Prominent Arise Television anchor Rufai Oseni has characterized President Bola Tinubu as a master strategist following a political endorsement by retired General T.Y. Danjuma and several Middle Belt Christian leaders regarding the upcoming 2027 presidential polls. Speaking on Monday during a broadcast analysis, Oseni evaluated the weight of this high-profile backing, which also featured former House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, while simultaneously questioning its practical impact on the general electorate.
What did Rufai Oseni say about the endorsement?
During the programme, Oseni acknowledged that securing the support of influential figures like Danjuma was a notable political victory for the incumbent administration. He noted that the gathering represented a broader coalition of regional religious leaders. Nevertheless, the broadcaster raised concerns about whether elite-level approvals would successfully translate into widespread ballot box support among ordinary Nigerians who remain disconnected from political circles.
“Good endorsement for President Tinubu because it was not only T.Y. Danjuma that I saw at that meeting; there were a couple of other Christian leaders in the Middle Belt and the like,” Oseni stated during the broadcast, before adding, “Good one for him, but the question is, will it trickle down? You see, the thing about elite endorsement is that elite endorsement gears towards the elites.”
How does elite support contrast with public sentiment?
Expanding on his analysis, Oseni pointed to a widening gap between Nigeria's privileged class—who often benefit from state patronage, government contracts, and proximity to power—and the general population struggling with daily economic realities. He emphasized that average citizens are primarily focused on basic living standards, safety, and infrastructure rather than political endorsements from powerful individuals.
“They don't ask for too much. They are not protesting on the streets because they don't have power, electricity, or water. They just want the basics to work for them, and those are the people that are going to vote in this election, not the elite class that has always benefited,” he explained.
While maintaining that political endorsements hold symbolic value in Nigerian politics and praising Tinubu's ability to build strategic alliances, Oseni cautioned that high-ranking political figures supporting a candidate do not always guarantee active voter turnout on election day.