Niger State Governor Umar Bago has said that northern politicians eyeing the presidency to exercise patience until 2031.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Governor insisted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must be allowed to complete his two constitutionally permitted terms.
Speaking on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, Bago cautioned that calls for power to return to the north after only two years of Tinubu’s administration were premature.
He asked, “For crying out loud, this man has just spent two years in office and you want it to come back to the north. How?”
The Governor emphasised that there would be no going back on the plan for Tinubu to remain in office until 2031. He disclosed that preparations for Tinubu’s re-election campaign were already underway in Niger State.
He said, “I have made myself the DG of Tinubu’s campaign for 2027 and no going back about that. Our headquarters will be in Minna.”
According to him, the long-standing gentleman’s agreement on rotational presidency between the north and south has helped sustain Nigeria’s fragile political balance. He pledged to mobilize youths and voters across the region in Tinubu’s support.
Bago said, “These people you are talking about don’t control the youths. We control the youths, and the youths are with Asiwaju.”
“Don’t worry about what people say. As far as we are concerned in Niger state, Asiwaju 2027 is constant.”
Bago further assured Tinubu of unwavering loyalty from Niger State, stressing that there are no dissenting voices in the state regarding support for the president.
He reiterated, “In Niger state, there is no dissenting voice. Nigeria coexists peacefully because we have agreed to a rotation; the north will do eight years, the south will do eight years.”
The Governor also restated his support for the creation of state police, saying such a move would enhance security and bring law enforcement closer to the grassroots. He urged both National Assembly and President Tinubu to expedite passage of the bill into law.
