The Northern region will fully repay the political debt it owed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his alliance which secured victory for late President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and reelection in 2019.
The Director General of All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Sen. AbdulAziz Yari, gave the assurance during his visit to Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos on Monday.
According to the former Zamfara State Governor nothing would prevent the South from completing its full term of 8 years in Aso Rock, stressing that the North would use the 2027 presidential poll to express gratitude for Tinubu’s backing which secured victories for former President Buhari.
Yari spoke in Lagos when he led the leadership of the PCC to seek royal blessing at the Iga-Iduganran Palace of Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Rilwanu Akiolu.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State had earlier received the PCC Director General and his entourage before leading them to the Oba palace.
He recalled how Tinubu resisted the pressure mounted on him by some politicians to contest against former President Buhari in 2019, stressing that Tinubu did not only allow his predecessor to complete his term, but also supported the North.
He said: “For us in the North, I think it is time for us to pay Tinubu back for allowing the North complete its full term. I can recall that there was a struggle by some power-mongering block within the APC who tried to convince Tinubu to contest presidential election in 2019. He resisted the pressure and said it was the turn of the North.
“Tinubu said as long as Buhari can come out and ask people to vote for him, he would be with Buhari till the end. And that was what Tinubu truly did. Today, I don’t think there is an excuse for us from the Northern region not to support Tinubu to continue the good job he started and complete its tenure.
“The message from the Northern Nigeria where I came from is that, there is nothing to worry about. There are still people of high calibre and character who believe in justice and fairness. We are going to do our best to ensure that Tinubu’s journey continues till the end. He can count on us.”
He said Tinubu had fundamentally restructured the country, acknowledging the President inherited a challenging situation from his predecessors.
He added that the APC PCC was not seeking for Tinubu’s reelection based on power rotation but that Nigerians wanted the President back in power, given accomplishments in resetting the economy and the progress recorded in building infrastructure placing the country on the path of prosperity.
Also speaking, Sanwo-Olu noted that the PCC was made up of eminent administrators and experienced politicians, including former Senate presidents, governors, speakers and senior political leaders.
He said the campaign council took traditional leadership as first port of call in its nationwide assignment, demonstrating the importance of traditional institutions in promoting peace, unity and national development.
Responding, Oba Akiolu said that there’s no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2027, and expressed confidence that President Tinubu would win his reelection.
“One important thing that I know is that, in the next four to five years, there is no vacancy in Aso Rock. By the time the head of this campaign team is coming back here on a visit, he will come to inform me that Tinubu’s second term has happened,” the royal father said.
He advocated for an issue-based campaign, and urged Nigerians to embrace honesty, hard work, unity and sincerity of purpose.
According to him, political differences should not lead to enmity among citizens.
The Director General of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari and Oba Rilwan Akiolu, of Lagos during his visit to the Palace of the Royal Father in Lagos Island on Monday
