The governor of Niger state, Umar Bago, has stated that power will return to the northern region after President Bola Tinubu completes his second term in office.
During an interview on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, Bago said those calling for a northern presidency after just two years of Tinubu’s administration are being premature.
The “farmer-governor” urged presidential aspirants from the north to wait until 2031.
“For crying out loud, this man has just spent two years in office and you want it to come back to the north. How?” he asked.
“When he (Tinubu) finishes his eight years, power will come to the north and northerners who want to contest can then contest.”
Bago emphasized that there was “no going back” on the plan, further revealing that Tinubu’s campaign headquarters for 2027 would be situated in Minna, the Niger state capital.
“I have made myself the DG of Tinubu’s campaign for 2027 and no going back about that. Our headquarters will be in Minna,” he declared.
“The president has the prerogative to appoint somebody, but Niger state is ready to lead from the north.”
The governor highlighted that the rotational presidency has helped sustain Nigeria’s delicate political stability. He also pledged to rally northern youths and voters behind Tinubu.
“These people you are talking about don’t control the youths. We control the youths, and the youths are with Asiwaju,” he added.
“Don’t worry about what people say. As far as we are concerned in Niger state, Asiwaju 2027 is constant.”
Bago assured the president of unwavering loyalty and support from Niger state, stressing that there are no dissenting voices in the state.
“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,” he said.
He also reaffirmed his support for the creation of state police, arguing that it would make policing more effective at the grassroots level, and called on Tinubu and the national assembly to expedite the passage of the bill.