The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over Nigeria's persistent security challenges, arguing that former President Muhammadu Buhari, despite his military background, was unable to completely eliminate insecurity during his administration.
Yari made the remarks on Monday, October 19, 2026, during a visit to Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, where he met Governor Nasir Idris, traditional rulers and other APC leaders as part of the ruling party's preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The former Zamfara State governor maintained that Tinubu should not bear sole responsibility for the country's continuing security problems, pointing to the difficulties experienced by his predecessor, who served as a military officer before entering politics.
“If a retired general did his best but could not completely tackle insecurity, what do you expect of President Tinubu, who is not a general?” Yari asked.
He nevertheless defended the President's handling of security matters, maintaining that the administration was making efforts to address the threats confronting communities across the country.
Yari's comparison centred on Buhari's military background and his inability to completely resolve Nigeria's security challenges during his eight years in office.
Buhari, who governed Nigeria from 2015 to 2023, was a retired major general and former military head of state. His civilian administration confronted Boko Haram's insurgency in the North-East, armed banditry in the North-West, kidnapping and other forms of violence.
Despite military operations and other security measures undertaken during that period, attacks and abductions continued in several parts of the country.
Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023, inherited many of those security challenges. His administration has continued military and law enforcement operations against insurgents, bandits and other armed groups, although violent attacks and kidnappings remain a concern in affected communities.
Yari argued that the persistence of insecurity under successive administrations demonstrated the complexity of the problem. He also called for collective responsibility in addressing the country's security difficulties, urging Nigerians to reflect on their relationship with God.
The APC campaign director-general's remarks formed part of a broader political engagement intended to strengthen support for Tinubu's re-election campaign.
During the visit, Yari commended Governor Idris and other party leaders for their mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 elections.
He expressed appreciation for the participation of traditional rulers at the Emir of Gwandu's palace, describing the gathering as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among political stakeholders in Kebbi State.
Yari said the campaign council would work with individuals and groups willing to support the APC's electoral activities, regardless of their political positions.
The former governor also addressed Nigeria's economic challenges, acknowledging the financial difficulties experienced by households while arguing that economic pressures were not peculiar to Nigeria.
He claimed that inflation had declined and fertiliser prices had fallen, while citing federal government cash transfer programmes among measures intended to support vulnerable households.
Those economic assessments were presented as Yari's claims, rather than independently established findings from the political gathering.
Responding to the delegation, Governor Nasir Idris welcomed the APC campaign officials and expressed support for Tinubu's re-election bid.
Idris cited prominent political figures in Kebbi, including Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu, Senator Adamu Aliero and former Governor Saidu Dakingari, among those supporting the ruling party.
The governor also maintained that Kebbi State had benefited from federal government projects under the Tinubu administration.
Yari's comments come as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with national security expected to remain an important subject of public debate.
His comparison between Buhari and Tinubu presents the government's position that persistent insecurity should be considered in the context of longstanding national challenges.
However, the fact that a previous administration did not completely eliminate insecurity does not, by itself, establish the effectiveness of the current administration's policies. Such assessments require evidence concerning security incidents, civilian protection, displacement, prosecutions and the outcomes of government interventions.
The APC campaign chief's remarks therefore place renewed attention on how successive administrations have approached Nigeria's security challenges and the standards by which their records should be evaluated.
As the 2027 elections approach, political parties are expected to present competing assessments of the country's security situation, while voters will have the opportunity to examine their records and proposals for addressing continuing threats.
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