Arise Television anchor Rufai Oseni has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “master strategist” following the endorsement of his 2027 re-election bid by former Defence Minister General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (retd.) and other prominent Christian leaders from the Middle Belt.
Speaking on The Morning Show on Monday, November 9, 2026, Oseni analysed the political significance of the backing, which came after a high-level meeting between Tinubu and a Middle Belt delegation at the Presidential Villa.
He went on to label Tinubu a “master strategist” for successfully attracting the support of the influential figures ahead of the next presidential election. The delegation that met the President included former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, Defence Minister General Christopher Musa, former Chief of Army Staff General Ishaya Bamaiyi, and other regional leaders.
Oseni, however, immediately tempered his praise with a note of caution. He questioned whether elite endorsements would translate into actual votes at the grassroots level.
“The question is, will it trickle down? You see, the thing about elite endorsement is that elite endorsement gears towards the elites,” he said. He argued that Nigeria is divided between an elite class that has benefited from proximity to power and ordinary citizens who still struggle with basic needs such as electricity, water and security — the same people who will ultimately decide the election at the polls.
He also observed that some high-profile endorsers do not always turn out to vote themselves.
The remarks come days after General Danjuma publicly urged Nigerians, particularly those in the Middle Belt, to re-elect Tinubu. Speaking through a representative at an event in Yola, Adamawa State, Danjuma said one term was not enough for the President to complete ongoing projects and praised Tinubu for appointing many Christians into government positions, describing it as evidence of fairness and tolerance.
The Middle Belt meeting and subsequent public statements have been widely viewed as a significant political development for Tinubu as campaign activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections. Analysts note that the region, which has a substantial Christian population and has faced persistent insecurity challenges, remains a key electoral battleground.
Oseni’s comments reflect a measured take: acknowledging the strategic value of the high-level endorsements while highlighting the gap that often exists between elite political alignments and the lived realities of ordinary voters.
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