President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent trip to Kaduna was a demonstration that he belongs to all Nigerians, not just his political supporters, according to his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare.
Dare shared this view in a statement on Sunday, September 21, following Tinubu’s attendance at a high-profile wedding in Kaduna on Friday.
The president had joined dignitaries from across the political spectrum at the marriage of Nasirudeen, son of former Zamfara State governor and current senator, Abdul’aziz Yari.
Among those present were Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; former Senate President Bukola Saraki; former House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal; Governors Dikko Radda of Katsina, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, and Aliyu Sokoto of Sokoto, alongside many other political leaders.
The president also visited Aisha, the widow of late former president Muhammadu Buhari, at the family home in Kaduna.
Dare described the visit as “a resounding political validation” that dispelled claims of hostility from the region towards Tinubu.
He said, “It was into this charged political environment, months after opponents had fanned narratives of hostility to him, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose to walk boldly.
“Whispers of “a no-go area” hung in the air: the opposition had spread a conspiratorial message that the north “hated” Tinubu, and the APC support base would abandon him in future elections.
“But the President, true to his character, came unafraid — carrying with him the fruits of loyalty to old friendships and the evidence of sound policies beginning to touch lives.
“In less than five hours, long-held myths dissolved, stereotypes shattered, and sentiments shifted. From the streets to the mosques, the connection between the people and their president was instant.
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“The excitement was palpable, their smiles wide, their chants loud. Kaduna — once whispered as hostile terrain — showed love, loyalty, and warmth.
“President Tinubu moved with aplomb, from a wedding ceremony to a condolence visit, demonstrating not only his respect for tradition but also his personal touch as a leader.
“In both joy and sorrow, he stood with the people, embodying the compassion and humility expected of true statesmanship. Kaduna felt it; Nigeria saw it.”
As an example, Dare highlighted how the president interacted warmly with former Jigawa State governor Alhaji Sule Lamido, a known critic of Tinubu.
He said, “When Lamido approached, President Tinubu did not recoil, nor offer a cold shoulder. Instead, he welcomed him with an expansive smile and hearty laughter.
“Their exchange was brief, warm, and telling. For many inside that mosque, it was a masterclass in citizen diplomacy, showing that politics can be practised without bitterness.
“It was also deeply symbolic: Lamido himself had once served as National Secretary in then Senator Tinubu’s days of the Social Democratic Party.
“The President’s gesture of camaraderie sent a powerful signal. Leadership, he showed, is not about grudges but about building bridges.
“The effect was immediate. The politicians present, hardened veterans of the northern firmament, saw a president secure in his mandate and magnanimous in his dealings. It was a subtle but strong reminder: Tinubu is president for all Nigerians, not just for his supporters.”
Dare argued that the visit reaffirmed Tinubu’s ties across party lines and regional divides, and that the show of support in Kaduna undercut claims of northern hostility.