*Insists Tinubu deserves second term
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has urged northern political leaders to respect the North-South presidential power rotation arrangement, insisting that President Bola Tinubu should be allowed to complete his eight-year tenure before the North seeks to reclaim the presidency in 2031.
Akume gave the admonition in Abuja yesterday while receiving a delegation of the Miyetti Allah Fulaku Yesoyeso, led by its National President, Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman.
The SGF warned that personal political ambitions and attempts to disregard established political understandings could undermine Nigeria’s unity, stability and democratic progress.
Akume recalled the 1999 political understanding reached by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors-elect at a meeting in Kaduna under the leadership of the late Chief Solomon Lar, which provided for the rotation of presidential power between the North and South in eight-year intervals.
According to him, the arrangement was designed to promote fairness, political inclusion and national cohesion by ensuring that both regions had an opportunity to produce the country’s president.
He specifically expressed surprise that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, whom he said was part of the 1999 understanding, was seeking the presidency after former President Muhammadu Buhari had completed eight years in office representing the North.
He argued that the emergence of Tinubu after Buhari’s tenure represented the South’s turn under the rotational arrangement and that the current administration should be allowed to complete its second term.
“Our son, may his soul rest in peace, Muhammadu Buhari, did eight years from the North. We have to now move to the South and do eight years.
“Tinubu has not done eight years. I was surprised that Atiku, who was in that meeting and agreed, is now running for president after Buhari did eight years from the North.
“This is not the time for the North. The North will come into contest in 2031. That is what has stabilised this country,” he said.
Akume maintained that the principle had been substantially observed since the return to democratic rule in 1999, citing the eight-year administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Buhari, as well as the transition from the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He cautioned political actors against allowing personal ambitions to jeopardise the fragile balance that had helped sustain the country’s political stability.
“Let’s not make any mistake. Don’t do anything that will destroy this country, because we will suffer more. Personal ambition should not destroy our country. Wait for your turn,” he warned.
The SGF further said the North would be free to present any qualified presidential candidate in 2031, urging political stakeholders to exercise restraint and prioritise national interest over sectional and electoral considerations.
Earlier, Suleiman reaffirmed Miyetti Allah Fulaku Yesoyeso’s support for Tinubu’s continued leadership, praising the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
He said the ministry had made progress in addressing challenges facing pastoral communities and stressed the need for policy continuity.