‘We had to stick to our promises’ — Masari speaks on northern governors’ support for Tinubu

Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina, says northern governors in the All Progressives Congress (APC) supported Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid to honour the principle of zoning.

In June 2022, APC governors from the north asked northern presidential aspirants to withdraw from the race in national interest. The development culminated in the victory of Tinubu in the party’s presidential primary.

Speaking during a farewell visit to Umar Faruq-Umar, the Emir of Daura, on Thursday, the governor said some chieftains in the party rejected the idea of zoning but the governors insisted.

“Those with foresight have seen that, especially we the governors from the north under the APC. We have seen attempts to tarnish the image of Buhari,” he said.

“Everybody knows that all the political parties believe in zoning, but some people in our party wanted to keep that aside, but we rejected their attempt. So, if we had done such, only God would know the situation in the country at the moment. Therefore, we had to stick to our promises.

“That’s why the northerners then succeeded and earned respect for our people because once we said yes, it’s always yes.”

Masari said winning the highly contentious election preserved the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said Nigerians would have considered the administration of Buhari a failure if the ruling party had not been successful in the elections.

“Anyone in this country with foresight should thank God again because had it been our party did not win the election, people may think that the federal government failed Nigerians,” he said.

“Whatever someone planned in this country, God has helped President Muhammad Buhari to defend his integrity, because if we had failed in the election, he would be the first to be blamed.”