Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has revealed that Northern leaders have reached a political agreement to support President Bola Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027, based on an understanding that power would subsequently return to the North. He made the disclosure on Sunday, September 13, in Kaduna, during an engagement meeting with Northern Nigerian women Ulama and Islamic scholars, where he addressed politics, security, and the role of women in peace-building.
Northern Leaders’ Agreement on Tinubu’s Second Term
Zulum explained that the decision to back Tinubu’s second term was part of a broader power rotation understanding between the North and the South. He noted that Northern leaders had previously benefited from political power and had since negotiated a framework of mutual support with their Southern counterparts. The governor stressed that this arrangement was necessary for promoting unity and sustaining peaceful relations between the two regions.
“About five years ago, we decided to ensure unity in Northern Nigeria, and we have achieved our objective,” Zulum said. He added that the North had played a part in Tinubu’s emergence as president, and that commitments made to Southern leaders regarding the rotation of political power must be maintained.
Zulum Urges Patience and Women’s Role in Peace
The governor urged Nigerians to exercise patience with Tinubu’s administration as it works to tackle insecurity, poverty, and other pressing challenges. He also called on women to carry messages of peace and patience back to their states and communities, emphasizing their critical role in peace-building efforts. Zulum noted that women in Borno accounted for between 60 and 65 per cent of votes cast in the state, underlining their importance in politics and community life.
“Women should be given the opportunity to nurture their children so they can live in peace,” he said. He also appealed to women to be patient, drawing on Islamic teachings that describe patience as essential in times of hardship. “Whenever God tests us with a trial, patience is necessary before relief comes,” Zulum added.
Discussions on Security and Welfare
Zulum said discussions among Northern elites had covered security, out-of-school children, and poverty, and that significant decisions had been reached to improve the welfare of people in the region. He expressed confidence that justice would prevail and called on all Nigerians to work together to address the country’s challenges, noting that peace remained the greatest desire of people across Northern Nigeria.
The governor’s remarks come amid ongoing political preparations for the 2027 general elections. Previously, former Benue State governor Samuel Ortom publicly declared that he stands by his decision to back President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, saying he had no regrets about the position he took. Ortom also addressed the political climate in Benue State, his relationship with current governor Hyacinth Alia, and his preparations for the 2027 elections.
