…Empowers Yoruba, Ebira, Igala communities

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Leke Abejide, has challenged Yoruba and other non-indigenous communities in Kano state to mobilise at least two million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the 2027 general elections.

Abejide made the call on Saturday during the 2026/2027 Kano State Empowerment Programme organised by the Leke Abejide Foundation, where hundreds of millions of naira worth of financial and material support were unveiled for women, widows and other beneficiaries from Yoruba, Ebira and Igala communities resident in the state.

The lawmaker, who represents Yagba West, Yagba East and Mopamuro Federal Constituency of Kogi State, said the beneficiaries were drawn from Yoruba communities originating from Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara and Kogi states, as well as the Ebira and Igala ethnic groups of Kogi State.

Abejide, who is also the Asiwaju of Yoruba people in Kano, explained that the decision to extend his foundation’s empowerment initiative to Kano was informed by his longstanding relationship with the people, having lived and conducted business in the state for about 34 years.

He said the intervention was designed to provide sustainable economic opportunities and lift beneficiaries out of poverty through business support, rather than relying on temporary handouts.

The lawmaker disclosed that the foundation had earmarked N500 million for interest-free loans to women organised into cooperative societies, including widows and other businesswomen, to strengthen their businesses and improve their economic independence.

He also announced the distribution of food items, clothing and direct financial assistance to widows, assuring beneficiaries that the programme would continue beyond the 2027 general elections.

“The era of our women going to borrow from financial institutions with interest they cannot pay is over for good. As long as you are a serious businesswoman resident here in Kano, your season of dryness is over by the grace of God,” he said.

To ensure accountability and sustainability, Abejide said the foundation had established a monitoring mechanism to track the loans and ensure repayment. He warned that beneficiaries who failed to fulfil their repayment obligations would not qualify for subsequent rounds of the scheme.

He further disclosed plans to introduce a separate empowerment programme for youths and male entrepreneurs, particularly unemployed young people, to equip them with the resources and opportunities needed to become self-reliant.

However, Abejide urged the beneficiaries and the wider non-indigenous communities to translate their appreciation of the intervention into political participation, calling for massive support for President Tinubu and all APC candidates in 2027.

“I am not just here to spend my hard-earned resources but I am soliciting for your support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Do not treat the election as a party affair but as a collective responsibility,” he said.

Former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who attended the event, expressed dissatisfaction with the nearly 500,000 votes President Tinubu received in Kano State during the 2023 presidential election, arguing that the voting strength of non-indigenous communities in the state should not be underestimated.

He challenged the Yoruba and other ethnic communities to consolidate their political participation and work towards delivering a higher number of votes in the 2027 elections.

“Your voting population in Kano delivered nearly 500,000 votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the last presidential election. That performance was not satisfactory, and we must do better this time,” Bello said.

The former governor expressed confidence in Abejide’s mobilisation capacity, saying he expected the lawmaker to mobilise at least two million votes for Tinubu in the next presidential election.

“I am convinced that the votes he mobilises for Mr President should not be less than two million, if not more. And this should not be limited to the presidential election. We must also work for all APC candidates, from the President to the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly,” he added.

Bello also appealed to Nigerians, particularly those in the North, to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, arguing that the president should be allowed to complete two terms in office in the interest of political stability.

“After eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the North, President Tinubu has not even completed his first four-year term. Must he complete his eight years before power returns to the North?” he asked.

On infrastructure, Bello defended the Tinubu administration’s performance, citing progress on the Kano-Abuja Federal Highway as evidence of its commitment to development in the North.

He disclosed that he had sent someone to inspect the project and expressed satisfaction with the level of work reportedly achieved.

In his remarks, Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusiveness, assuring non-indigenous communities of their rights, security and opportunities to participate in governance.

The governor said his administration had made strategic appointments to accommodate different ethnic groups, including special advisers representing Yoruba, Igbo and northern minority communities.

He added that the government would consider extending similar representation to Igala and other communities living in Kano State.

Describing the Yoruba, Igala and other non-indigenous groups as important contributors to Kano’s economic and social development, Yusuf urged them to continue participating in the state’s political and economic activities.

“Kano is your home. You must take Kano as your first home. Our doors will always remain open, and our administration will continue to protect your rights, guarantee your peace and ensure that you fully participate in the economic and political progress of our state,” he said.

The governor commended Abejide for extending his foundation’s empowerment activities beyond his federal constituency, describing the initiative as an example of philanthropy and leadership that transcends geographical boundaries.

He urged the beneficiaries to utilise the support judiciously to expand their businesses, improve their livelihoods and strengthen their households.