The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, has come under attack from northern leaders and groups over his call on the North to bury any ambition of contesting the presidency in 2027.

They accused him of working against the interest of the North just to please President Bola Tinubu.

The controversy surrounding Ganduje?s statement highlights the complex dynamics of Nigerian politics, particularly regarding zoning and power rotation. As the country prepares for the 2027 presidential election, it remains to be seen how this debate will unfold.

Ganduje had urged northern politicians nursing presidential ambition in 2027 to bury the idea, insisting that President Tinubu would serve two terms.

Apparently reacting to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who, in a post on his verified X handle, threatened that in 2027, the North would give Tinubu the same treatment meted out to former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

But Ganduje, while hosting leaders and members of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre, PBAT Media Centre, and Tinubu Northern Youth Forum, TNYF, at APC National Secretariat in Abuja, said expectations that the North would produce the President in 2027 should be ?perished.?

?When a leader from the northern part of this country was in office for eight years, we advocated that the next president in our party should come from the South?, he stated.

?And luckily enough, we worked very hard with the cooperation of Nigerians. Our President has come from the South and is going, insha?Allah, for a second term in 2027. And then after that, it will be turned to the northern part of this country?.

?Dangerous precedent?

However, the statement seems to have provoked stakeholders in the region, who told Sunday Vanguard that what the APC chairman said is a ?dangerous precedent.?

The Middle Belt Forum, MBF, said the statement wasn?t surprising, adding that Ganduje was doing the bidding of his ?benefactor.?

National President of MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, said: ?It is a political statement, and he is representing the party. Whether he likes it or not, the President is the main man for the party, and the benefit he would get comes through the President.

?So, whether he is from the North or wherever, he just has to support the President. It is, therefore, not surprising that, in spite of the Northern resistance for whatsoever reason, he is supporting the President, so it is not surprising.

?However, there are things we need to learn from the behavior of the North. There is this thing they call ?Takiya.? It is a holy deceit. It is practiced in the North in some things.

?So, what he says may not exactly be what he meant. So, let?s hope and believe that what he said was what he meant, and that was not a deceit aimed at appeasing those he wants to, with the intention of doing something else.

?This is something our Southern brothers do not seem to know or understand. But for those of us in the North, when one of us says something, we weigh it properly based on the action that might follow.?

?Disturbing questions?

On his part, National President of Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, said Ganduje?s position raised disturbing questions about Nigeria?s democracy.

He said: ?Ganduje?s call for politicians from the North to drop any ambition of contesting against Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election raises important questions about the principles of democracy and the right to political participation.

?It is essential to analyze this statement in the context of democratic principles and the right to political participation. In a democratic society, every citizen has the right to contest for political office and present themselves as candidates for election.

?This right is enshrined in the constitution and is a fundamental aspect of a functioning democracy. Ganduje?s call for politicians from the North to refrain from contesting against Tinubu raises concerns about the freedom of political expression and the right to participate in the democratic process.

?By discouraging potential candidates from running for office, Ganduje?s statement could be seen as an attempt to limit the choices available to voters and stifle political competition.

?Such a directive could also be interpreted as an attempt to consolidate power within a particular political faction or region, rather than promoting a fair and open electoral process.

?In a diverse and multi-ethnic country like Nigeria, it is essential that all regions and groups have equal opportunities to participate in the political arena and present their ideas and policies to the electorate.

?It is also worth noting that the 2027 presidential election is still several years away, and it is premature to make such sweeping statements about potential candidates and their eligibility to contest for office.

?In a democratic society, political competition should be encouraged, and voters should have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of candidates with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

?As citizens and observers, it is crucial to uphold these principles and ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process without fear of reprisal or discrimination.?

?Why 2027 noise??

Also speaking, Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, North-West zone, Emmanuel Obe, said: ?2027 is still far away, so why the noise about 2027? It?s only God that knows what 2027 will look like; therefore, those looking for favour and patronage should stop distracting those who have the responsibility of providing dividends of democracy to the people rather than engaging them with the trouble of 2027 that may or may not come.

