Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria and the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has raised concerns about the call for Northerners to wait until 2031 before contesting the presidency. The statement came as a response to comments made by the Bola Tinubu-led administration, suggesting that Northerners should hold off on presidential bids until then.
Atiku pointed out a major imbalance in the leadership years between the North and South. By 2027, the South will have had 17 years of leadership, including eight years under Olusegun Obasanjo, five years under Goodluck Jonathan, and four years under Bola Tinubu. In comparison, the North will have only had 11 years, with Umaru Yar’Adua serving three years and Muhammadu Buhari serving eight years.
In a statement from his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku described this situation as unequal and unfair, stating that there is a six-year gap in leadership between the two regions. He questioned the fairness of the arrangement, asking, “Where, then, does true equity and fairness reside?”
Atiku has always advocated for fairness and equity in Nigerian politics, and this situation is no exception. He emphasized that power should be shared more equally between the North and South, allowing both regions to have a fair chance at leadership. He also reminded Nigerians that the ultimate power lies with the electorate, stressing that the people should have the final say in who leads them.
Atiku didn’t stop at discussing fairness; he also took aim at the Tinubu administration, questioning whether the current government has proven itself worthy of re-election. He ended his remarks with a strong statement: “But has the Tinubu government demonstrated that it deserves to be re-elected? The answer, alas, is as clear as the heavens themselves — God forbid.”
Atiku’s comments come as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 presidential election. With debates about power rotation and leadership performance heating up, it seems likely that issues of equity and fairness will continue to dominate political discussions in the lead-up to the next election.
