Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago yesterday defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s chances in the 2027 general election, saying the North will rally behind him because he has fulfilled many of his campaign promises.
He noted that President Tinubu has met expectations by delivering on his campaign promises. Speaking on Television Continental (TVC) about the state of the nation, Bago said he is prepared to serve as Tinubu’s campaign manager, highlighting the President’s contributions to both the North and the country at large.
“As far as we are concerned, it is Asiwaju for 2027; there is no going back,” said Bago, who also emphasised the primacy of rotation.
He said it is proper for the South to retain power till 2031 in the spirit of zoning, equity and fairness.
In recent times, prominent northerners, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and his Sokoto counterpart, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, said the North would not endorse the President for re-election.
‘Tinubu Has Delivered for the North’
Bago insisted that President Tinubu’s performance has won him broad acceptance in the region, stressing that northerners will turn out in overwhelming numbers to support him in 2027. According to the governor, many Nigerians would be surprised by the level of backing the President will receive across the North.
He explained that Tinubu’s popularity is already evident, pointing to a campaign song in the President’s praise that is trending across northern states.
Bago added that grassroots mobilisation is in full swing, with support networks growing stronger as preparations for the next election gather momentum.
He said northern governors are able to embark on people-oriented developmental projects in their states because they now receive more allocations from the Federation Account.
“I have made myself the director-general of the campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, and the headquarters of the campaign is here (Niger State). There is no going back about that.
“The President has the prerogative to appoint anybody as campaign manager, but as far as I am concerned, this is what our people are doing.”
The governor said the people of Niger State had decided to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in recognition of the principle of rotation, which gives the North and South a sense of belonging and fosters peaceful co-existence.
He stressed: “In Niger State, there is no dissenting voice. Nigeria is coexisting peacefully because we have decided to embrace a kind of rotation in governance; the North will do eight years, the South will do eight years.
“He (President Tinubu) is just two years in office and you are saying it should come back to the North. How? We had opportunities.
“So, we will continue to support the President; my people and my state, and we will also go to other states.”
Bago appealed to northern politicians with presidential ambitions to exercise patience until 2031, arguing that the South should be allowed to complete its turn in line with the principle of rotation. He maintained that once President Tinubu concludes his eight-year tenure, the North would naturally reclaim its chance to produce the nation’s leader.
He also pointed out that Tinubu’s support base is widening beyond the region. Over the weekend, former leaders of the National Assembly, including ex-Senate President Ken Nnamani and former Speakers Patricia Etteh and Yakubu Dogara, publicly declared their backing for the President’s re-election bid.