?Nigerians are suffering, and the least expectation is to provide them with basic needs, which includes but is not limited to: food and shelter, security of lives and property, good drinking water, access to basic education, and good health facilities, stable and affordable supply of electricity, good roads, among others.

?Ganduje and his likes should address those needs rather than disturbing the citizens with the noise about 2027. Mr. President should not be distracted by the noise from those political jobbers and favour seekers but rather should focus on delivering his campaign promises to Nigerians and allow 2027 to breathe.?

?North united politically?

Former Secretary-General of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani, said: ?There is nothing controversial about such statements. This is because none of the two people you have mentioned speaks for the North in so far as partisan politics is concerned.

?This is because the North can be united politically on real issues of real concern to real northerners, but when it comes to partisan politics, the North does not act in unison.

?Recall NPC, NEPU, and United Middle Belt Council in the First Republic. In the Second Republic, there were Shagari who contested against Zik of NPP and Awolowo of UPN from the South and with Mallam Aminu Kano of PRP from Kano and Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim of famous ?politics without bitterness? from the North.

?During the third and the current fourth republics, the North voted for Abiola against their son, Bashir Tofa, and voted for Bola Tinubu in 2023 from the South against son of the soil, Abubakar Atiku, respectively. ?This should also inform political pundits that the North can use contingency in its approach to politics depending on the situation on the ground.?

Similarly, former Chairman of CAN, Kaduna State, Rev Joseph John Hayab, said: ?I am not sure Ganduje has said anything new. What he said is what the previous party in power used to say. I hope his party will listen to the cries of Nigerians and attend to their needs before the next election.

?Many Nigerians are tired of how politicians use this zoning of offices to deny them good governance. Nigerians in the next election will be looking for good governance, not the region of the candidate.

?Those who still want to go to the people with regional or religious messages about whom to vote will regret it. We have played regional and religious politics, but we are still standing In one spot, with no progress, only wallowing in hunger and poverty.

?Ganduje and all other leaders of political parties that want to get the mandate of Nigerians should focus on addressing Nigeria?s problems to win the support of the masses and stop talking about which region should drop her ambition to contest in 2027.?

Worrisome argument

Also, the Director of NGOs and SCOs of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Suleiman Abdul-Azeez, said he found Ganduje?s argument worrisome.

His words: ?As a leader from the North, I am deeply concerned by the recent statement made by former Governor Ganduje urging the North to drop any ambition of contesting against Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

?This call for the North to step aside and allow Tinubu to run uncontested is not only undemocratic but also goes against the principles of fair competition and equal opportunity in a democratic society.

?It is important to note that democracy thrives on the principles of free and fair elections, where all eligible candidates have the right to contest for any political office without fear of intimidation or coercion.

?By asking the North to abandon their political ambitions in favour of Tinubu, Ganduje is essentially stifling the democratic process and denying the people of the North their right to choose their own leaders.

?Furthermore, this call for the North to step aside in the 2027 presidential election sets a dangerous precedent for future elections, where certain individuals or regions may be pressured to withdraw their candidacy in favour of a preferred candidate.

?This undermines the democratic values of inclusiveness and diversity, which are essential for a thriving democracy.

As a leader from the North, I believe it is imperative that we uphold the principles of democracy and ensure that all eligible candidates have the opportunity to contest for political office without any form of discrimination or bias. It is crucial that we promote a culture of political inclusivity and diversity, where individuals from all regions and backgrounds have an equal chance to participate in the democratic process.?

?I strongly condemn Ganduje?s call for the North to drop any ambition of contesting against Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. It is essential that we uphold the principles of democracy and ensure that all eligible candidates have the right to contest for political office without any form of interference or coercion. Let us strive to promote a culture of political inclusivity and diversity, where every individual has an equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process.? (Sunday Vanguard)

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