2027: North should back Tinubu for stability — Coomassie

...warns opposition to eight-year term may deepen regional instability

...urges dialogue, pledges youth mobilisation for engagement with Presidency

A legal academic, Saifuddeen Coomassie, has called on northern Nigeria to rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that resisting his second-term bid could worsen instability in the region.

Coomassie, a lawyer and political analyst at Baze University Abuja, made the call on Tuesday while addressing concerns over insecurity, poverty and the growing number of out-of-school children, particularly in the North.

He argued that President Tinubu, who assumed office less than three years ago, requires more time to address the country’s complex challenges, insisting that efforts to unseat him before completing a potential eight-year tenure would be counterproductive.

“Fighting the President, trying to get him out of the Villa in less than four years, is not going to do us any good. Anybody coming in is not going to be able to fix this country in just four years,” Coomassie said.

The academic shifted responsibility for many of the region’s challenges to past Northern leaders, noting that several had occupied high offices for decades without delivering sufficient progress in key sectors such as education, agriculture and security.

He referenced prominent figures including Nasir El-Rufai, Atiku Abubakar and Aminu Tambuwal, stating that leadership goes beyond holding office.

“You don’t have to be president or governor to help your people. The only thing our northern leaders seem good at is mobilising our people anytime the government is not from the North,” he said.

Coomassie also described as “confusing” what he called the shifting stance of El-Rufai, who had previously praised President Tinubu but now criticises him, suggesting such positions may be driven by personal interests.

He recalled the long-standing power rotation understanding between the North and South, which allocates eight years to each region, warning that abandoning the arrangement could provoke backlash and undermine trust.

“We are known for keeping promises,” he said, adding that President Tinubu had, in 2015, supported the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari against then-incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, a move he said earned him goodwill in the North.

Read Also: Tinubu hails ex-naval chief, Gambo, at 60

While acknowledging that Buhari’s administration also faced its own shortcomings, Coomassie urged Northern leaders to prioritise dialogue over confrontation.

According to him, President Tinubu is open to engagement and willing to listen to constructive advice.

“He likes to listen; he takes advice,” Coomassie said.

He further pledged to mobilise Northern youths and key stakeholders to engage directly with the President, articulate the region’s concerns and advocate improved representation, while also preparing for leadership succession beyond 2027.

Coomassie emphasised the need to reject divisive rhetoric, urging the region to support ongoing reforms aimed at securing Nigeria’s long-term stability.

“Dialogue and communication are what is going to bring this government to do what the people need,” he added.