Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed remarks by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, suggesting that the North should delay its bid for the presidency until 2031.
Akume, during an event on Sunday, December 8, advised northern political aspirants, including Atiku, to refrain from contesting the 2027 presidential election, stating that President Bola Tinubu should be allowed to complete a second term.
Akume added that Atiku could still become president even at the age of 90 if it was God’s will.
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Reacting through his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, dismissed Akume’s statement, emphasizing that Nigerians would determine the country’s next leader in 2027.
“God forbid,” Atiku remarked, referencing Tinubu’s potential second term while highlighting concerns over the current administration’s performance.
Atiku also addressed issues of power rotation, stating that the disparity in leadership years between the North and South raised questions about equity. By 2027, he argued, the South would have held power for 17 years, compared to the North’s 11 years.
“The decision of who leads the nation in 2027 rests with Nigerians, not the SGF or any individual,” Atiku said.