By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano
Hundreds of Muslim clerics from the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano state, on Thursday, converged at Gidan Baban Liya, Kurna, Fagge Local Government Area of the state and offered prayers for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the victory of Deputy Senate President, Dr. Barau Ibrahim Jibrin, as the Governor of Kano state.
The clerics who gathered under the auspices of Tinubu/Barau/Ata (TBA) Movement, also prayed that Barau choose the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, as his running mate to challenge the sitting Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2027 governorship election in Kano state.
According to them, Ata, being a former Speaker of Kano state House of Assembly, who hails from Fagge in Kano Central, the same Senatorial District with Governor Yusuf, has the clout to ensure victory and followership for the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2027 governorship and presidential elections in Kano state.
The leader of the clerics, Sheikh Saminu Khalid Abdullahi (Sarkin Yaki Matasa), said the prayer and religious sacrifice were designed to seek divine intervention to enable President Tinubu to win for the second time and ensure the victory of Barau Jibrin and Abdullahi Ata as the Governor and Deputy Governor of Kano state in 2027.
According to him, TBA is a new support group established to mobilise grassroots support for President Tinubu, Senator Barau Jibrin and Yusuf Atah.
“The vision of the Movement is to rally citizens behind their laudable efforts in governance and nation-building, as well as to strengthen public goodwill and political support for them as we approach the 2027 General Elections.
“In line with this, a special Islamic Prayer Session has been organised as a spiritual cornerstone for the official take-off of the TBA Movement,” he added.
Sheikh Abdullahi further stated that they offered prayers for divine guidance, success, and impactful leadership for the three leaders ahead of the 2027 presidential and governorship elections.
In his remarks, the Convener of the event, Hon. Seyi Olorunsola, said that they gathered to offer prayers for the smooth re-election of President Tinubu and the victory of Senator Barau and Hon. Ata as the Governor and Deputy Governor of Kano state come 2027.
He said: “We are here to pray for the President of this nation, Ashwaju Bola Amed Tinubu and to pray for the Deputy Senate president at the same time, for God to give him his heart’s desire to become the next Governor of Kano by the special grace of God. And we’re praying for 2027 to be smooth for President Tinubu.”
Seyi described TBA as “an organisation under the leadership of all the Imams that we have in all the 44 Local Government Areas. It is called the Tinubu/Barau/Ata Movement.
“This is the inaugural prayer session. We wanted to start on the prayer note. We are seeking God’s guidance for all the principal leaders here. And that is why we organise all the Imams from the 44 Local Government Areas together to pray for smooth operation come 2027 by the special grace of God.
“We are praying for the President’s second term and gubernatorial ambition of Senator Barau Jibrin.”
Seyi said the President Tinubu agenda has come down to the grassroots, “and that is why we are organising this at the grassroots level, because when you see the food scarcity now has been tackled headlong.
“This is the first time we are having students’ loans. Everything we see abroad is being replicated in Nigeria. For some of you who have travelled out of the country, this is the same thing that Mr. President is replicating in this country now.
“And as you can see, a lot of policy, a lot of plan is on the way, and the infrastructure and the policy are in place to make sure that Nigerians get the best of their leaders.
“By our own calculation, we want APC to win the next election, the presidential election, by the special grace of God. And these are calculations where we have a problem. The last time was Kano Central. You understand me, and now that, in the wisdom of the President, to choose the Honourable Minister, Abdullah Yusuf Ata, as the Minister from Kano Central is just to close the rank for us, the incumbent governor is from Kano Central.
“We need somebody, you understand me, who can challenge him, and the only person who can challenge him is Abdullahi Ata. So you know Senator Barau is from Kano North, and we have Kawu Samaila from Kano South.
“So, I think our permutation is in order, and that is why we are pleading with the Minister, to please accept to be the running-mate to the Distinguished Deputy Senate President by the special grace of God.”
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