The long-simmering debate over Nigeria’s power rotation arrangement flared up again on Tuesday as northern political leaders, technocrats, traditional rulers, and civil society actors converged on Kaduna to assess President Bola Tinubu’s performance two years into his tenure.
The high-powered meeting, convened by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation and held at the historic Arewa House, brought together some of the most influential voices from across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The two-day event, themed “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity,” underscored both the region’s weight in national politics and the urgency of the questions being asked about Nigeria’s future under Tinubu.
Top dignitaries in attendance included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa; and other service chiefs — all northerners appointed by Tinubu.
Representing the President, Akume assured the gathering that Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” was already delivering results.
North should wait
In what appeared to be a warning to northern politicians already preparing for 2027, Akume reminded the gathering that by the principle of rotation, the North’s turn would not come until 2031.
“In 1999, northern patriots like Solomon Lar, Adamu Ciroma, Abubakar Rimi, and Jerry Gana agreed that power rotation is key to peace and national cohesion. Based on that unwritten understanding, the North will be eligible again in 2031,” he declared.
He urged patience, saying, “Let us be patient. Nigeria will not cease to exist before 2031. When it’s our turn, the nation will know.”
