Speak Directly To Voters, Rely Less On Northern Elites, Adamawa Commissioner Advises Tinubu

The Adamawa State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Leader Leneke, has advised President Bola Tinubu to rely less on Northern political elites and engage directly with citizens ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Leneke gave the advice during an interview on Tuesday, arguing that the interests of influential political figures in the north do not necessarily represent those of ordinary Nigerians.

He urged Tinubu to communicate his administration’s achievements directly to the people, rather than depending solely on political elders and intermediaries to explain his administration’s performance.

“Mr. President, don’t trust these northern elites and elders. Speak directly to the people. Show the people your scorecard,” Leneke said.

The commissioner maintained that the Tinubu administration has recorded progress in areas including infrastructure and security, but said the government had not effectively communicated those achievements, particularly to people in Northern Nigeria.

According to him, the administration needs a more organised communication strategy capable of taking information about the federal government’s programmes and projects directly to citizens.

He described effective communication as crucial to the president’s political engagement ahead of 2027, stressing that Nigerians should be able to assess the government based on its policies and achievements.

Leneke also alleged that some northern political elites who benefit from government resources may be reluctant to publicly mobilise support for Tinubu.

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“If Mr. President depends on the northern elites, let me tell you the truth, they have not done well for their people, and they are very afraid to go out in the open,” he said.

The commissioner further alleged that channeling large mobilisation funds through political intermediaries could undermine the president’s efforts, claiming that some politicians might retain a significant portion of such resources instead of using them for grassroots mobilisation.

He therefore advised Tinubu to reduce reliance on political middlemen and establish stronger direct communication with Nigerians, particularly as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections intensify.