2027: Any Northerner Challenging Tinubu Is Enemy of the North, Akume Declares

• Cites Tinubu’s appointments, projects as evidence of fairness
• Urges Benue indigenes in Kaduna to support Uba Sani’s re-election

• Says North’s turn to produce president is 2031

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has declared that any Northerner seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an enemy of the region, insisting that the North should support the president’s re-election bid and wait until 2031 to seek another opportunity to produce Nigeria’s leader.

Akume, who made the declaration on Saturday in Kaduna during a pre-campaign meeting with Benue State indigenes residing in the state, warned that personal political ambitions should not be allowed to undermine the North’s collective interests or threaten the unity and stability of the country.

He urged Northerners to resist politicians seeking to challenge Tinubu in 2027, arguing that the region should honour the power rotation arrangement between the North and South in the interest of national unity.

“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,” the SGF declared.

He cautioned that Nigerians should not allow individual political ambitions to endanger the country, stressing that political leaders must consider the broader implications of their decisions for national cohesion and the future of their respective regions.

Defending Tinubu’s administration against allegations of favouritism, Akume maintained that the president had demonstrated fairness in appointments and governance without discriminating against any religious group.

“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.

The former Benue State governor argued that supporting Tinubu’s second-term ambition would serve the North’s long-term political interests better than allowing competing presidential ambitions to generate divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He recalled that the power rotation understanding reached in Kaduna was intended to sustain national unity and preserve Nigeria’s territorial integrity, urging political stakeholders to respect the arrangement.

“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.

“We agreed on power shift, and that is what has kept this country going. That is what has retained our territorial integrity,” he said.

Akume further dismissed the political arguments of an unnamed rival of Tinubu, accusing the individual of inconsistency over the removal of fuel subsidy and other policy positions.

He insisted that Tinubu remained the most suitable candidate for the 2027 presidential election, urging Northerners not to be swayed by political rhetoric that, in his view, could undermine the region’s interests.

The SGF also cited federal government projects across Benue State as evidence of Tinubu’s commitment to the state, noting that the interventions covered healthcare, road infrastructure, education and other critical sectors.

According to him, the projects demonstrated that the president was committed to development across the country rather than concentrating attention on particular regions.

“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 highlighted the North’s participation in 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 region.

The SGF urged the people to assess the administration based on its policies, appointments and development initiatives rather than political narratives designed to create division.

Beyond the 2027 presidential contest, Akume called for peaceful coexistence among Nigeria’s ethnic and religious groups, stressing that national progress depended on unity, mutual understanding and cooperation.

He described leadership as a critical factor in sustaining harmonious relations among communities, recalling his experience as governor of Benue State, when people from different ethnic backgrounds, including Fulani residents, lived in the state.

Akume said his support for Tinubu was informed by his assessment of the president’s leadership and performance, adding that he would not mislead the people for political convenience.

“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.

He also praised Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, for his leadership and performance, urging the Benue indigenes resident in the state to support his return to office.

“Your governor is a good man, and he has done well for this state. Let us return him to power too,” Akume added.

The SGF described Kaduna as a historic city that had contributed significantly to Nigeria’s political development and urged Benue indigenes living in the state to regard it as their home.

He commended Governor Uba Sani for embracing the vision of the late Northern Nigerian premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello, popularly known as the Sardauna of Sokoto, while calling for stronger relationships among communities.

Akume also urged Nigerians to preserve their cultural identities and traditions, describing shared heritage as an important instrument for strengthening relationships and promoting understanding among diverse communities.

The meeting brought together Benue indigenes resident in Kaduna and other political stakeholders to discuss issues affecting their community, political representation and engagement with the Federal Government.

Other speakers at the gathering emphasised the need for political participation, unity and collective action to advance the interests of Benue indigenes and strengthen their engagement with leaders at the national level.

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