In view of the Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, the Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose popularity has been on decline since he took the mantle of leadership, has committed to strategic political reshuffling that will ensure major political players in the country are within his camp.
This is especially as their seem to be growing dislike for his style of leadership and economic policies by the northern majority who usually refer to themselves as possessing the electoral power to determine the Nigeria’s president in every electoral cycle. This growing concern is evident in the resignation of Hakeem Baba Ahmed, spokesperson of the Northern people’s forum, from his position as Adviser to vice president Kashim Shettima on political matters. Dr. Baba Ahmed would later, following his resignation, urged president Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to contest in the 2027 presidential election. He advises the president to allow a younger person to take over the presidential responsibility amid Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and economic challenges.
Hence, while president Bola Ahmed Tinubu envisions a presidential election that pitches him against a northern presidential candidate either from the coalition party or from unified opposition parties, he is desperate to have the political gladiators in his side. He believes that these political players with their large followers and political influence, would through the political influence, ensure his victory in their respective states or region regarded as their stronghold.
As a matter of fact, two Kano state former governors: Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Umar Ganduje who have been at loggerhead for close to decade would potential reconnect to work for Tinubu. Tinubu is said to have reportedly compelled the two to commit into a win-win agreement for the sake of his presidential reelection in 2027.
According to the source privy to the development, while it was easy for president Tinubu to cause former governor Okowa and his successor to switch to the APC with an easy bait, it would require him much more to make Kwankwaso join the APC with its national leader as Ganduje.
Interestingly, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu is understood to have offered juicy baits to the two Kano state politicians– while Kwankwaso who currently controls the Kano state government will be offered the vice presidential ticket in 2027 to place him in pole position of succeeding president Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2031, he is to relinquish the governorship of Kano state to Ganduje. This agreement is said to be a win-win one but not for Kwankwaso who is still contemplating the offer.
The source further claims that vice president Kashim Shettima due to his little political influence in the north, is considered irrelevant by the Tinubu’s camp. The president seeks a running mate that will be capable of attracting massive northern votes to his candidature. The president in his calculation, views this as an all-important strategy to his reelection.
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