Aisha Yesufu

Aisha Somtochukwu Yesufu (born 12 December 1973) is a Nigerian activist and businesswoman. She co-founded the #BringBackOurGirls movement, which brings attention to the abduction of over 200 girls from a secondary school in Chibok, Nigeria on 14 April 2014, by the terrorist group Boko Haram. She has also been prominently involved in the End SARS movement against police brutality in Nigeria. thumb|It is just unbelievable how we tend to reward incompetence and punish competence. Quotes One of them had pushed me and the raised hand might be what some saw as a slap. No, I wasn’t slapped and I refused to cower and I turned and gave them a piece of what I thought of their pathetic selves and if I am going to die, it would be with my fist high up and my mouth open. Aisha Yesufu speaking at the EndSARS protest on October 2020 I would never give up on Nigeria no matter what it throws at me. I owe it to unborn generations on their way to Nigeria and I will continue to fight for Nigeria just as I wished others had fought for me before I came to be Nigerian. Aisha Yesufu speaking at the EndSARS protest on October 2020 Herdsmen who are criminals have to be criminalized. Those who aren't shouldn't. No one has monopoly to cause trouble and no one is safe from what trouble can cause. Aisha Yesufu speaking on insurgence. Politics affect lives and we all have to be politicians. You can be the one being voted for or the one voting for or the one volunteering in someone's campaign or helping to raise money or donating or giving governance or making demands. Aisha Yesufu speaking on politics and everyone involvement. It is just unbelievable how we tend to reward incompetence and punish competence. Aisha Yesufu speaking on nepotism. One thing I have learnt, is that, sometimes you need your opponent to do so badly and make you a choice. Aisha speaking on seeing value in others. “There is nothing to go into fighting mood over this nothing – so focus on your message and the results that you want is the most important.” Aisha Yesufu warning protestors against distraction and division #EndSars No rigging can happen without our support … INEC is not the problem. The people in INEC are the problem and they are among the 220 million people. There is no INEC Chairman that can rig election if the people working in INEC do not collude. … The police are not the problem, the people in the police are the problem.” Aisha Yesufu Urges Nigerians on INEC Issues AFRICA Press (2025-10-10) "Educated Nigerians should realise that their education is not for them alone and they should be working towards changing the system; that is how you will have a bloodless revolution. If you don’t do that, the hungry people are going to jump on the street one day …” Educated Nigerians should work for a bloodless revolution or hungry people will kill everybody one day –Aisha Yesufu PUNCH (25th November 2020) "Your actions, not words will attract foreign investors … ‘In this 2023, travelling to woo investors is still being used?!’ … ‘Stop wasting tax payers money to go woo investors. Sit at home and do the needful.’” Your actions, not words will attract foreign investors, Aisha Yesufu tells FG Vanguard News (November 19, 2023) "People must resolve to not move on from issues. … Until good is more tenacious than evil, the evil ones even though smaller in number will continue to have the upper hand.” You see this table full of older generation men cannot be the only ones allowed to make the decision as we go on! Women and Youth must be in the midst of decision-making and not as afterthoughts in the form of tokenism.” Aisha Yesufu Tears Into Northerners: ‘They Beg For Everything, But Want To Be Moral Activists’ The whistler (Jan 12, 2021) “No country has the right to call itself civilized if it allows 219 of its citizens to be kidnapped with no repercussions.” The Battle for Nigeria NEWS.COM (February 5, 2015) "Women and Youth must be in the midst of decision-making and not as afterthoughts in the form of tokenism.” Aisha Yesufu Slams ADC Coalition Over Tokenism In Women, Youth Inclusion Independent news (July 3, 2025) "You can now call me JOBLESS with a capital J! … My last born is done with university … I have a lot more time on my hands now, and I will be devoting it to NIGERIA! Welcome to a new dispensation.” ‘I have more time for Nigeria now,’ says Aisha Yesufu as she celebrates child’s graduation Tribune online (January 20, 2025) "People must resolve to not move on from issues. … Until good is more tenacious than evil, the evil ones even though smaller in number will continue to have the upper hand.” "In this 2023, travelling to woo investors is still being used?! … Stop wasting tax payers