Our fathers have spoken’ – Balami leads Middle Belt youths’ campaign for Tinubu

Youths from the Middle Belt have announced the commencement of a political movement in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid and the All Progressives Congress, APC, declaring a shift in political allegiance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group said it will embark on its mobilization in collaboration with the leadership of the City Boy Movement, including Seyi Tinubu, its DG Hon. Francis Oluwatosin Shoga and the APC campaign council.

The movement is being championed by prominent aviation entrepreneur and political figure, Isaac Balami, who said the decision followed the meeting between President Tinubu and prominent Middle Belt elders and leaders led by elder statesman, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma.

Balami described the engagement at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as a defining moment for the region, declaring that the younger generation was ready to build on the political direction set by its elders.

“Our fathers have spoken. They have met the father. We have equally met the son. The movement has begun. We have listened to the voices of our elders, and as young people, we believe it is time to take responsibility for the political future of our region,” he said.

Recall that the same elders had mandated Balami in the 2023 election to mobilize for Peter Obi. A fallout from what Balami had termed abandonment resulted in a fresh re-alignment.

Balami had earlier led the group to meet with the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu where they promised 10,000,000 votes for president Tinubu from the region. He is an Executive Board Member and the National Director on Special Duty for the City Boy Movement.

The founder and convener of the National Rebirth Movement explained that the decision to support Tinubu was informed by what he described as the growing recognition of the Middle Belt in the present administration, particularly through appointments to strategic government positions, efforts to address insecurity and the inclusion of people from the region in national decision-making.

“One of the things we are looking at is the opportunity given to people from the Middle Belt to serve this country at the highest levels. We cannot talk about inclusion without recognising when our people are given opportunities to contribute to national leadership.

“We have people from our region occupying important positions in this government. For us as young people, representation matters. We want a government where our people have a voice and can contribute meaningfully to national development,” Balami said.

According to Balami, the group in collaboration with the City Boy will storm all parts of the middle belt to mobilize of President Tinubu’s re-election.

The announcement is particularly significant given the political support Peter Obi enjoyed among sections of the Middle Belt electorate during the 2023 presidential election.

Obi recorded strong performances in Plateau and Nasarawa states, among other areas, while the Labour Party enjoyed considerable support among young voters across the region.

However, Balami said some of the same young people who mobilised behind Obi in 2023 were now prepared to redirect their political support towards Tinubu in 2027.

“In 2023, many of our young people came out in large numbers for Peter Obi. They believed in his candidacy and worked hard to secure support for him across the Middle Belt.

“But political participation is also about assessing developments, engaging with those in government and deciding where we believe our interests can be better represented.

“We are saying that for 2027, we are prepared to mobilise behind Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Our elders have spoken, and the youths are ready to organise and participate in this new political direction,” he added.

On security, Balami said the situation in parts of the Middle Belt and the North-Central region was another consideration informing the emerging political realignment.

He noted that communities across the region had suffered years of attacks, displacement, kidnappings and destruction of livelihoods, adding that any improvement in security deserved recognition while government must sustain efforts to protect vulnerable communities.

The youth leader also identified infrastructure development, education, employment and economic opportunities as important areas where the Middle Belt expects sustained government attention.

He said the movement would provide a platform for young people across the region to participate actively in national politics rather than remain spectators in decisions affecting their future.

“We are not just interested in supporting a presidential candidate. We want our young people to be part of the process, to have opportunities, to contribute ideas and to be involved in governance.

“The Middle Belt has enormous human and natural resources. Our people deserve infrastructure, quality education, jobs and an environment where businesses can thrive.

“We believe that political engagement provides an opportunity to pursue these expectations,” Balami stated.

The announcement comes after Thursday’s meeting between Tinubu and a delegation of prominent Middle Belt and North-Central leaders led by Danjuma.

Other members of the delegation included Defence Minister Christopher Musa, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, former Chief of Army Staff General Ishaya Bamaiyi, businessman Thomas Etuh and Dr Poju Bitrus.

Speaking after the meeting, Dogara said the delegation visited the President to demonstrate solidarity with his administration and discuss issues affecting the region, including security, development and political engagement ahead of the 2027 elections.

The emergence of the Middle Belt Youths for Asiwaju signals an attempt to translate the political engagement of established regional leaders into a broader youth-led mobilisation ahead of the next presidential election.

It also introduces another dimension to the 2027 political contest, particularly in a region where Obi enjoyed considerable support among sections of the electorate during the last presidential election.