“The South is going to get its eight years. The North will get the next eight years. Politicians are just going to make noise.”
Why Southern Nigeria must retain presidency in 2027 – Ex- Osinbajo aide
Laolu Akande, a former aide to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has called for a political arrangement to ensure Southern Nigeria retains the presidency in 2027, completing an eight-year rotational cycle.
Akande, who served as Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the former Vice President, made the remarks during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
He argued that the South must complete its eight years in office, dismissing ongoing coalitions by some northern politicians as “child’s play.”
“The South is going to get its eight years. The North will get the next eight years. Politicians are just going to make noise. It is not going to be possible, really, (to terminate the southern term),” Mr Akande said.
He based his argument on the unwritten rotational agreement on the presidency.
“Rotational presidency has come to stay in Nigeria. There is a national consensus around the idea of a rotational presidency between the South and the North,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu ascended to the presidency following strong agitation for a power shift to the South after Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure. Ahead of the APC primaries in 2022, several governors, including many from the North, supported the power shift and opposed Ahmad Lawan’s candidacy proposed by some blocs in the party.
In the 2023 elections, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar faced a revolt within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from governors advocating for a power shift. Many voters also backed Peter Obi and his Labour Party (LP) based on the principle of power rotation.
However, ahead of the 2027 elections, the political landscape has shifted considerably. The state of the economy is likely to be a significant factor, with policies such as subsidy removal and the unification of exchange rates driving high inflation.
The opposition has criticised the government for its handling of the economy. Allegations of ethnic bias in appointments, particularly favouring the South-west region, have also emerged.
Reports suggest Atiku and some northern politicians are engaged in coalition talks ahead of the election, with meetings involving regional leaders and clerics. Meanwhile, within the ruling APC, Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has been seen engaging with politicians outside his party and making veiled criticisms of the administration.
Responding to questions on the possible northern coalition, Mr Akande said, “Anybody trying to reverse that (rotational presidency) is just joking. It’s not going to work.” Read More
NAN