According to former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, President Bola Tinubu ought to be permitted to win a second term in office on the basis of the gentleman’s agreement on power rotation.
HISTORY
Since Nigeria restored to civilian rule in 1999, the president has generally alternated between the north and the south every eight years.
The death of Umaru Yar’Adua in 2010 briefly deviated from the pattern, though, as southerner Goodluck Jonathan served out the former’s term before gaining a new one a year later.
Northerner Muhammadu Buhari was elected president in 2015 and served two eight-year terms until 2023. In 2023, Bola Tinubu, a native of the southwest, succeeded Buhari as president.
In 2027, Tinubu’s first term would come to an end.
Rumor has it that northern Muslim former vice president Atiku Abubakar might run for president of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in 2027 in an attempt to unseat Tinubu.
The opposition coalition just adopted the ADC as its platform.
“ADC should refrain from causing issues for the north.”
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Speaking Thursday on Arise Television’s “The Morning Show,” Aliyu claimed that northerners running for office on the ADC platform in 2027 will cause issues for the north.
“Many of the presidential candidates (in ADC) have already stated that they will only run for one term,” he remarked.
What issue is a Northerner causing for the North if he claims to be serving a single term?
“Oh my God, let’s attempt to put up with the late Muhammadu Buhari for eight years. If it is more convenient for us, we may be able to abandon the arrangement by 2031.
Only politicians and governors are currently defecting. You might have a presidential defection by 2031. Isn’t that a constitutional question?
Therefore, in my opinion, the outcome of the next 1.5 years will determine who wins the election.
In other words, I don’t see an issue if the government can address some of the noticeable irregularities.
Aliyu urged opposition groups to offer strong alternatives in order to increase the likelihood that the ADC will defeat Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“What is the alternative?” has always been my point of contention. What would you do if you wanted to overthrow this administration, that president, or that governor? “What alternative are you providing to the public?” he inquired.
“Gap in Communication”
Aliyu added that there is a big communication breakdown between the public and the administration.
He went on to say that government representatives have either been hesitant or ineffective in informing the public about significant events.
Many government institutions and agencies have done well, but the public is still mostly in the dark, according to the chairman of the board of trustees for the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF).
“You may communicate with the public without solely relying on the ministry of information. Every ministry and parastatal leader ought to be able to explain their actions to the public,” he stated.
Stated differently, the government must act as a stronger advocate.
“So far, we have observed that the government is performing well, but they are not, or the government lacks effective communication skills.”
