By Desire Uzochukwu
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has urged youths in Northern Nigeria to intensify grassroots mobilisation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, insisting that the President’s policies should be given time to deliver their intended results.
Akpabio made the call on Wednesday when a delegation of the Arewa Revival Project, a youth group with members across the 19 northern states, paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
The delegation, led by the Project Coordinator, Hon. Mustafa Ibrahim, presented an award to the Senate President in recognition of his contributions to national development and his leadership of the National Assembly.
Receiving the award, Akpabio charged the youths to look beyond social media criticism and engage Nigerians at the grassroots on what he described as the gains of the Tinubu administration.
“I expect the Nigerian youth to rise above social media propaganda because this President has managed to take us out of mono economy—an economy that was dependent only on crude oil,” he said.
He cited the administration’s tax reforms, economic diversification efforts and review of existing laws as areas he believed demonstrated its commitment to transforming the country.
The Senate President also declared that the National Assembly had endorsed Tinubu for a second term, arguing that continuity would allow the administration’s policies to mature.
“You don’t change a winning team. He is doing so well. Allow his policies to crystallise. This is not somebody who is coming to experiment. He is already doing it,” Akpabio said.
He maintained that the government’s policies were aimed at stabilising the country and securing a better future for younger Nigerians, urging the youths to take a more active role in public engagement.
“Whatever we are doing today, we are doing it to stabilise your future and ensure the survival of Nigeria. So, it is good that you are seeing it,” he said.
Akpabio further alleged that some social media attacks against the President and his supporters were sponsored, urging members of the group to counter what he described as misinformation through grassroots engagement.
“It is not going to be easy for you because most of those who are attacking the President and attacking these young men on the social media are being paid. You are not being paid.”
He advised the youths to organise periodic gatherings to explain government policies and engage citizens on issues affecting the country, rather than rely solely on online exchanges.
We shall overcome insecurity
On security, Akpabio expressed optimism that ongoing efforts to address the country’s security challenges would yield results, particularly through the proposed establishment of state police.
He claimed that about 30 states had endorsed the constitutional amendment required to introduce state police, adding that the reform could be implemented soon.
“As I speak with you now, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, it may not take us a month before we have State Police system—decentralised policing in the country,” he said.
The Senate President said decentralised policing would strengthen security by bringing law enforcement closer to communities, while expressing confidence that Nigeria would eventually overcome its insecurity challenges.
“I always tell them that the devil that you see today, you will soon see them no more. Very soon, we shall overcome the insecurity that we face today,” he said.
He urged the Arewa youths to remain confident as they embarked on their mobilisation activities, linking improved security and economic stability to the country’s long-term prospects.
AREWA group hails Akpabio
Earlier, Ibrahim said the award was presented to Akpabio in recognition of his contributions to national development and achievements under his leadership of the National Assembly.
He said the group considered the Senate President deserving of the honour because of his role in the country’s legislative process and governance.
The visit comes as political activities and conversations around the 2027 general election continue to gather attention, with Akpabio calling on Northern youths to take their support for Tinubu beyond social media and into communities across the region.
