Ibrahim Masari: Why Values Matter in Nigeria’s Politics
By Umar Farouk Bala
When the Tinubu Movement for Sustainable Governance Foundation — widely known as Tinubu Must Stay (TMS) — inaugurated its national leadership in Abuja to promote policy continuity and deepen public understanding of government reforms, I accepted the responsibility of serving as National Youth Leader. It was not merely an appointment; it was an invitation to help shape the political culture young Nigerians encounter.
The new structure includes a Board of Trustees, National Coordinators and six directorates focused on citizen engagement and evidence‑based communication. The Foundation is chaired by Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director‑General of NITDA, with Dr. Benjamin Obi Nwoye serving as National Coordinator (South). Former Obidient coordinator Marcel Ngogbehei was appointed Director‑General of the movement, while Engr. Ibrahim Uba oversees Mobilisation and Data Management.
Kashifu emphasized that the Foundation’s mission is to simplify government reforms, connect data to everyday realities and counter misinformation through technology‑driven outreach, town halls and grassroots engagement. He reminded us that reforms require time, patience and sustained public understanding. Dr. Nwoye added that many government achievements remain underreported, and that the organisation intends to communicate these interventions more effectively.
Since that inauguration, one question has shaped my thinking: What kind of political culture should young Nigerians be invited into?
For me, the answer begins with the people who organise our politics — and the values they bring to it. One of the clearest examples in this administration is Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Political Affairs.
At the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on October 14, Masari delivered a message that stood out. He warned his own side against empty promises. He said the era of political chieftains claiming huge votes they cannot deliver must end, and that performance would be judged by results at the state, ward and polling‑unit levels.
His most quoted line captured a frustration many young Nigerians share:
“Stop talking to yourselves and start talking to the people.”
What followed mattered even more. Masari urged campaigners to explain the administration’s work in education, healthcare, economic reform and infrastructure — honestly, without exaggeration. He asked them to acknowledge challenges, answer voters’ concerns with facts and reject misinformation and hate speech.
This is a politics grounded in evidence, accountability and measurable outcomes. It is also the standard TMS has set for itself: document reforms, examine results, inform citizens.
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I am drawn to these values because young people are not won by noise. We are won by honesty, by being listened to and by seeing results we can verify. When a senior figure close to the President tells his own campaign to be truthful, disciplined and measurable, it signals the kind of political culture he wants to build.
Masari’s record suggests this is character, not performance. Raised in Nabanje, an agrarian village in Kafur LGA of Katsina State, he began with Qur’anic school and primary education before attending secondary school in Malumfashi. He worked in farming and construction before entering politics, later serving as national welfare secretary of the APC.
In 2022, he briefly appeared as a placeholder running mate and then stepped aside so the presidential candidate could settle his choice with greater flexibility. Putting the larger project ahead of personal ambition is a rare discipline — one I believe young Nigerians should admire.
Since 2023, he has risen from Senior Special Assistant to Special Adviser and is widely described as one of the President’s closest political figures in the North.
Recently, Masari convened about 500 Islamic scholars and religious leaders from the 19 northern states and the FCT, as well as more than 600 senior lecturers from northern public universities. Several governors attended. Supporters see a convener who keeps dialogue alive across regions, faiths and professions. He is also credited with helping maintain coordination and calm during the APC primaries.
These engagements matter because they reflect a political culture rooted in consultation rather than confrontation.
The issues Masari wants campaigners to explain are the ones shaping young people’s lives.
NELFUND has disbursed ₦372.62bn in student loans as of late September.
Tax reform now exempts taxable incomes up to ₦800,000 a year.
The 3MTT programme has trained nearly 300,000 young Nigerians in digital skills.
These programmes have gaps — delayed upkeep allowances and the challenge of placement after training — but they also show reforms turning into tangible benefits. A political organiser who insists on honest explanation and measurable results is an ally of that work.
Naturally, such influence attracts scrutiny, and it should. Anyone with direct access to the presidency will be questioned about how that influence is used. Masari has already supplied the yardstick: results over rhetoric, unity over bitterness and truth over inflated claims.
For young Nigerians, this is the kind of political culture worth cultivating — one that values discipline, dialogue and evidence.
As a young Nigerian and a leader in this movement, I gravitate toward figures like Ibrahim Masari because they represent a political culture I want to see grow: one grounded in honesty, measurable performance and respect for citizens.
His message to campaign organisers — to speak truthfully, listen carefully and deliver results — is a strong place to start.
Umar Farouk Bala is National Youth Leader of Tinubu Must Stay (TMS).
