A former lawmaker who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, Senator Shehu Sani, has stated that presidential aspirants from northern Nigeria should wait till 2031.
Senator Sani argued that only candidates from the southern region should contest the next presidential election in 2027 election.
Sani also pointed out that it would be just for the North to support Tinubu, given the support President Tinubu had previously offered to the North.
He recalled that Tinubu’s alliance with former President Muhammadu Buhari was instrumental in Buhari’s eventual victory after several unsuccessful attempts.
He argued that the North’s eagerness to return to power in 2027, as exhibited by some political elites, was driven by personal ambitions rather than the region’s interests.
He said, “From my point of view, the issue of the 2027 election should be left for the South to contest; whether it is President Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi or ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
“And then, the North now has the legitimate right to contest and be allowed to produce the president in 2031.
“Asiwaju (Tinubu) is a product of the North and is reciprocal for what he has also done for northern Nigeria.
“Buhari had contested for the presidency for so long a time but it was only when he allied with Tinubu that he emerged.
“So, Tinubu took for the North at a time that they needed him most and it is time for them (the North) to stand for him.
“After all, when he is done, the north will now have the opportunity to produce a president from the North-East, North-West or North-central.
“The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees that every Nigerian can contest election. Any region can contest the election. That’s what the Constitution says.
“I believe that the 2027 election should be left for the South to contest. And then the North will now have the legitimate right to contest and be allowed to produce the president in 2031.
“It is in the interest of national unity and peace that southern Nigeria be allowed to complete their eight years in office and then it will rotate back to the north in 2031.”
He expressed optimism that the political elite in the North would respect the power rotation principle, allowing the South to complete its eight-year term before the presidency rotates back to the North in 2031.
Sani reiterated that, if Tinubu effectively tackles the challenges in Northern Nigeria, no northern elite could prevent his re-election in 2027.