Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has responded to remarks made by Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, suggesting that the North should wait until 2031 to contest the presidency,Daily Trust reports.
Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 elections, dismissed the notion of President Bola Tinubu securing a second term, citing his administration’s performance as inadequate. Atiku remarked, “God forbid.” He emphasized that it is ultimately the Nigerian people who will decide their next leader in 2027.
Senator Akume, during a television interview, argued that President Tinubu, as a southerner, should complete a second term, meaning northern aspirants should wait until 2031. He stated, “If it is God’s will for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to become President, even at the age of 90, it will happen. But for now, northerners eyeing the presidency should look beyond 2027.”
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In response, Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe, took to social media to challenge the fairness of Akume’s position. He noted, “By 2027, the South would have held leadership for 17 years — eight under Obasanjo, five under Jonathan, and four under Tinubu — compared to 11 years for the North, with Yar’Adua serving three and Buhari eight. This six-year disparity raises questions about equity and fairness.”
Ibe further argued that leadership is earned, not granted by default. “The power to elect or reject a government rests with the Nigerian people, based on its performance. Has the Tinubu administration shown it deserves a second term? The answer is as clear as day — God forbid!” he wrote.
