The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruq-Umar, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s potential re-election bid in 2027, citing the president’s exceptional conduct during the funeral arrangements for late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The 97-year-old traditional ruler made the endorsement during an address at his palace in Daura, Katsina State, on Saturday, describing Tinubu’s handling of the burial proceedings as unprecedented in Nigeria’s political landscape.
In a passionate speech that saw the elderly monarch rise to his feet, the Emir praised President Tinubu’s administration for according the late former president a state burial befitting his status as a national leader.
“I am thankful to President Bola Tinubu, a good person I have been with in the last 30 years. The world can testify to what the president did to this state and the Daura Emirate,” the traditional ruler stated emphatically.
The Emir expressed particular admiration for what he described as an unmatched display of respect and honour, saying, “I have never seen a befitting state burial and honour done by a president like what Tinubu has done to Muhammadu Buhari.”
Highlighting specific gestures by the president, the monarch noted Tinubu’s personal attendance at the funeral, his decision to declare a public holiday in honour of the deceased, the provision of a presidential jet for transporting the remains, and the delegation of top government officials to console the bereaved family.
The traditional ruler emphasized that such respect and honour would not be forgotten, indicating that it has earned the president significant goodwill in the region.
“This respect and honour shown to us by the president will not be forgotten; we are going to reciprocate it. This is why in 2027 we are going for Tinubu,” the Emir declared, making clear his intention to mobilize support for the president’s re-election campaign.
The endorsement from the influential traditional ruler represents a significant political boost for President Tinubu, particularly given the Emir’s longstanding relationship with the late former president and his influence in the northern region.
