2027: Defence minister launches pro-Tinubu, Uba Sani youth campaign group

Nigeria’s Defence Minister Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.) inaugurated the Musawah for Youth and Development Initiative (MUSAWAH 4 Y-D) in Kaduna, a grassroots movement to rally youth support for President Bola Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani ahead of the 2027 elections. The initiative was launched at its campaign office in Kaduna, with organizers describing it as a platform for youth engagement, civic participation, and government program advocacy. Musa, speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Intelligence and Security Gen. Bala Isandu (retd.), urged members to focus on issue-based political engagement and community-level mobilization, emphasizing performance over propaganda. The group draws membership from farmers, students, artisans, women organizations, and faith-based groups across Kaduna, operating on principles of equality and inclusion. Musa highlighted Nigeria’s youth demographic—over 60% under 30—as the country’s greatest asset, stressing the need for engagement and empowerment. Representing Governor Uba Sani, State Attorney-General James Kanyip linked youth unemployment to rising insecurity, noting that over 90% of bandits are young due to lack of opportunities. He praised the state’s expanded vocational training programs but urged the initiative to remain sustainable beyond political cycles. National Coordinator Polycarp Gankon revealed the group has 266 registered support groups, each with at least 50 members, spanning all 255 wards. The initiative has deployed 2,295 ward mobilizers and aims to recruit over 24,000 polling unit mobilizers to strengthen grassroots engagement. Beyond election mobilization, MUSAWAH 4 Y-D offers youth-focused programs, including artificial intelligence training and support for National Identification Number registration. Kanyip emphasized that youth development transcends politics, urging the group to focus on long-term solutions like skills acquisition and human capital development. Musa’s message underscored the movement’s dual purpose: supporting political campaigns while fostering national development through youth empowerment.