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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to change the style of his administration and immediately reconnect with the people if he is interested in winning the 2027 election.
Speaking with newsmen in Minna, the Niger State capital, on Monday while reacting to the outcome of the governorship election in Osun State, which was won by Ademola Adeleke of the opposition Accord Party, Vatsa said that, from what transpired in the Osun election, it was obvious that the governors Tinubu is relying on cannot deliver victory for him in 2027.
“For the number of APC governors that gathered in Osun, and for them to come back empty-handed, it is an indication that they have lost the confidence of the people.”
The former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in the state pointed out that, although mistakes had been made by the President in channelling excess revenue from fuel subsidy removal to the governors, it was not too late to correct the mistake and connect directly with the people.
“I must say that the people of Osun State have spoken the mind of Nigerians with the way they voted during the election. Nigerians are not happy because of the hardship in the midst of excess money in the country.
“The entire fuel subsidy money is being shared to the governors who are doing little or nothing with it, and unfortunately Nigerians are putting the blame for the current hardship on the doorstep of President Tinubu.
“From the way Osun people voted and protected their votes, it’s an indication that Nigerians are ready to vote and protect their votes in 2027.
“This is a clear warning ahead of what APC should expect in 2027 because the governors are spreading poverty in their states,” Vatsa said.
The former publicity secretary of the ruling party in the state believes that the 2027 elections will not be child’s play because Nigerians have lost confidence in the entire system, “and that is why I urge the President to urgently return to the grassroots and reconnect with the Nigerian masses if he hopes to secure victory in the 2027 presidential election.”
Vatsa, however, identified internal opposition within the party as one of the reasons the APC lost the Osun election, stressing that “there are so many oppositions within the party, and this will also play out in the general elections in 2027,” he added.
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According to Vatsa, the political atmosphere in the country has changed completely, adding that “Nigerians are no longer moved by big names, party structures, or the endorsement of political elites.
“What the people want now is food on their table, jobs for their children, security in their communities, and visible impact from government in their daily lives.
“These are things that state governors should provide with the excess money at their disposal, but what you see are abandoned projects and hunger across states.
“Mr President should know by now that many of the elites he is relying on, including ministers, lawmakers and governors, are not working in his best interest.
“Majority of them have been rejected by their people and the Nigerian masses because of poor leadership, greed, and a culture of serving only themselves and their families while the people continue to suffer in poverty.”
Vatsa warned that continued dependence on political elites who have lost touch with the people and their confidence is capable of damaging the President’s re-election chances.
He emphasised that the just-concluded election is a clear signal that should not be ignored, insisting that: “If, despite the full solidarity of the APC structure in Osun, the governorship result did not favour our party, then the message is crystal clear.
“The masses have spoken and it is because of hunger and economic hardship in the country, unemployment, and the arrogance and greed of some political elites, especially the governors.
“The poor masses must feel the impact of this administration; therefore, the President must stop the practice of releasing all the subsidy money to governors and political elites while the common man is left with nothing.
“The people are wiser now, they are stronger in their decision, they are determined to resist intimidation and ready to vote according to their conscience. The President should take note of this paradigm shift.”
