THE QUESTION ABOUT YARI
By Solomon Dalung, Esq.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reported appointment of former Zamfara State Governor Abdul’aziz Yari as Director-General of his 2027 presidential campaign raises an important question—one that deserves to be asked calmly, responsibly and without prejudice:
How did Yari accumulate his wealth?
This is not a question based on rumours, social-media speculation or unverified estimates of personal net worth. There is a documented history of financial scrutiny involving the former governor that makes the question legitimate and deserving of public clarification.
Yari became Governor of Zamfara State in May 2011 and left office in May 2019. Before becoming governor, his public career was largely political, including party positions and service in the House of Representatives.
However, his financial affairs subsequently attracted the attention of Nigeria’s anti-corruption authorities and the courts.
In 2019, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) obtained a court order freezing $669,248.89 and ₦24.3 million in funds linked to Yari and companies associated with him.
In January 2021, a Federal High Court ordered the final forfeiture of ₦278.99 million traced to him after the funds were not satisfactorily accounted for in the proceedings.
In February 2022, the ICPC also secured an interim forfeiture order covering 10 properties linked to Yari, including properties in Abuja, Kaduna, Zamfara and Maryland in the United States.
These are not allegations manufactured by critics. They are matters that came before Nigerian courts.
To be clear, the existence of forfeiture proceedings or court orders does not, by itself, establish that every component of Yari’s wealth is illicit. Nor should anyone be convicted in the court of public opinion.
But these documented proceedings establish something important: serious questions have previously been raised about the financial affairs of a former public official who is now being entrusted with a major political responsibility.
That makes transparency not only desirable but necessary.
The ₦6 Billion Question
The matter becomes even more striking in light of reports that, as chairman of Geregu Power, Yari recently committed approximately ₦6 billion of his personal funds to address an immediate bond repayment obligation of the company.
If accurately reported, that represents an extraordinary level of personal financial capacity.
And that naturally raises a straightforward question:
Where did the money come from?
What businesses generated such wealth?
What investments produced it?
When were those businesses established?
What assets did Yari own before becoming governor in 2011?
What properties and investments did he acquire during his eight years in office?
And what did he accumulate after leaving office?
These are not unreasonable questions. They are legitimate questions in a democracy, particularly when they concern an individual who has occupied high public office and is now positioned to play a central role in determining Nigeria’s political direction.
There is nothing inherently wrong with being wealthy.
There is nothing illegal about owning businesses, investing in companies or possessing substantial personal resources.
And having billions of naira available for legitimate investment or corporate obligations is not, in itself, evidence of wrongdoing.
The issue is transparency.
When a former public official appears to have accumulated extraordinary wealth, citizens are entitled to ask how that wealth was acquired.
The Tinubu Connection
The question becomes even more relevant because of President Tinubu’s decision to entrust Yari with a leading role in his 2027 presidential campaign.
A campaign Director-General will be one of the principal figures asking Nigerians to trust the presidential candidate, his policies and his administration.
That inevitably creates another question:
What does President Tinubu know about Yari’s financial history that the Nigerian public does not know?
Or, put differently:
Why was Yari considered the right person to lead such a politically consequential campaign despite the documented questions surrounding his financial affairs?
These questions should not be interpreted as an attempt to convict Yari without trial.
They are questions about public accountability.
Nigeria has suffered for decades from a culture in which public officials can become extraordinarily wealthy while citizens are left to speculate about the sources of their fortunes.
That culture must change.
Public officials—and those entrusted with major political responsibilities—should be prepared to explain their financial trajectories, particularly where credible questions have previously arisen.
The Burden of Transparency
Yari has every opportunity to provide the answers.
If his wealth was generated through legitimate businesses, investments, contracts, property transactions or other lawful commercial activities, Nigerians deserve to know.
If his wealth predates his tenure as governor, that too should be demonstrated.
If significant businesses were established after leaving office, the public should be able to understand the nature and history of those enterprises.
Transparency should not be treated as an attack.
Indeed, for someone taking on one of the most important political assignments in the country, transparency can strengthen rather than weaken public confidence.
The standard should be the same for everyone—whether in government, opposition or political leadership.
Being wealthy is not a crime. Public office is not a licence to avoid scrutiny.
If a person becomes extraordinarily wealthy after years in public service, the public has a legitimate right to ask how that wealth was accumulated.
And if the wealth has a clear and legitimate origin, there should be no reason to fear the question.
That is why the question about Yari should not be dismissed as political persecution or reduced to partisan name-calling.
It is a question of accountability.
It is a question of transparency.
And ultimately, it is a question Nigerians are entitled to ask of anyone seeking their trust:
How did you make your money?
For Abdul’aziz Yari, the opportunity to answer that question is now his.