The Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his position on North-South power rotation, insisting that President Bola Tinubu should complete two terms in office.
In a statement shared on X on Thursday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga accused Atiku of promoting a “self-serving argument” aimed at undermining Nigeria’s informal zoning arrangement.
Onanuga noted that Atiku had disregarded the principle in 2023 when he contested the presidency under the PDP, despite expectations that power should shift to the South following the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, that decision contributed to internal divisions within the PDP and ultimately led to Atiku’s defeat at the polls.
The presidential aide also criticised Atiku’s recent claim that zoning is strictly an internal party matter, saying such a position is misleading.
He rejected the argument that the South has held power longer since 1999, describing it as inaccurate.
Bayo Onanuga explained that the North’s shorter time in office was due to the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010, which resulted in then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan assuming office.
He maintained that this circumstance does not invalidate the principle of power rotation.
The Presidency reiterated that after Buhari’s eight-year tenure, it is only fair for Tinubu to serve two terms in line with the zoning tradition.
Onanuga further urged Atiku to reconsider any plans to contest the 2027 presidential election, insisting that it remains the South’s turn to lead.
“This Atiku will never learn.
He conveniently overlooks the fact that the North’s shorter tenure was due to the untimely death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, which led to President Jonathan’s succession.
“This accidental breach does not invalidate the power rotation arrangement between the North and the South. Since Buhari completed his eight years, Tinubu too must complete his own.
“All Atiku needs to do is to bury the thought of running again, as it is still the South’s turn in the 2027 election,” Bayo Onanuga said.
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