Akume Tells Northern Politicians to Wait Until 2031 for Presidency

(Senator George Akume. Photo by TheCable)
Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, says the North should wait until 2031 before trying to take back the presidency.

He argues that President Bola Tinubu should be allowed to finish the South's eight year turn under the power rotation deal.

Akume spoke on Thursday in Abuja when he received a delegation from Miyetti Allah Fulaku Yesoyeso, led by its national president, Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman.

His remarks were shared in a statement by his spokesman, Yomi Odunuga.

He recalled a 1999 agreement reached by PDP governors elect at a meeting in Kaduna.

Under that deal, the presidency would go to the South for eight years, then to the North for eight years.

The arrangement was reached under the late Chief Solomon Lar, with the late Adamu Ciroma as deputy party chairman.

Akume said he was surprised that Atiku Abubakar, who was at that meeting and agreed to the deal, is now running for president after Buhari's eight years from the North.

He said the North will get its turn in 2031, and that this is what has kept the country stable.

He said Tinubu has done four years and should be given four more to complete the South's eight years.

He cited the sequence of presidents since 1999: Obasanjo for eight years from the South, Yar'Adua, who died in office, then Jonathan, who finished six years, then Buhari for eight years from the North, and now Tinubu.

He warned politicians not to let personal ambition wreck the country.

"Wait for your turn," he said, adding that national unity should come before individual or sectional interests.

He also said the North will be free to put forward a qualified candidate in 2031.

He praised the Miyetti Allah group for mobilising support for Tinubu's re election and assured them that the President is committed to continuing infrastructure projects.

Suleiman, for his part, reaffirmed the group's backing for Tinubu.

He said the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development is a major step for pastoral communities and asked for policy continuity to build on those gains.

He said the group has sent recommendations to the ministry on livestock management, farmer herder clashes, farmland protection, education and animal healthcare.

He also said mobilisation has started in Kaduna, Yobe and Borno states.