Former Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District, has expressed his views on the ongoing debate surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s potential re-election bid in 2027.
Sani emphasized that while the Nigerian Constitution allows any region to field candidates, he believes that the South should take the lead in the 2027 presidential election, allowing the North to produce the president in 2031.
Speaking during an interview in Kaduna on Thursday, Sani stated, “From my point of view, the issue of the 2027 election should be left for the South to contest; whether it is President Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, or ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
And then, the North now has the legitimate right to contest and be allowed to produce the president in 2031.”
Sani further argued that the North should support President Tinubu in 2027, as Tinubu had been instrumental in securing the presidency for the North in the past.
“Asiwaju (Tinubu) is a product of the North, and it is reciprocal for what he has also done for northern Nigeria.
Buhari had contested for the presidency for so long, but it was only when he allied with Tinubu that he emerged.
Tinubu stood by the North at a time when they needed him most, and it is now time for the North to stand by him,” he remarked.
The former lawmaker also advised Tinubu’s camp to focus on delivering good governance, particularly in areas like security, poverty alleviation, and education in the North, to bolster his chances of re-election.
He pointed out that Tinubu could secure a second term even without full northern support, referencing his success in the previous election despite not winning in key northern states like Kaduna, Kano, and Adamawa.
Sani also cautioned against the desperation of some northern political elites to return to power in 2027, suggesting that their motives were driven by personal interests rather than the welfare of the region.
He urged respect for the principle of power rotation, stating, “It is in the interest of national unity and peace that southern Nigeria be allowed to complete their eight years in office, and then it will rotate back to the North in 2031.”
He concluded by expressing confidence in Tinubu’s re-election prospects, provided that the president addresses the current economic challenges.
“I believe that if the economic situation is addressed, he will regain those whom he had lost,” Sani said.
