News Rendezvous

16 February, 2025

The former Senator Representing Adamawa central and an APC stalwart has described the comments attributed to the former SGF Babachir Lawal claiming that the north will not support president Tinubu in 2027, as just a sweeping commentary that at best could be his personal opinion not representing the north.

Sen Abubakar Girei in a strongly worded response, fired back at former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal saying that he should rather speak for himself as he has no authority to speak on behalf of the North.

Girei who was responding to a statement credited to Babachir in which he said the North will not support the president’s return bid, said that the North will rally all it’s  people behind the president and ensure he gets a landslide victory in 2027.

The senator who described Lawal as a political featherweight noted that having lost all iota of relevance, the former SGF has become a rabble rouser, and an unapologetic bigot who has taken a new vocation as a social media gadfly.

Girei noted that unlike the former president Muhammadu Buhari who give political lightweights superior political appointment only to stab him and his people in the back, Tinubu who is an astute administrator could not touch Babachir with a 100 mile pole.

He added that the victory of Tinubu come 2027 is a settled issue as the North will rally behind him adding that the president’s victory will be total and comprehensive.

He noted that president Tinubu has over two years to consolidate what he started, urging Lawal to in the interest of peace and progress allow Mr President to concentrate on his job of cleaning the augean stable.

“I wish to tell my brother that the campaign period has been over a long time. We are in another phase of governance. Tinubu has won the 2023 presidential election. So let him serve his mandate and stop causing distraction.

“Instead of making such statements, I implore Mr. David Lawal to start preparing for campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election where he and his political party can contest against the president. But one thing I want to say here is Lawal should rather speak for himself and not the North as the region has a substantive platform to articulate its viewpoints,” he said.

Girei added that president Tinubu was elected to serve a four year term after which he can seek reelection adding that the president is yet to reach the two year mark. He noted that two years in a democratic setting is a long time for the president to consolidate his programs after which Nigerians can make their decisions.

“In democracy, two years is a long time to consolidate on the gains so far made. It is glaring that despite all odds, the president has degraded insecurity to a significant level. The petroleum sector is stabilizing and the naira is gaining momentum having gained considerable traction in recent times

“In addition, food inflation is drastically going down. As a result of the decimation of insecurity, farmers are going back to their farms and the government is working round the clock to subsidize cost of farm implements and materials.

“Students loan and other social safety nets have started gaining ground. While I understand my brother’s frustrations, I want to also advise that let us wait for campaign period by which time the success of the administration’s would become glaring,” he added.