money to go woo investors. Sit at home and do the needful.” Your actions, not words will attract foreign investors, Aisha Yesufu tells FG Vanguard (November 19, 2023) "It is only when it comes to hypocritical morality that they will become actively present. Money they will beg for. Food they will beg for. Job they will beg for. Marks they will beg for. Merit they will beg to be exempted. Even advocacy they will beg for.” Aisha Yesufu Tears Into Northerners: ‘They Beg For Everything, But Want To Be Moral Activists’ THE WHISTLER (Jan 12, 2021) "Even though my parents or adults were angry at me for speaking up especially when it does not favour them … I have the gift to look at issues from both sides even when I am involved and when I am not.” Aisha Yesufu: The Voice Of Humanity The Guardina Nigeria ( 25 Aug 2019) "I am okay. I refused to run. I walked with my fist high up … One of them had pushed me and the raised hand might be what some saw as a slap. No, I wasn’t slapped and I refused to cower and I turned and gave them a piece of what I thought of their pathetic selves and if I am going to die, it would be with my fist high up and my mouth open.” Aisha Yesufu- The picture worth one thousand words Busness day NG (October 17, 2020) "The right Bola Ahmed Tinubu had to call out government in 2014 is the right Aisha Yesufu has in 2024 to call out an illegitimate government … No Nigerian is more Nigerian than any Nigerian. This country belongs to all of us, and nobody can intimidate us in our own father land." ‘Nobody can intimidate us’ – Aisha Yesufu vows to continue calling out Tinubu’s govt NigerianEye ( February 05, 2024) "No rigging can happen without our support … INEC is not the problem. The people in INEC are the problem … The police are not the problem … The people in the police are the problem.” Aisha Yesufu Urges Nigerians on INEC Issues Africa Press (2025-10-10) "To Nigerian Politicians, 8 years is FOREVER! Little do they know!” Eight years not forever – Aisha Yesufu mocks Yahaya Bello, ElRufai Daily post (April 19, 2024) "When asked on … what she thinks of the President’s assurance …: ‘We are used to a president whose words mean nothing. He says one thing, and another thing happens’ … ‘The body language of President … enables the terrorists.’” Aisha Yesufu: We Are Used To A President Whose Words Mean Nothing - Politics - Nairaland Nairaland ( Feb 26, 2021) "I am a politician. All my life I have made choices. I am into Nigerian Politics and … I will ensure it is clean.” I am a politician - Aisha Yesufu declares after years of denial Pulse (05 March 2024 ) "I give it to the illegitimate administration of Mr Tinubu. He has gotten defeated people fighting themselves instead of fighting him … Imagine the fight is over who are being killed rather than that citizens are being killed.” Nigerians Fighting Themselves Instead of Tinubu – Aisha Yesufu tori.ng ( 07th Oct, 2025 ) "When we talk about International Women’s Day, I don’t want a day. I just want to be treated with respect, I want equality, equity and justice. That’s really what we want. Because at the end of the day, this whole International Women’s Day has been turned into some performative thing …” IWD 2025: Aisha Yesufu preaches equity, justice, more women in leadership position Blueprint (March 8, 2025) "There is no government in Nigeria. Terrorists have a field day!” There is no government in Nigeria – Aisha Yesufu declares NigerianEye (June 23, 2025) "Peter Obi has more hope in 2027 than there was in 2023. … Nothing has been put in place. Nigerians must realise that the 2027 election is a fight for our lives.” Peter Obi has better chances in 2027 than in 2023 — Aisha Yesufu Vanguard (October 18, 2025) "No rigging can happen without our support … The people in INEC are the problem. … The police are not the problem, the people in the police are the problem.” Aisha Yesufu Urges Nigerians on INEC Issues AFRICA Press (2025-10-10) "To Nigerian Politicians, 8 years is FOREVER! Little do they know!” Eight years not forever – Aisha Yesufu mocks Yahaya Bello, ElRufai Daily post (April 19, 2024) "You can now call me JOBLESS with a capital J! … I have a lot more time on my hands now, and I will be devoting it to NIGERIA! Welcome To A New Dispensation.” ‘I have more time for Nigeria now,’ says Aisha Yesufu as she celebrates child’s graduation Tribuneonline (January 20, 2025) “Hunger that is deliberately inflicted has made many lose their capacity to think.” Aisha Yesufu: Hunger, Poverty Used To Silence Nigerians firstdaily.ng (february2,2026) “Nigeria has everything it needs to be great.” Aisha Yesufu: Hunger, Poverty Used To Silence Nigerians firstdaily.ng (february2,2026) “We must unlock the