Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has confirmed that moves are underway to prevent President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Lawal, a former ally of Tinubu turned critic, revealed that the North is mobilizing against the president’s re-election bid.
According to Lawal, the North feels betrayed by the impact of Tinubu’s policies, which he described as “nail-biting reforms” that have worsened poverty and economic suffering across the region. He said that the North will not forgive Tinubu for the economic hardship caused by his reforms.
The former SGF revealed that there is a consensus among northerners that Tinubu must give way in the 2027 election. “Everybody understands that if we are to continue with these policies for another four years, northern Nigeria will become one large refugee camp,” Lawal stated.
Lawal also disclosed that plans are underway to find a suitable replacement for Tinubu. He noted that the state of origin of the candidate doesn’t matter, as long as they understand the need for a united Nigeria.
He added, “Now, that is where quite a number of people think that it is only right to find someone who is patriotic and sees Nigeria as one, even if it’s from the South or the North. Some want it to come from the South, while others are saying we cannot take the risk of bringing a Southerner for self-preservation alone. So, that is where the divergence is.
“But we all agree that we must look for a substitute for Bola Tinubu. Unfortunately, quite a lot of people like Ganduje and other northerners benefiting directly from this government are just irritants. They are people who are talking to justify their positions in this rogue government. So they are justifying their place in it not caring what the other parts of northern Nigeria are going through.
“So, if we can get a good Southerner that can rule with equity, we are okay. It’s not actually about the elite consensus. It’s about the masses and what they are saying at the bottom. Even if some elite pretend to be supporting Bola, they will not vote for him because they are the ones at the receiving end of this thing. They are also the ones directing us, political elites of northern origin, to make sure this man doesn’t have a second chance.”
Recently, some key political figures have been critical of the present administration.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai had earlier predicted that President Tinubu may face a political revolt in 2027 similar to what happened to Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
