A Yoruba elder has expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid to return to office in 2027, arguing that his backing is largely influenced by the president’s Yoruba identity and what he described as the turn of the Yoruba people to occupy the presidency.

The elder made the remarks in a video circulating on social media, where he acknowledged concerns about the condition of the Nigerian economy but maintained that such concerns would not prevent him from supporting Tinubu.

‘We Support Baba Because He Is Yoruba’

According to the elder, Yoruba people would continue to support Tinubu even if they believed his administration had not fully met their expectations.

He argued that the president should be allowed to seek another term because, in his view, the presidency remains within what he described as the Yoruba people’s turn.

“Either Tinubu knows how to do it or he does not know how to do it. Tinubu should go back there because he is still the tenure of the Yoruba people. And Yoruba people will finish before any other person can take it,” he said.

The elder, however, appeared to distinguish his support for Tinubu’s presidential ambition from support for his political interests in every South-West state.

He acknowledged that the president should not necessarily expect to secure victory across all Yoruba-speaking states during the 2027 political contests.

“We thank God for the election in Osun. Baba will not take everything. He knows we support Baba because he is a Yoruba man,” he said.

‘Not That Everything Is Good in Nigeria’

The elder stressed that his support for Tinubu should not be interpreted as an endorsement of everything happening in the country.

“We want to support Baba. Not that everything is good in Nigeria. Not that we don’t know our rights,” he said.

He also urged the president to pay attention to concerns being raised by residents in some South-West states, particularly Ogun and Oyo.

“Baba, relax. He’s going to win. But he should leave some states. Politics is by trade,” he said.

He further maintained that Yoruba voters in individual states should be free to make their own choices during elections.

“We will play an election in Ogun State and then we’ll see the person that will win. In your state, we will play an election in your state and we’ll know who will take it,” he added.

Elder Says Yoruba People Will Speak Out

The elder also said supporting Tinubu did not mean Yoruba people would remain silent when they believed their interests or concerns were being overlooked.

“We are the sons of the soil. We will speak the truth when the truth will come,” he said.

He mentioned Ogun, Oyo and Kwara among the states where, according to him, Yoruba people would express their views through the electoral process.

“Baba should not say that he will get all the Yoruba land. No, no, no, no. Baba will not get all the Yoruba land,” he added.

The elder nevertheless maintained his support for Tinubu’s return to office in 2027, while suggesting that other presidential hopefuls would have to wait for another opportunity.

His comments come amid broader political discussions over regional power rotation and support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. In July 2026, a coalition of Yoruba socio-cultural organisations also publicly declared support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition, although political views across the South-West remain diverse.