Former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau has urged the Federal Government to reassess its policies, describing the recent #EndBadGovernance protests as a significant message to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, Shekarau noted that the protests reflected widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians over the country’s economic and political direction.

“The recent protests against bad governance sent a very clear message. It wasn’t a regional or state affair—it was a national movement,” Shekarau remarked. “Nigerians are asking the government to go back to the drawing board and re-evaluate the policies being implemented.”

The #EndBadGovernance protest, which took place from 1 to 10 August, saw Nigerians take to the streets to demand economic and political reforms. Key demands included the reversal of policies such as the removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the naira. These measures have triggered the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in decades, with the prices of goods and services more than doubling.

Although the protests began peacefully, they later turned violent in states like Kano, Kaduna, and Sokoto, resulting in deaths and property damage.

Shekarau also weighed in on the 2027 general elections, calling on political parties to prioritise good governance over regional or ethnic considerations when fielding candidates.

“Our focus should not be on where the next president comes from but on who can deliver good governance,” he said. “The parties must produce credible candidates. Nigerians need choices that inspire hope, not just the least bad options. If we are only given bad choices, we’ll simply pick the best among them.”

Shekarau refrained from taking a stance on whether power should rotate to the south or remain in the north, emphasising that competence should take precedence over regional politics.