Member representing Bebeji/Kiru of Kano State in the House of Representatives, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin has dismissed claims of northern marginalisation in the country’s power rotation arrangement, saying the region has enjoyed more years in leadership compared to the South.
Speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday, Jibrin, who is also a staunch loyalist of the Kwankwassiyya movement, said it was misleading and unfair for northerners to argue that political power should be counted only from 1999.
“I feel sad when I see knowledgeable and highly respected northerners say the North has been shortchanged in terms of rotation. The North has not been shortchanged. The North has had power for 39 and half years, and the South has had 28 years. Nigeria started in 1960, so you cannot count power from 1999,” he stated.
According to him, disregarding the leadership of past northern heads of state and presidents amounts to an insult.
“It is unfair — the former heads of state, it’s an insult to them when a northerner goes on national television and says Nigeria started in 1999. Gowon was head of state for 9 years, Shagari for 4 years — you don’t even include Shehu Shagari? Then you have Buhari 2 years, Babangida 8 years, Abacha 5 years, Yar’Adua 3 years, and Buhari 8 years.
“Do we recognise Babangida as former president? Yes, we do. Do we recognise Abacha as a former head of state? Yes, we do. Do we recognise Buhari as former head of state and later former president? Yes, we do. That has never been in contention in this country, so I don’t think that’s a very good line of argument to place it,” Jibrin explained.
On President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition, the lawmaker said he saw no obstacle to the president’s re-election bid in 2027.
“Again, I believe, I do not see anything that can stop him from being President in 2027,” he said.
When asked to choose between Tinubu and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in a potential presidential contest, Jibrin instead suggested an alliance.
“I would choose Bola Tinubu and Kwankwaso to work together in 2027 with Bola Tinubu as President. I believe the South should complete their tenure as president,” he said.
Jibrin’s remarks followed ongoing debates over zoning, rotation, and political alignments as parties begin to strategise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
