Looking at the facts dispassionately, a former governor of Zamfara State, Senator Abdul-Aziz Abubakar Yari, is a true friend of President Bola Tinubu, writes Feyisetan Olaniran
Rightly or otherwise, the Nigerian political environment has long been defined by shifting loyalties and largely transactional alliances, where actors often calibrate their positions based on transient elements, such as prevailing currents, personal ambition, and the promise of future gains.
However, the conduct of a man once described as the “northern hawk who sides with the president”, Abdul-Aziz Abubakar Yari, the senator representing Zamfara West District, presents a compelling study in conviction-driven support and loyalty.
At a time when many align with power for strategic advantage, Yari has projected a form of loyalty rooted less in expectation and more in belief – belief in leadership, direction, and the necessity of reform.
His recent intervention, conveyed through Senator Tijjani Kaura at a special prayer session organised by the Arewa Think Tank in Kaduna to mark the 74th birthday of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reinforces this disposition.
His message was clear: Nigeria’s current leadership inherited deep structural distortions that require bold, sometimes painful decisions, and such, the current moment demands understanding and support from citizens.
Beyond the substance of that message lies a deeper perspective that distinguishes Yari within Nigeria’s political culture.
At the Kaduna gathering, he framed prayers for the president as prayers for the nation itself, directly linking leadership stability to national progress.
This was not a mere ceremonial posturing but a reflection of a worldview in which governance is a shared responsibility; where the success or failure of leadership reverberates across every layer of society.
By urging Nigerians to rally behind the reform agenda of President Bola Tinubu, Yari positioned himself not just as a defender of policy but as an advocate for collective ownership of the national journey.
Central to his argument is the condition under which the current administration assumed office.
According to him, 2023 marked a transition at a time Nigeria was burdened by entrenched socio-economic and structural deficiencies. His analogy of a leaking roof captures the depth of the crisis: a system so compromised that temporary fixes only delay inevitable collapse.
Faced with such realities, he argues, the choice lies between short-term relief and long-term reconstruction, the latter, though difficult, being the only responsible path.
While this framing aligns with the broader reform narrative of the Tinubu administration, what sets Yari apart is the consistency and context of his support. Politics, by its nature, is often driven by interest.
It is almost instinctive for ambitious actors to align with power, especially when such alignment promises relevance or advancement. Supporting an incumbent president is frequently a strategic investment, with loyalty negotiated, measured, and withdrawn when necessary.
Yari’s trajectory, however, suggests a departure from this familiar pattern.
Having traversed key milestones in public office, member of the House of Representatives, two-term governor of Zamfara State, and now senator; he occupies a space where further political elevation is no longer an overriding imperative.
He has been considered for higher responsibilities, including leadership roles within the Senate, and has attained what many spend a lifetime pursuing. It is against this backdrop that his unwavering support for President Tinubu acquires deeper meaning.
Evidently, Yari’s is not the support of a man seeking entry into the corridors of power but that of one who has already walked them and has little left to prove.
In such a position, the typical incentives that drive political loyalty, patronage, appointments, or strategic advantage, lose much of their force. What remains is conviction.
Conviction, however, is not without cost.
In Nigeria’s complex political landscape, taking a clear and consistent stance carries significant risk. Public opinion is rarely uniform, and reform policies often generate divergent reactions, particularly when their immediate impacts are challenging.
Therefore, to openly align with such policies requires trust in leadership, as well as a willingness to absorb criticism and stand against the tide.
Yari has demonstrated this willingness repeatedly. His support for Tinubu predates the presidency, extending back to a period when alliances were fluid and political calculations uncertain.
At that time, backing Tinubu was not necessarily the safest option. Yet, Yari aligned early and has maintained that alignment through the uncertainties of governance.
More striking is that his support has not diminished in the face of challenges. If anything, it has become more pronounced.
From stakeholder engagements to public statements and symbolic gestures such as participation in prayer gatherings, he has consistently projected solidarity and encouragement. This consistency invites closer examination.
In many political contexts, allegiance is defined by exchange, support in return for opportunity, loyalty in anticipation of reward. When expected benefits fail to materialise, such allegiance often evaporates.
Yari’s conduct suggests a different paradigm. His support appears informed by a belief in the president’s capacity to address Nigeria’s challenges, a belief that persists irrespective of immediate outcomes or personal gain.
This is not blind endorsement but a sustained confidence that transcends short-term considerations.
Such a stance is both rare and significant. Rare because it deviates from a norm where loyalty is fluid and contingent; significant because it introduces stability and balance.
In a system often defined by uncertainty, Yari’s kind of steadiness can serve as an anchor, offering assurance that support will not be easily traded or withdrawn at the first sign of difficulty.
There is also an element of personal risk in this approach. By standing firmly with the president’s policies and publicly identifying with them during periods of reform-induced strain, Yari effectively stakes his political capital on the eventual success of the administration.
It is a gamble not all are willing to take, particularly in a volatile environment. Yet, he has not only taken this risk but appears prepared to continue doing so.
This readiness points to a deeper alignment, one that extends beyond policy agreement to trust in vision and direction.
It suggests that, in his estimation, the current leadership represents not merely an option but a necessity for Nigeria at this critical juncture.
By contrast, Yari’s stance highlights the possibility of a different model of political engagement, one anchored on conviction and sustained by belief in a shared goal. It suggests that loyalty, when grounded in principle rather than expediency, contributes to a more stable and coherent political environment.
This approach is not without critics. Skeptics may question whether any political support can truly be devoid of interest, while others may argue that conviction itself can be shaped by personal or strategic considerations. These are valid concerns and reflect the complexity of political behaviour.
However, even within this complexity, patterns emerge.
In Yari’s case, the pattern is one of consistency, risk-taking, and a notable absence of overt transactional expectation. Whether seen as principled loyalty or strategic alignment, it represents a departure from the norm and invites reflection on the nature of political support in Nigeria.
As President Tinubu continues to steer the country through the challenges of reform and reconstruction, the role of a political actor like Abdulaziz Yari becomes increasingly significant, not only for the positions he takes but for what those positions represent.
In him, the president has an ally whose support is not easily swayed, whose loyalty is not readily traded, and whose conviction persists even in uncertain times.
For Nigeria’s political system, this offers a reminder that even within a landscape often defined by expediency, there remains space for principle. In the long run, it may well be this combination of conviction and courage that proves most enduring.
*Feyisetan Olaniran lives in Abuja
