Former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has advocated for selfless and inclusive leadership in Nigeria to overcome the country’s political and social challenges.
Representing Sokoto South in the National Assembly, Tambuwal made this call in the Sokoto State capital on Friday.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate past Governor of Sokoto State emphasised that Nigeria remains a great country with enormous potential but requires a new wave of selfless and inclusive leadership to overcome deepening political and social fault lines.
Speaking in Sokoto on the eve of his 60th birthday, Tambuwal reflected on Nigeria’s journey since independence, noting that although progress has been recorded, it has fallen short of expectations.
“Nigeria is a great country. It is still a work in progress. Some achievements have been recorded, but not as expected. Much of the work rests on the shoulders of the leaders of the country,” he said.
Tambuwal described human capital development as central to nation-building and argued that youth empowerment should be at the heart of public policy.
“Our focus was on growing the youth — investing in their education, healthcare, and future. We need to do more in identifying young people, moulding them, and mentoring them for leadership,” he said, recalling his eight-year tenure as governor.
Tambuwal further stated that Nigeria’s diversity is not a weakness but requires understanding and responsible statecraft to manage effectively.
He criticised what he described as the current federal administration’s “ethnic chauvinism.”
“President Bola Tinubu is leaning more towards empowering the South-West, not even the South as a whole.
“Even within the South-West, people say it is about his Lagos State. The existing fault lines are widening, and the President needs to run a truly Nigerian government,” he stated.
As a central figure in a growing opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, Tambuwal said the movement was gaining momentum nationwide.
“By the grace of God, all the signs are there,” he said, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress of panicking and attempting to pressure governors into joining its ranks.
“Nobody is going to write any result this time around. Any attempt to do so will be resisted lawfully and constitutionally,” he added.
When asked about the strength of the opposition coalition, Tambuwal said it was focused on rebuilding trust between political actors and the Nigerian people.
“We are beginning again, working to bring everybody on board who is concerned about unity, progress, and development.
” It is a work in progress. At the end of the various consultations, we will take a position,” he said.
Tambuwal, who defected from the APC in 2018, maintained that political realignments should be driven by conviction rather than convenience.
“When I defected, I did not join President Buhari’s party. I joined the opposition because I believed the administration was derailing.
” Defections to align with the centre for protection are not democracy,” he concluded.
The former governor’s remarks further reinforce opposition expectations of a keenly contested 2027 election, as political blocs continue to negotiate new alignments.