spirit that has been starved — the Nigerian can-do spirit.” Aisha Yesufu: Hunger, Poverty Used To Silence Nigerians firstdaily.ng (february2,2026) “All citizens are asking for is electronic transmission, real-time. I do not see any reason why that is a problem.” Aisha Yesufu Calls For Real-Time E-Transmission Of Results, Questions Military Presence At Protest www.channelstv.com ( February 10, 2026) “All we are asking for is real-time electronic transmission of the electoral results. We are here, and we are waiting for the lawmakers we sent to Abuja to pass the bill the way it should be passed. All citizens are asking for is electronic transmission, real-time. I do not see any reason why that is a problem,” Aisha Yesufu Calls For Real-Time E-Transmission Of Results, Questions Military Presence At Protest www.channelstv.com ( February 10, 2026) “To every soldier that you brought here, know that you are here unconstitutionally because your job description does not include being here against protesters. Before you pull that trigger or throw that canister, ask yourself: Is it constitutional or unconstitutional?” Aisha Yesufu Calls For Real-Time E-Transmission Of Results, Questions Military Presence At Protest www.channelstv.com ( February 10, 2026) “There are soldiers that should be in Kwara defending the people, yet they are here. Terrorists threatened citizens yesterday. The last time they did, over 200 people were killed. They operated from sunset to sunrise,” Aisha Yesufu Calls For Real-Time E-Transmission Of Results, Questions Military Presence At Protest www.channelstv.com ( February 10, 2026) “Right now, Nigeria as a whole is a glitch. There is nothing working, whether economically or in terms of security.” Nigeria Is A ‘Glitch,’ Nothing Is Working — Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com (March 5, 2026) “Nigeria is a glitch on its own; it’s at a standstill.” Nigeria Is A ‘Glitch,’ Nothing Is Working — Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com (March 5, 2026) “I just explained to you: people are being taken away, people are being killed, and terrorists are coming out to show us their faces. Nigeria is a glitch on its own; it’s on a standstill. There’s no governance and nothing is going on,” Nigeria Is A ‘Glitch,’ Nothing Is Working — Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com (March 5, 2026) Was there ever a time that you went to register and you didn’t register? Was there ever a time that you went to register and the page was down, or the website was down, or the app was down? There was nothing,” Nigeria Is A ‘Glitch,’ Nothing Is Working — Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com (March 5, 2026) Do they (APC) have anything? Yes, they have 30 governors, but we have over two hundred and something million Nigerians minus the 30 governors and the few other supporters that they have,” Nigeria Is A ‘Glitch,’ Nothing Is Working — Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com (March 5, 2026) “If Mr Peter Obi gets into office and decides to do more than one term, I, Aisha Yesufu, and I repeat it here, I will oppose him with everything in me, because he gave his word.” Aisha Yesufu says Obi committed to one-term presidency PUNCH (April 7, 2026 ) “In 2022, when he was saying that, I remember saying to him, oh, sir, please, you can’t be serious. You can’t say you’re going to do one term and move on,” Aisha Yesufu says Obi committed to one-term presidency PUNCH (April 7, 2026 ) “I need your word on this. I know you had said it before. I want you to repeat it. Is it true you’re going to do just one term?” Aisha Yesufu says Obi committed to one-term presidency PUNCH (April 7, 2026 ) “I’m not leaving activism. I’m not leaving advocacy. I’m taking advocacy into politics.” 2027: I Am Taking Activism And Advocacy Into Politics, Says Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com ( May 7, 2026) “Activists make demands, while politicians are supposed to solve problems based on those demands.” 2027: I Am Taking Activism And Advocacy Into Politics, Says Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com ( May 7, 2026) Yes, activists make demands, while politicians are supposed to solve problems based on those demands. But unfortunately, in Nigeria, politics is often not seen as serving the greater good, but personal interests. I’m not leaving activism. I’m not leaving advocacy. I’m taking advocacy into politics. 