Prominent northern political leaders have declared strong support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, calling for power to remain in the South until 2031 in the interest of national unity and political stability.
At a citizens’ engagement forum in Kaduna on Tuesday, key figures from across the region, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors, ministers, and senior officials, rallied behind the president, citing his performance, inclusive governance, and commitment to fulfilling campaign promises.
Vice President Shettima, represented by Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, described Tinubu as a people-focused leader.
“He governs with the people, not above them,” Shettima said, adding that the administration had rejected elitist policymaking and embraced empathy-driven reforms.
Gombe State Governor and Chair of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Inuwa Yahaya, said Tinubu had delivered on promises made to the North in areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, power, and security. “In 2027, we must reward performance and hard work. By that measure, President Tinubu has earned our continued support,” he said.
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Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, echoed the call for power to remain in the South, urging northern politicians to wait until 2031. “2027 should not be on the minds of politicians from the North. The South deserves to complete its second term,” Akume stated.
He emphasized that President Tinubu has appointed many Northerners into strategic roles and ensured fair development across all six geopolitical zones. “The narrative that the North is not carried along is not true,” he said.
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, was more blunt: “There is no vacancy in Aso Villa until 2031.”
Yilwatda praised Tinubu’s initiatives such as student loans, youth empowerment funds, and agricultural investments, claiming no previous government had delivered such support to young Nigerians.
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The forum also addressed allegations of regional neglect, particularly from former Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who recently accused Tinubu of marginalising the North. Akume responded by listing major projects benefiting the region, including:
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Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway
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Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line
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Kaduna Refinery rehabilitation
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Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline
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Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway
He said over 400,000 students had benefitted from the Student Loan Programme, with N53 billion disbursed.
Shettima also outlined reforms in tax policy, fuel subsidy removal, education, and transportation. He said the administration has prioritized responsive governance, not perfection. “A government that listens is a government that learns,” he said.
Former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu blamed the North’s deep-seated issues—banditry, poverty, out-of-school children—on past northern leaders, not the current administration. He advocated for structured citizen-government dialogue and accountability from northern elites.
Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Board of Trustees, Bashir Dalhatu, reminded the President of the North’s significant contribution to his 2023 election victory, delivering 5.6 million of the 8.8 million votes. He urged the Federal Government to reflect northern needs more visibly in national policies.
NEF Chairman Ango Abdullahi called for better focus on education and infrastructure, particularly in the Northeast, and questioned leadership imbalance in agencies like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He also advocated agro-allied industrial development in the North.
The forum was organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation under the theme: “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizens Engagement for National Unity.”
It served as both a platform to evaluate Tinubu’s administration and a signal that key northern figures are prepared to support continuity—at least until 2031.
