A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Honourable Danjuma Suleiman, on Tuesday, lambasted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over an alleged proposal to serve only one term if supported by the South East in the 2027 presidential election.
Suleiman, who leads the North East chapter of the Disciples of Jagaban (DOJ), described Atiku’s reported plan to offer a vice-presidential slot to Labour Party’s Peter Obi in exchange for support as “self-serving, desperate, and a betrayal of Northern interests.”
In a statement issued in Abuja, Suleiman warned that the North must not be used as a “bargaining chip” for anyone’s ambition.
“This kind of desperation is dangerous,” he said. “You cannot trade the collective interest of the North to achieve your personal political goals. It’s deceitful to promise the South East a return of power after just four years, effectively sidelining the North again.”
Suleiman praised the APC Northern Forum for what he called “strategic patience and political wisdom” in supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, arguing that allowing Tinubu to complete a full eight-year presidency is the most equitable path before the North reclaims the presidency.
He also took a swipe at Northern elder statesman, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, accusing him of pushing a personal agenda masked as Northern advocacy.
“I find it alarming that anyone would suggest the North should settle for a one-term presidency only to hand power to Peter Obi for eight more years,” Suleiman added. “That is neither fair nor strategic.”
“This is a great insult to the North. It’s politically unjust and unacceptable for anyone to suggest that after Tinubu, the North should settle for just four years, only to hand power back to the South,” Suleiman said.
He also reminded Northerners of past political developments, pointing to how President Goodluck Jonathan, a Southerner, ruled for nearly a decade following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
“We should not forget history. It was President Tinubu who played a vital role in returning power to the North through Buhari. Now, we must allow Tinubu to complete his eight years before power returns to the North, fully and rightfully.
“As far as Nigeria is concerned, the North will remain politically relevant as VP in Tinubu’s administration and thereafter, the North will attain the Presidency in 2031 for eight years, as against Atiku’s agenda to mortgage northern interest, wherein the North will be VP for eight years after his one-term presidency. The overall and collective interest of the North is greater than an individual personal interest,” he said.
Suleiman also urged all Northern elites, political stakeholders, and youth groups to reject Atiku’s proposal and remain united in their support for President Tinubu to complete his second term.
“This generation of northerners is not desperate politicians but committed democrats. We must not allow anyone to commercialise or compromise our political future,” he said.
The Nation
