Northerners seeking presidency in 2027 are enemies of the North - Akume

By Johnson Arua

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has declared that any Northerner seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election is an enemy of the region, insisting that President Bola Tinubu should be supported for a second term.

Akume said the North should wait until 2031 to seek a return to the presidency, warning that individual political ambitions must not be allowed to undermine the region's collective interests and national unity.

The SGF spoke on Saturday in Kaduna at a pre-campaign meeting with a large gathering of Benue State indigenes resident in the state, where he urged Northerners to unite behind Tinubu's re-election bid.

He said, "Anybody who is from the North and running for the presidency is an enemy of the North. Don't allow that pretender to deceive you. It is not yet our turn. The North's turn is in 2031. Prepare to vote for Tinubu. Do not allow anyone to destroy the country because of a vaunting personal ambition."

Akume, a former governor of Benue State, maintained that Tinubu had demonstrated fairness in appointments and governance, arguing that his administration had not favoured any religious group over another.

"Let us remember that the President has been fair to all in terms of appointments and others. He doesn't favour one religion over the other. Just look at the figures. So be careful about what people tell you," he said.

He urged Northerners to examine political developments carefully and resist what he described as attempts by politicians to mislead the region for personal advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, supporting Tinubu for a second term would better serve the North's long-term political interests than allowing individual ambitions to create divisions within the region.

Akume also invoked the power-rotation understanding reached by political leaders in Kaduna, arguing that the arrangement had helped sustain national unity and preserve Nigeria's territorial integrity.

"Remember that it was in this same Kaduna State that we agreed on power rotation between the North and the South. You cannot doubt the credentials of those that reached this agreement at that time, and it was done to keep this country together," he said.

"We agreed on power shift and that is what has kept this country going. That is what has retained our territorial integrity."

The SGF also defended Tinubu's leadership, dismissing the presidential ambition of an unnamed political rival whom he accused of inconsistency over the removal of fuel subsidy.

He insisted that the President had demonstrated commitment to Benue State through federal projects in healthcare, roads, education and other sectors.

"Let nobody deceive you, Asiwaju loves Benue and he has displayed that in the number of significant projects the Federal Government is carrying out simultaneously in the state. These projects are diverse in healthcare, roads, education and others. This is being replicated throughout the federation," Akume said.

He also cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), claiming that more than 65 per cent of the fund had been accessed, with most beneficiaries coming from the North.

Akume called for unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigeria's diverse ethnic and religious groups, stressing that political leaders should prioritise collective interests over personal ambitions.

Addressing the Benue indigenes, he described Kaduna as a historic city that had contributed to national political understanding and urged them to sustain cordial relations with their host community.

"Kaduna State is a historic city that gave us meaning and purpose. So, this is your home too as Benue State citizens living here," he said.

He commended Governor Uba Sani for his leadership and urged the gathering to support his continued stay in office, describing him as a leader who believed in the vision of the late Northern political leader, Ahmadu Bello.

Akume further defended Tinubu's leadership by recalling his experience as governor of Benue State, noting that his administration accommodated people from different ethnic backgrounds.

"I was the Governor of Benue State and the Fulanis were there. It is about leadership. If Asiwaju was not a good leader, I would not tell you otherwise. I will still come to Kaduna to speak with you," he said.

The meeting brought together Benue indigenes living in Kaduna and other political stakeholders to discuss issues affecting their community, political representation and engagement with leaders at the national level.

Other speakers at the gathering emphasised the importance of political participation, unity and collective engagement in advancing the interests of Benue indigenes.

Those who accompanied Akume included former Jigawa State Governor Saminu Turaki, former Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen, Senator Abu Ibrahim, Minister of Water Resources Joseph Utsev and Minister of Steel Development Shuaibu Abubakar Audu.