2027: I Am Taking Activism And Advocacy Into Politics, Says Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com ( May 7, 2026) “You find out that when you talk about the legislative arm of government, it is supposed to represent the people, hold the executive accountable and ensure that those nominated for public office are people who will truly work for Nigeria. Outside, yes, I do have a voice. But inside, I’ll be able to do a whole lot more,” 2027: I Am Taking Activism And Advocacy Into Politics, Says Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com ( May 7, 2026) “One of the things that I realised is that with activism, I use my constitutional right to be able to talk about issues and point out the problems that we have. 2027: I Am Taking Activism And Advocacy Into Politics, Says Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com ( May 7, 2026) “And it got to a place from 2018 that I realised that as long as I sit back and just focus on discussing or pointing out the problems, those who are in office, who have the constitutional authority, may decide whether to listen or not. And what we have in Nigeria is that usually they don’t listen. 2027: I Am Taking Activism And Advocacy Into Politics, Says Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com ( May 7, 2026) “For me, I’m seeking constitutional authority to then be able to provide solutions to these problems,” 2027: I Am Taking Activism And Advocacy Into Politics, Says Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com ( May 7, 2026) “I don’t think I look like someone who is a walkover to anybody 2027: I Am Taking Activism And Advocacy Into Politics, Says Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com ( May 7, 2026) ”One of the things I know about the politics of Abuja is that when it comes to the general election, Abuja residents are very firm in their decisions, and they choose who they want. Nobody has the right to come and impose anybody on us in Abuja. There is no coronation in Abuja. It is the people who make those choices. 2027: I Am Taking Activism And Advocacy Into Politics, Says Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com ( May 7, 2026) “I will not do any illegality. I’m not going to steal anybody’s vote or rig anybody’s vote. If anybody gives me their vote and somebody wants to rig that vote away from me, when they go lower, I will go underground. There is no monopoly of anyhowness,” 2027: I Am Taking Activism And Advocacy Into Politics, Says Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com ( May 7, 2026) “There is no coronation in Abuja. It is the people who make those choices.” 2027: I Am Taking Activism And Advocacy Into Politics, Says Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com ( May 7, 2026) Yes, activists make demands, while politicians are supposed to solve problems based on those demands. But unfortunately, in Nigeria, politics is often not seen as serving the greater good, but personal interests. I’m not leaving activism. I’m not leaving advocacy. I’m taking advocacy into politics. 2027: I Am Taking Activism And Advocacy Into Politics, Says Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com ( May 7, 2026) There are some people who have said they are going to take over Abuja and all of that. We want to give people a viable option that they can be proud of and passionate about. FCT Senatorial Poll: I Don’t Have Wike To Contend With – Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com (May 24, 2026) “I don’t have a Wike to contend with because that’s an appointee. I’m not in the business of appointments. I’m in the business of looking for the mandate of the people. Wike is an appointee; I have no business with appointees,” FCT Senatorial Poll: I Don’t Have Wike To Contend With – Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com (May 24, 2026) “Yes, people may assume I already have it, but that is not enough. I need people to come out and vote during the primaries,” FCT Senatorial Poll: I Don’t Have Wike To Contend With – Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com (May 24, 2026) “If the national secretary did not have what it took to go to every local government, then he shouldn’t have put out a statement to the world that he was going to do that,” ‘I’ve been dragged… all I wanted was transparency’ — Aisha Yesufu fumes at NDC leaders over primary poll THE CABLE.NG(June 4, 2026) “If you do something, we must stand by our word. I’m not even asking for a level playing ground; I’m asking for a ground.” ‘I’ve been dragged… all I wanted was transparency’ — Aisha Yesufu fumes at NDC leaders over primary poll THE CABLE.NG(June 4, 2026) “This party is more than who wins, we need to follow a process that is transparent,” ‘I’ve been dragged… all I wanted was transparency’ — Aisha Yesufu fumes at NDC leaders over primary poll THE CABLE.NG(June 4, 2026) “If I lost honourably and fairly, I’m ready to concede that I lost. I have a presidential candidate that I am here