Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that the North will in the next six months unveil their preferred candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
He said this in a video interview he granted in Hausa language alongside a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Usman Yusuf.
According to him, no politician can win the presidency in 2027 without the support of the region, just as he bemoaned the state of the nation.
He said, “In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way. One thing is clear: nobody can become president of Nigeria without northern support.
“We want a government that understands our problems and can address them. After Buhari’s eight years, we became wiser. Now, we are in another government, and we are still crying. Is crying all we know how to do?”
While lamenting the challenges facing the North, Baba-Ahmed said:
“Before Buhari became president, Boko Haram was bombing mosques, churches, Abuja, and Lagos. That was a time Northerners had to unite.
"Today, no politician can just show up and expect Northerners to fall in line. Who are you?”
"If they plan to rig the election, they should be careful. It won’t be good for Nigeria. The North is watching, elders, masses, and interest groups will soon say enough is enough. The injustice and sidelining must stop," he warned.
“We are tired of being deceived into voting based on religion or ethnicity. That era is over. We just want a right leader, we just want someone who will solve our problems,” he said.
NATIONAL POST reports that ahead of the 2027 presidential election, there is likelihood that President Tinubu will face toughest challenge from the Northern party of the country.
There is mounting opposition against Tinubu from key Northern leaders, including former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Senator Ali Ndume has been speaking out strongly, accusing the president of lopsided appointments.