Former PDP governorship candidate in Kano State, Jaafar Bello, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of “maltreating” and “abusing” the trust of northern Nigerians despite the region’s strong support for him during the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview on Trust TV’s Inside the North, Bello argued that northern voters have historically supported southern candidates based on competence and promises of development, not ethnicity or religion.
According to him, northerners believed Tinubu would replicate the economic and developmental achievements associated with Lagos State, but many are now disappointed with the current reality.
“It is not the Muslim-Muslim ticket,” Bello stated. “The northerners supported him because of the message of prosperity.”
Bello further claimed that the North would determine its political direction in 2027 based strictly on performance, warning that no politician should take the region for granted.
The former PDP chieftain also stirred reactions after questioning Tinubu’s Islamic identity, insisting that proper recitation of Suratul Fatiha is fundamental to being a practising Muslim.
His remarks have sparked widespread political and religious debate across the country as discussions around governance, regional inclusion, and the 2027 elections continue to intensify.
