Hundreds of youths on Monday took to the streets of Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, in a fresh protest against President Bola Tinubu, displaying T-shirts bearing the inscription, “TINUBU MUST GO”.
The reportedly demonstrators gathered at the popular Freedom Square, a major junction connecting several roads within the metropolis, attracting the attention of motorists and other commuters.
Videos from the protest showed young men and women dressed in white T-shirts bearing the anti-Tinubu message as they chanted solidarity songs.
Several female protesters, many wearing colourful hijabs, were seen standing along the roadside, while groups of male demonstrators moved around the area, with some riding motorcycles.
A vehicle equipped with a public address system was positioned at the centre of the gathering. A cameraman was also seen standing on its roof, recording the demonstration.
The protest disrupted traffic around Freedom Square, leaving commercial tricycles, motorcycles and private vehicles struggling to move through the area.
However, the organisers had yet to publicly explain the reasons for the demonstration as of the time of filing this report. Security agencies were also yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The latest demonstration comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections and renewed public opposition to the Tinubu administration.
In October, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called for the immediate release of five Nigerians reportedly arrested in Borno State over T-shirts bearing the same inscription, “Tinubu Must Go”.
Atiku argued that wearing a political slogan should not constitute an offence in a democratic society.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, the former vice president questioned the circumstances surrounding the arrests.
Atiku recalled that Tinubu had supported Nigerians protesting against fuel prices under former President Goodluck Jonathan but was now presiding over a cost-of-living crisis marked by rising fuel, food, transportation and electricity costs.
Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has defended Tinubu’s economic policies, arguing that the president inherited an economy on the verge of collapse when he assumed office in 2023.
Mutfwang made the remarks on Monday at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council in Jos, where he urged Plateau residents to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
According to the governor, the previous administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari left the country in a difficult economic situation, with dwindling foreign reserves, mounting debt obligations and an inability to meet certain international financial commitments.
“Where did President Tinubu meet Nigeria in 2023? He met Nigeria, tottering on the brink of collapse, Nigeria that could not service its external debts, Nigeria that would not even allow businesses outside the country to take their proceeds back home,” he said.
He claimed that Nigeria’s external reserves had fallen to slightly above $3 billion from more than $40 billion accumulated over the years, adding that the figure had now risen above $50 billion.
Mutfwang also accused the previous administration of printing more than N30 trillion to manage the economy, insisting that the Tinubu government had stabilised the Central Bank of Nigeria.
On the removal of fuel subsidy, the governor described the previous arrangement as fraudulent, alleging that public funds were used to settle claims backed by fictitious documents.
“I say it was a fraud because we were borrowing money to pay people who brought fictitious documents. They never brought any wealth. They brought fictitious documents, claimed monies and subsidies,” he said.
He acknowledged that fuel had become more expensive under the current administration but maintained that its availability had improved.
“Today, by the grace of God, we have solved one side of the equation. Today fuel is available. It may not be cheap, but it is available,” he said.
The governor further alleged that the Buhari administration had sold crude oil in advance, leaving the country with outstanding obligations that the current government was now servicing.
Despite defending the federal government’s economic policies, Mutfwang said his administration had introduced measures to ease the impact of the economic situation on Plateau residents.
He cited the introduction of metro buses, the revival of the railway system within Jos metropolis and a 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees for students in tertiary institutions.
He also said the state government had increased students’ allowances by about 300 per cent.
Mutfwang commended the Tinubu administration’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying hundreds of millions of naira had been disbursed to Plateau indigenes studying in different universities.
According to him, some beneficiaries receive N20,000 or N40,000 monthly under the scheme.
On the 2027 political contest, the governor backed power rotation between the North and South, arguing that the South should be allowed to complete another eight-year tenure after the North’s previous eight years in office.
“We must agree that power should rotate between the North and the South. And if the North spends 8 years, which we have nothing to show for, it is only fair that we allow the South to do another 8 years,” he said.
He also declared that there would be no vacancy in the Plateau State Government House ahead of the 2027 governorship election, insisting that the existing power-sharing arrangement among the state’s senatorial zones should be respected.
The governor urged APC candidates and campaign council members to take their message to voters with facts and avoid actions that could deepen political divisions.
He expressed confidence that Tinubu would win Plateau State in the January 16, 2027 presidential election, adding that residents would also renew his administration’s mandate two weeks later.
