Abdulaziz Yari, the lawmaker representing Zamfara West, has stirred debate by alleging that President Bola Tinubu is effectively “caged” inside the Presidential Villa, with key decisions being made from outside the official seat of power.
Speaking at the One Nigeria Project Conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Yari argued that the real challenges facing Nigeria stem from the country’s elites rather than its leadership.
He emphasized that solutions to Nigeria’s problems must come from Nigerians themselves, dismissing the notion that foreign leaders could intervene effectively. “Don’t call Trump,” Yari said, referring to former U.S. President Donald Trump. “The problem of Nigeria can only be solved by Nigerians. He can’t solve our issues.”
Yari also reflected on Nigeria’s resilience, citing historical moments of national crisis, including the June 12 struggles. He described Nigeria as a country protected by divine providence, saying, “This country is more of God’s own country than any other. Despite challenges, Nigeria has endured and will continue to endure.”
Addressing the functioning of the Presidency, Yari alleged that operations are often managed outside the Villa. “Those close to the Presidency know it is being run from outside the Villa. We have already ‘caged’ the President, but operations continue,” he said, stressing that the real issue lies in how the elite handle governance.
He concluded by urging Nigerians to support initiatives like the One Nigeria Project, highlighting the importance of collective responsibility in addressing the nation’s challenges.
Yari said, “This country called Nigeria, America says their own country is God’s own country, but this country called Nigeria is more of God’s own country than any other.
“This is because so many havoc initiated by we ourselves but we need to come together.
“Before 1999 some issues came up but the country remained. Look at June 12, everybody thought the country will go away but God that made the country in 1914 together, that God is in charge and would remain in charge.
“So anybody thinking otherwise shouldn’t waste his time because Nigeria has come to stay as a nation.
“Don’t call Trump, it’s the business of Nigerians, Trump has no business in Nigeria. He can’t solve the problem of Nigeria, the problem of Nigeria can be solved by Nigerians.
“I was with the President in the night and I told him that I would be here and if he has time, he should watch what we are doing and I think this organization should be given the support.
“The problem is the elite, you have people abusing Tinubu, you are abusing him because you know the problem more than the truth.
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“Those close to the Presidency know that the Presidency is being run from outside the Villa than inside the Villa. We already have the President caged there, we locked him but we do the operations. So why not think of the trust you are given?”
