Masari Makes Bold Statement On Tinubu, Says No President Has Had Better Plans

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has expressed strong support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying his nearly four decades of political experience have not exposed him to a Nigerian president with better plans for the country.

Masari made the remarks while addressing a group of women at a recent public function reportedly held in Kaduna. A video of the event was published on Tuesday by HM Arewa, a media platform that reports in Hausa.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Masari said his long involvement in Nigerian politics had allowed him to observe successive administrations and assess their policies and plans for the country.

He said Tinubu’s administration stood out to him because of the policies and programmes it is currently pursuing, describing the President’s plans as unlike those of any previous leader he had witnessed.

Masari said, “Even if I were asked to swear, on my age and my political involvement for almost 40 years, I can confidently say I have never seen a president with better plans to make Nigeria great than Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I have simply never seen anyone like him.”

The former governor also criticised those who argue that the Tinubu administration has achieved nothing, saying similar criticisms had been directed at previous governments.

He referenced the administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, arguing that issues surrounding sectionalism, tribalism and other divisions had also featured prominently in political criticism during their respective tenures.

Masari said some Nigerians tend to overlook positive developments when evaluating governments, adding that the criticisms currently directed at Tinubu reflected what he described as a recurring pattern in the country’s political history.

He also spoke against the use of ethnic and religious sentiments in political discussions, questioning the tendency to associate particular religions with specific ethnic groups.

“What surprises me about our people when they talk about religion is this, is religion exclusive to the Hausa, the Yoruba, or even the Igbo?” he asked.

Masari further urged women, particularly those with influence in religious and community circles, to discourage divisive rhetoric and promote messages that could contribute to peaceful political engagement.

He said inflammatory ethnic and religious narratives were being promoted by individuals pursuing personal interests and urged Nigerians to avoid allowing such sentiments to deepen divisions in the country.

Masari served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007 and was governor of Katsina State from 2015 to 2023. He was also appointed Deputy Director-General for Parliamentary Mobilisation of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid in August.