Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying his long involvement in Nigerian politics has not exposed him to another president with better plans for the country.

Masari made the remarks while addressing a group of women at a recent public event reportedly held in Kaduna. His comments were contained in a video published on Tuesday by HM Arewa, a media platform that reports in Hausa.

Quick Takeaways

• Aminu Masari expressed strong support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.
• The former Katsina State governor said his assessment was informed by almost four decades of political involvement.
• Masari said he had not seen a Nigerian president with better plans for making the country great.
• He also rejected criticism that Tinubu had done nothing since assuming office.
• Masari criticised what he described as divisive religious discussions among Nigerians.

What Happened?

Masari spoke about Tinubu’s administration while discussing the different governments he had observed throughout his political career.

According to the former Katsina State governor, his experience in Nigerian politics had allowed him to observe successive administrations and assess the plans they presented for the country.

He said Tinubu stood out from the presidents he had witnessed because of the plans and policies being pursued under his administration.

Masari’s comments were presented as a personal political assessment based on his experience, rather than as an independent evaluation of the president’s policies or performance.

Key Players

Aminu Masari is a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former governor of Katsina State. In the remarks reported by HM Arewa, he used his long political experience as the basis for his assessment of successive Nigerian administrations.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the Nigerian president whose administration was the subject of Masari’s comments. Masari’s remarks focused on what he described as the quality of the plans being pursued by the Tinubu administration.

Masari’s Key Remarks

Explaining the basis for his position, Masari referred to his age and almost 40 years of involvement in politics.

He said:

“Even if I were asked to swear, on my age and my political involvement for almost 40 years, I can confidently say I have never seen a president with better plans to make Nigeria great than Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Masari also pushed back against people who argue that Tinubu’s administration has achieved nothing.

He said those who make such claims are among people who fail to appreciate when someone is doing well.

Masari’s Comments on Religious Division

The former governor also addressed the issue of religious identity and division during his remarks.

He questioned whether religion should be treated as something exclusive to particular ethnic groups, referencing Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo identities.

Masari argued that divisive discussions of this nature were being promoted by people he described as selfish.

His comments therefore extended beyond his assessment of Tinubu’s administration to a broader criticism of what he viewed as attempts to divide Nigerians along religious or ethnic lines.

Background

Masari’s remarks are significant in the context of his own description of his political experience.

He said he had spent almost 40 years involved in Nigerian politics, giving him the opportunity, in his view, to observe different administrations and their approaches to governing the country.

That experience formed the basis of his comparison between Tinubu and previous presidents he had witnessed.

What Masari’s Statement Represents

Masari’s comments amount to a strongly positive political assessment of Tinubu’s plans and policies.

However, the claim that Tinubu has better plans than every previous Nigerian president remains Masari’s personal assessment. The supplied report does not provide an independent comparison of the various administrations or evidence that would establish the claim as an objective ranking of Nigerian presidents.

The central development, therefore, is Masari’s public expression of confidence in Tinubu’s direction and his decision to contrast the current administration with those he had observed during his political career.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Aminu Masari?

Aminu Masari is a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former governor of Katsina State.

What did Masari say about President Tinubu?

Masari said he had never seen a Nigerian president with better plans to make Nigeria great than Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Why did Masari say he could make that assessment?

He referred to his age and almost 40 years of political involvement, saying that experience had allowed him to observe different Nigerian administrations.

Did Masari defend Tinubu against his critics?

Yes. He criticised people who say Tinubu has done nothing, arguing that such people fail to appreciate when someone is doing well.

What else did Masari discuss?

He also criticised divisive religious discussions and questioned the idea that religion should be treated as exclusive to particular ethnic groups.

Masari’s remarks add another public political assessment of the Tinubu administration, with the former Katsina governor presenting his support as a conclusion drawn from his long experience of Nigerian politics.