2027: Any Northerner Seeking Presidency Is Enemy of North- Akume

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 North, insisting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains the right candidate to lead Nigeria beyond 2027.

Akume said the North should support Tinubu’s re-election bid and wait until 2031 before seeking to return to the presidency, warning that individual political ambitions should not be allowed to undermine the region’s collective interests.

Akume, who spoke on Saturday in Kaduna at a pre-campaign meeting with a mammoth crowd of Benue State indigenes residing in Kaduna, urged Northerners to remain united and resist political manoeuvres that could weaken the region’s political influence.

In a statement by his spokesman, Yomi Odunuga, he argued that the North should not be distracted by the ambitions of politicians seeking to challenge Tinubu in 2027, stressing that political leaders must consider the wider implications of their actions for national unity and the region’s future.

“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.

“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.

According to him, the North stands to benefit more from supporting Tinubu’s second-term ambition than from allowing individual political interests to create divisions ahead of the next general elections.

Akume maintained that the region must remain focused on its long-term political interests rather than pursue ambitions that could undermine its unity and political relevance.

The former Benue State governor cautioned against attempts to divide Northerners along political, religious and personal lines, urging political stakeholders to place collective interests above individual aspirations.

He recalled past political disagreements among Nigerian leaders and warned against repeating mistakes that could weaken the North’s influence in national politics.

The SGF emphasised that unity, cooperation and political understanding remained critical to the region’s continued relevance, noting that the North’s strength depended largely on its ability to pursue common objectives.

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

“The present governor, Senator Uba Sani, believes in that vision of Saudauna. He is a great man. I want to appeal to you that there is no one like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. Forget that other one making noise about removing the fuel subsidy. He is always flip-flopping. He says something today and changes gear the next minute.

“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 across healthcare, roads, education, and other areas. This is being replicated throughout the federation. For example, in the area of education, over 65 per cent of NELFUND has been accessed, and most of it has come from the North.

“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”, Akume explained.

Northerners, Akume noted, should critically examine unfolding political developments and avoid being misled by politicians whose personal ambitions might conflict with the region’s broader interests.

Akume also stressed the need for national unity, peaceful coexistence and cooperation among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and religious groups, maintaining that the country’s progress depended on the willingness of its citizens to work together despite their differences.

He further encouraged the preservation of cultural identity and traditions, describing shared heritage as an important instrument for strengthening relationships and promoting understanding among communities.

“I believe you are here because you believe in me and because you want to see your son, and that is me, in flesh and blood.

“I was the Governor of Benue State and the Fulanis were there. It is about here. If Asiwaju was not a good leader, I would not telk you otherwise. I will still come to Kaduna to speak with you. Your governor is a good man and he has done well for this state. Let us return him to power too”, the SGF noted.

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

Other speakers at the meeting underscored the importance of political participation, unity and collective engagement in advancing the interests of Benue indigenes and strengthening their relationship with the government.

Those who accompanied Akume to the event included, among others, the former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Saminu Turaki; Dame Pauline Tallen; Sen. Abu Ibrahim; the Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Joseph Utsev; and the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu.