North Should Wait Until 2031 To Contest Presidency, Akume Insists

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has insisted that the North should wait until 2031 before seeking to reclaim the presidency, arguing that President Bola Tinubu deserves to complete the South’s eight-year turn under the country’s established power rotation arrangement.

Akume warned political leaders against allowing personal ambitions to undermine the nation’s unity and stability, maintaining that the political understanding reached in 1999 on power rotation between the North and South should be respected.

According to a statement by his spokesman, Yomi Odunuga, he spoke on Thursday in Abuja when he received a delegation from the Miyetti Allah Fulaku Yesoyeso, led by its National President, Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman.

Recalling the political agreement reached by PDP governors-elect at a meeting in Kaduna in 1999, Akume said the arrangement provided for eight years of presidential leadership from the South, followed by eight years from the North.

He said the understanding, reached under the leadership of the late Chief Solomon Lar, with the late Adamu Ciroma as deputy party chairman, was intended to promote fairness, political inclusion and national stability.

The SGF expressed surprise that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who participated in the meeting and agreed to the arrangement, was now seeking the presidency after former President Muhammadu Buhari had completed eight years in office.

“And I told them, our son, may his soul rest in peace, Muhammadu Buhari, did eight years from the North. We have to now move to the South and do eight years.

“Tinubu has done eight years, I was surprised that Atiku, who was in that meeting, and agreed, is now running for president after Buhari did eight years from the North. This is not the time for the North, the North will come into contest in 2031. That is what has stabilised this country,” he said.

Akume maintained that Tinubu, having completed four years in office, should be allowed another four years to complete the South’s eight-year tenure before the North seeks to produce the next president.

Explaining the historical basis of the arrangement, he cited the administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.

“Eight years in the South, eight years in the North. I want you to hear this. Eight years in the South, eight years in the North. Obasanjo did eight years, Yar’Adua took over unfortunately he died, Jonathan took over and did six years.

“After Jonathan, Buhari from the North did eight years. Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over from Buhari. He has just done four years, therefore he has four years left,” the SGF said.

He cautioned politicians against pursuing personal ambitions at the expense of national cohesion.

“Let’s not make any mistake. Don’t do anything that will destroy this country, because we will suffer more. Personal ambition should not destroy our country. Wait for your turn,” he stressed.

Akume urged political stakeholders to rise above sectional interests and electoral calculations, insisting that national unity and the stability of democratic institutions should take precedence over individual ambitions.

Reflecting on his opposition to the Third Term agenda, the SGF said political leaders must be prepared to make sacrifices for the country’s collective interest.

He added that the North would be free to present any qualified candidate for the presidency in 2031, in keeping with the principles of fairness and national cohesion.

Akume also commended the Miyetti Allah Fulaku Yesoyeso for its grassroots mobilisation in support of Tinubu’s re-election, assuring the delegation that the President remained committed to consolidating ongoing infrastructure development for the benefit of Nigerians.

Earlier, Suleiman reaffirmed the association’s support for Tinubu’s continued leadership, describing the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development as a significant milestone in addressing longstanding challenges confronting pastoral communities.

He said the ministry had recorded progress in addressing issues affecting pastoralists, stressing the need for policy continuity to consolidate the gains.

Suleiman disclosed that the association had submitted recommendations to the ministry on livestock management, farmer-herder conflicts, protection of farmlands, education among pastoral communities and improved animal healthcare.

He further revealed that the group had begun mobilisation across Kaduna, Yobe and Borno states to galvanise support for Tinubu’s continued leadership.

According to him, the association is also deploying technology and professionals in ranching and information technology to strengthen its mobilisation and communication strategies, particularly among members in rural communities.