Former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, has called for adherence to Nigeria’s longstanding power rotation principle, saying President Bola Tinubu deserves a chance at a second term under the unwritten zoning agreement.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Thursday, Aliyu expressed concerns about political ambitions from the north ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly those being floated under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“I have heard many of the presidential aspirants (in ADC) already saying they will serve one term,” Aliyu said.
“If a northerner says he’s serving one term, what problem is he creating for the north?
“If we could tolerate the late Muhammadu Buhari for eight years, oh my God, let’s try it… maybe by 2031, we can jettison the arrangement if we find it convenient.”
Aliyu argued that Nigeria’s political balance could be destabilized if northern politicians ignore the power rotation understanding by pushing for the presidency so soon after Tinubu’s emergence. He warned that such actions could deepen divisions and stir unnecessary tension.
He also pointed to the trend of political defections, noting that while current movements are mostly among governors and lawmakers, the trend might extend to presidential candidates by the next election cycle.
“For now, only governors and lawmakers are defecting. By 2031, you may end up with a presidential defection. Is that not a constitutional issue?” he said.
Aliyu believes the success of the current administration in the coming months will determine its political fate in 2027.
“So, for me, who will win the election will depend on what happens in the next one and a half years.
“And that is to say, if the government can correct some of the observable anomalies, I don’t see a problem.”
He further urged opposition parties to focus less on rhetoric and more on offering tangible policy alternatives to the electorate.
“My argument has always been, what is the alternative? What is it if you want to remove this or that government or that governor or that president? What is the alternative that you’re offering to the people?” he asked.
Aliyu also highlighted what he described as a communication gap between the government and the public, emphasizing that officials need to better explain their accomplishments to citizens.
He lamented that while several ministries and agencies are making strides, the impact is lost due to weak messaging.
“You do not depend only on the ministry of information to be able to communicate with the citizens. Every minister, every head of a parastatal, should be able to tell the people what they have been doing,” he said.
“In other words, the government needs to be more of an advocate.
“What we have seen so far is that the government is doing well, but they do not, or the government does not know how to communicate very well.”
Aliyu currently serves as chairman of the board of trustees of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF), where he continues to play a role in shaping policy discussions, particularly around governance and national unity.