for,” ‘I’ve been dragged… all I wanted was transparency’ — Aisha Yesufu fumes at NDC leaders over primary poll THE CABLE.NG(June 4, 2026) “Primary and secondary education is more beneficial to the state than the people. The cost of an uneducated populace is too high for a State.” WAEC, NECO fees should not be paid by students — Aisha Yesufu THESUN.NG (13 July 2026 ) “I did not accept the House of Representatives ticket that was given to me because there were other people who were doing it on the issue of principle,” NDC Reps ticket: I won’t trade principles for power – Aisha Yesufu PEOPLESDIALY.NG (August 25, 2026) “We are not going to sell Nigeria. I don’t have to be president by force. We won’t make any promises that we will not fulfil,” NDC Reps ticket: I won’t trade principles for power – Aisha Yesufu PEOPLESDIALY.NG (August 25, 2026) “2027 is even easier than 2023. 2023 you know you had to put in all that work, ‘let start it and see.’ By the time we had the former governor of Edo State, he really helped us without knowing he helped us by refusing to allow us to have all those halls and everything and Edo people coming out to say, ‘hey we are doing this.’ 2027 Election Easier For Peter Obi Than 2023 — Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com (September 10, 2026) “That was when we had that shift when people saw that this is possible, a new Nigeria is possible. But right now, everybody has seen it, Mr Peter Obi all over the country,” 2027 Election Easier For Peter Obi Than 2023 — Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com (September 10, 2026) “We have this alliance that has come between the Obidients and the Kwankwasiyya and you are seeing Mr Peter Obi’s running mate Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso bringing in a whole lot into the union.” 2027 Election Easier For Peter Obi Than 2023 — Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com (September 10, 2026) “I have said this many times, there is no politician in Nigeria that is as courageous as Mr Peter Gregory Obi. That same Yelwata that he was going to, Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2027 Election Easier For Peter Obi Than 2023 — Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com (September 10, 2026) “He went to Jos, that is someone who is supposedly called the Commander in Chief, he couldn’t even enter Jos. Mr Peter Obi has been to Benue before, this time he was going to that same Yelwata but you need to understand something, there is a place where someone has to be strategic. You have a lot of things to do, so if you are fighting people who don’t have work, it doesn’t make any sense at that moment,” 2027 Election Easier For Peter Obi Than 2023 — Aisha Yesufu www.channelstv.com (September 10, 2026) “It is only education that can break the shackles of poverty.” Nigerian government doesn’t have the kind of money i am looking for, but the people do – YesufuNigeria and World news(May 28, 2017) “A Nigeria, where every child will have equal opportunity.” Nigerian government doesn’t have the kind of money i am looking for, but the people do – YesufuNigeria and World news(May 28, 2017) “Being a Muslim woman doesn’t mean one cannot have one’s voice out there.” Nigerian government doesn’t have the kind of money i am looking for, but the people do – YesufuNigeria and World news(May 28, 2017) “The office of the citizen is actually the highest office in the land.” Aisha Yesufu Speaks on Being a Girl Child in Northern Nigeria as She Covers Guardian Life Magazinebellanaija( August 25, 2019) “We don’t need permission from the police to protest but protection.” Aisha Yesufu Speaks on Being a Girl Child in Northern Nigeria as She Covers Guardian Life Magazinebellanaija( August 25, 2019) “For me death is when I’m unable to speak against injustice because I’m afraid to die.” Aisha Yesufu doesn’t fit in, and that’s why she fits inNigeria and World news(November 28, 2020) “Religious rulers in Nigeria are worse than political rulers.” Nigerian religious leaders worse than political rulers, says Aisha YesufuNigeria and World news(November 02,2021) “2023 presidential election is ‘a fight for survival’.” 2023: Nigerians better get ready… it’s a fight for our lives, says Aisha Yesufuthecable(July 16, 2022) “Vigilance is the price you pay for democracy.” 2023: Nigerians better get ready… it’s a fight for our lives, says Aisha Yesufuthecable(July 16, 2022) External links official Website category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Biologists from Nigeria Category:Women scientists from Nigeria Category:Muslims from Nigeria Category:Businesswomen from Nigeria category:Human rights activists Category:Women activists from Nigeria