“If Atiku Wins In 2027, That Is The End Of Rotational Presidency And Nigeria Will Be Full Of Hate And Conflict” — Shehu Sani

Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has warned that a victory for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2027 will mark the end of rotational presidency in Nigeria and trigger bitterness in the South.

Sani, who spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today, insisted that while Atiku has the constitutional right to run, justice and fairness demand that the South be allowed to complete its eight years in power.

“I never said Atiku should not run. Constitutionally, he has a right to run for any election. But what I said was that a Southern part of Nigeria should be allowed to have its eight-year tenure in office, just like the way the North has from 2015 to 2023,” Sani said.

The former lawmaker said it does not matter who emerges from the South, whether Peter Obi, Seyi Makinde or Rotimi Amaechi, but all parties should field Southern candidates.

“Of course! All… it doesn’t matter! All the parties… like the ADC now, they’re supposed to field Amaechi. That is what’s supposed to be. The Labour Party should field Peter Obi. The PDP, I’m sure, will field Makinde. Let the South struggle it out and see who wins, and for four years,” he said.

According to Sani, when the South completes its tenure by 2031, the North will have an unchallenged opportunity to produce the next President without animosity.

“And when the tenure is done by 2031, the North shall have its unchallenged opportunity to produce leadership of the country. There are things that are not written in our constitution, but in the interest of justice, fairness, equity, and peace, we need to consider all these things,” he said.

“You cannot say that because you have the largest population in part of the country or you have the largest electorate, so you should continue to dominate political power,” he added.

Sani recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari enjoyed eight years without serious challenge from the South, and that President Bola Tinubu never challenged Buhari from 2015 to 2023.

“Buhari has his eight years in office; there is no serious challenge from Southern part of Nigeria to his government. And despite all that President Tinubu has faced from 2015 to 2023, he never thought of raising any challenge to Buhari’s presidency,” he said.

He warned that a Northern takeover now would create serious instability.

“If Atiku wins, that is the end of rotational presidency in Nigeria. And there’s going to be hard and bitter feelings from the South-Western part of Nigeria, or Southern part of Nigeria. And I don’t think anyone would like to preside over a country with full of hate, animosity, and conflict,” Sani warned.

“Right now, the political system is managing a lot of crisis. And I don’t think a Northerner taking over power here will come in with ease and convenience to the people in the Southern part of Nigeria. But if we allow the South to have their eight-year term by 2031, a Northerner takes over, there will be no challenge from Southern part of Nigeria.”

Sani maintained that his position is not against Atiku personally but for national stability.

“Atiku… the constitution has not stopped him from contesting election. He can contest election, but for me, that is my position, and I am not backing down on it. All the contestants should come from Southern part of Nigeria for now,” he said.