Former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, has publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term, describing the administration as courageous, reform-driven and unlike any Nigeria has seen before, a move that adds fresh momentum to early 2027 political calculations.
Okiro spoke on Sunday in Ibadan, where he met with journalists while inaugurating the Grassroots Mobilisation for Tinubu, a structure aimed at deepening nationwide political engagement and support for the President’s reform agenda. He said Tinubu assumed office at a time of deep economic and security challenges but has confronted them through what he called carefully sequenced and deliberate policy decisions.
According to the former police chief, the Tinubu administration has taken difficult but necessary steps that are already laying the foundation for long-term economic stability and growth. He expressed confidence that the reforms would yield clearer dividends before the end of the President’s first term.
Okiro pointed to Tinubu’s record as former governor of Lagos State, arguing that his achievements in the state offered a clear preview of what Nigerians should expect over an eight-year presidency. He insisted that no Nigerian leader in recent history had governed with similar boldness, singling out the removal of fuel subsidy as a defining moment.
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While acknowledging that the policy initially triggered hardship, Okiro said it was stabilising the economy and correcting long-standing structural distortions. He urged Nigerians to remain patient and supportive, stressing that sustained public backing was critical to consolidating the reforms and steering the country toward lasting development.
On security, the former IGP expressed optimism that current interventions would significantly reduce insecurity across the country. Drawing from his experience working with Tinubu during his time as Lagos governor, Okiro credited the state’s relative peace to a strong and coordinated security architecture, which he said continues to influence national strategies today.
Okiro, who holds the traditional title of Maradin Hausawa of Ibadanland, also paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Sarkin Sasa during his stay in the Oyo State capital.
He was accompanied by leaders of various youth and elders’ groups, including the National Coordinator of the Northern Youth and Elders’ Awareness Forum, Alhaji Mahmud Sani-Yerima, alongside other zonal coordinators.
As endorsements continue to emerge from political heavyweights and grassroots groups alike, Okiro’s declaration reinforces the growing narrative within the ruling All Progressives Congress that President Tinubu’s reforms, though tough, have positioned him as a strong contender for a second term in 2027.
