this milestone is, it was signed in December 2025 while implementation commenced in January this year.

Ultimately, the remuneration has served as a morale booster to lecturers and even non-academic staff by enhancing educational service delivery in both technology-driven and conventional universities without compromise. That has cut off the students’ fear of a university incessant strike that has prolonged the academic years of hundreds of thousands of learners.

Another feat, pretended not to be known by the majority of the public recorded by the Tinubu administration is an increase in pensions for retired Federal Civil Servants with judges enjoying substantial increases in both their salaries and pension for improved judicial output.

President Tinubu’s leadership style has distinguished itself with that of the northern strong voice mainly seen by many as a worship saint but without tangible administrative blueprint or agenda in terms of giving a human face to a tough decision on policies with massive outcry by the masses even on the social media.

It will only be fair to allow a Southern president in 2027 to balance power. The President has fought for the North to produce an 8-year president while sacrificing his ambition in 2015. The gang up and attacks on his ambition in 2027 will not mean well for the region after his successful second term.

Gabi, a journalist, writes from Bauchi and can be reached via: adamumgabi@gmail.com or +2348033990884