The Middle-Belt Progressive Solidarity Forum, a socio-political organisation committed to regional equity, democratic consolidation and inclusive governance, has commended the Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A) movement for its organised efforts to reshape political engagement in Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued by its Convener, Arc. Joshua Pwajok Panam, the Forum noted that A4A has emerged as one of the most visible and structurally coherent platforms supporting the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It observed that the movement’s establishment of a national campaign headquarters, deployment of a digital election intelligence and analytics portal, and coordinated mobilisation activities across northern states reflect a deliberate shift from fragmented support to systematic political organisation.
The Forum specifically acknowledged A4A’s dual offline and online engagement. On the ground, the movement has staged mobilisation rallies, appointed youth ambassadors, targeted large turnouts for campaign flag-offs, and compiled detailed catalogues of federal projects to counter narratives of regional neglect.
Online, the hashtag #ArewaforAsiwaju has become a recurring fixture in northern digital spaces and Nigeria at large. Vocal northern influencers and content creators, including intellectual figures such as Abdurahman Leme and digital influencers like Waspapping, Yellow, Kawu Garba and others, have consistently amplified the hashtag, driving engagement that has repeatedly placed it among trending political conversations.
The content is not mere sloganeering; it systematically highlights tangible interventions under the Tinubu administration in the North, shifting the discourse from short-term hardship to medium-term institutional and infrastructural gains.
This narrative shift, the Forum observed, is grounded in observable outcomes, particularly in security and infrastructure. Under the coordination of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, security operations have recorded measurable progress against banditry and terrorism. Prominent bandit commanders, including Halilu Sububu, Boderi Isyaku, Buharin Yadi and others have been neutralised.
Thousands of hostages have been rescued, illegal arms recovered in large numbers, and key corridors such as the Abuja-Kaduna highway restored to greater usability, including night travel in certain periods. In the North-East, significant numbers of fighters and family members have surrendered while operational capacity of remaining groups has been degraded.
While insecurity has not been eliminated, the scale and frequency of large-scale attacks have declined relative to the peak years preceding 2023, contributing to a modestly safer operating environment across parts of northern Nigeria. President Tinubu’s decision to entrust Ribadu with the ONSA, building on earlier political support for him as the ACN presidential candidate in 2011 has placed a northern professional with institutional credibility at the centre of the security architecture.
On infrastructure, the Forum noted that long-standing demands in Taraba are being addressed through the Bali-Serti-Gashaka-Gembu Road and the Gembu-Mbamnga-Yang corridor linking border communities projects that reconnect historically underserved areas and support trade, agriculture and mobility.
Complementary works include the Tungo-Karamti Road linking Adamawa and Taraba, rehabilitation of the Kashimbila-Takum axis, and numerous other federal interventions across the North-West, North-East and North-Central zones. These are not abstract promises; many are under active construction or have reached advanced stages, with direct implications for market access, security logistics and economic activity.
While recognising the short-term challenges associated with ongoing economic reforms, the Middle-Belt Progressive Solidarity Forum stated that A4A’s approach of linking present difficulties to longer-term national and regional gains contributes to a more balanced public discourse. It further expressed the view that equity and rotational balance in the country’s political arrangement support allowing the current southern presidency to complete its full term, following the eight-year tenure of a northern president.
The Forum called on A4A to sustain its momentum through continued grassroots engagement, transparent communication of verifiable achievements, and collaboration with other regional stakeholders.
It commended the leadership, coordinators and digital advocates of the movement for demonstrating that northern political support can be organised, structured and decisive.
Signed:
Arc. Joshua Pwajok Panam
Convener
Middle-Belt Progressive Solidarity Forum Jos, Plateau State