By: Femi Mustapha in Kaduna
A socio-political group, Nigeria Forward (NF), has called on political stakeholders in Northern Nigeria to uphold the longstanding principle of power rotation between the North and South and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in completing his constitutionally allowed eight-year term.
The announcement was made on Friday in Abuja during the official launch of the group at Barcelona Hotel.
Speaking at the event, the group’s co-convener and Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, stated that Nigeria Forward is committed to promoting national unity, inclusive governance, and citizen engagement across Nigeria.
Waiya explained that the group, which includes members from across Nigeria, believes the North-South power-sharing arrangement that has defined Nigeria’s democracy since 1999 has helped maintain political stability and national cohesion.
He urged Northern political stakeholders to honor the principle of rotation and support President Tinubu, who is from the South, in completing his eight-year presidential term before the North seeks to reclaim the presidency.
According to him, returning the presidency to the North after only one term could break the principle of power rotation and risk reigniting sectional tensions that have historically influenced Nigeria’s presidential elections.
Waiya emphasized that the North should not seek to reclaim the presidency in 2027 after just four years of the current administration, pointing out that allowing Tinubu to serve a full eight years would promote continuity and strengthen the administration’s policies and programs.
He urged political leaders and citizens in the North to prioritize broader national interests over immediate electoral gains, emphasizing that Nigerians should focus more on governance, development, and the impacts of government policies rather than letting the 2027 elections deepen sectional divides.
The NF co-convener acknowledged the economic and security challenges inherited by Tinubu’s administration in 2023, noting that the federal government has launched reforms to address some longstanding issues.
He highlighted local government autonomy, increased funding for sub-national governments, and efforts to establish state police as reforms that could improve governance and security.
The commissioner mentioned that Kano State has set up a committee to implement state police, which could enhance job creation and security once operational.
He warned against viewing Northern Nigeria’s challenges solely through the lens of presidential politics, stressing that tackling poverty and underdevelopment requires collective efforts by citizens, the government, and other stakeholders.
“Democracy is a social contract,” Waiya explained, describing Nigeria Forward as a bridge connecting government policies and the people, and a platform for grassroots citizen engagement.
He reiterated that the movement is not affiliated with any specific political party but is a platform for all Nigerians, urging citizens to rally around the national interest and support development initiatives.
Speaking, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology and Nigeria Forward co-convener, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, said the federal reforms aim to shift Nigeria’s focus from infrastructure and connectivity toward production, job creation, and prosperity.
Udeh stated Nigeria Forward aims to bridge the gap between government initiatives and the people by providing information on projects, investments, opportunities, and community impacts.
He urged Nigerians, especially in the North, not to reduce Nigeria’s development story to political slogans but to focus on actual progress—where projects are located, which problems they address, and who benefits.
The minister emphasized that infrastructure should be judged by tangible impacts, such as roads connecting farmers to markets, railways lowering transportation costs, and energy and digital connectivity expanding economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
Udeh described the development pathway as: “Reform to infrastructure, infrastructure to connectivity, connectivity to production, production to jobs and jobs to prosperity.”
He called on Nigerians to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, asserting that continuity will secure ongoing reforms and development. He urged Nigeria Forward members to base their activities on evidence, inclusiveness, innovation, and national unity.
He concluded that the movement’s slogan, “Together We Move Nigeria Forward,” should represent a commitment to service, responsible citizenship, and national progress.