From Cyril Mbah, Abuja
As part of consultations with faith-based stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has met with Muslim clerics across the North Central, North West and North East geo-political zones.
The consultative meetings commenced in Jos, Plateau State, and took Senator Yari and his team to Kano, Kaduna and Bauchi states, where he met behind closed doors with Muslim scholars who are leaders of the Izala, Tijjaniyya, Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah, (JIBWIS), and Qadiriyya sects.
On the entourage of the former Zamfara State Governor to seek the cooperation of the religious leaders for President Bola Tinubu’s second term aspiration were former Kano State Governor and APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and former Kebbi State Governor, Senator Adamu Aliero.
Others on the team were Senator Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura, National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase.
In Jos, Senator Yari and his team were received by Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, Chairman of the Council of Ulama of JIBWIS, who held discussions with the delegation on national issues.
In Bauchi, the delegation was received by Sheikh Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi, Khalifa of the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Zawiya, who prayed for President Tinubu and urged that dialogue between the state and the religious community be sustained and regular rather than seasonal.
In Kaduna, Senator Yari had long deliberations with Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, National Chairman of the Kaduna faction of JIBWIS, on burning national issues including security, economic hardship and how to sustain mutual trust in communities of diverse ethnic nationalities.
In his remarks, Sheikh Bala Lau commended Senator Yari for extending a hand of fellowship but admonished leaders at every level to listen more and speak to the people with sincerity.
In Kano, where the APC leaders concluded the consultations, Senator Yari met with leader of the Qadiriyya movement, Sheikh Qaribullahi Nasiru Kabara, who offered special prayers for peace in Nigeria and for the success of the Council’s work.
Sheikh Kabara further urged the delegation to carry the message of unity to every corner of the federation as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
The APC Campaign Council will continue its consultations to other parts of the country in due course, according to inside sources.
