A former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has openly declared his support for Tinubu’s re election in 2027, insisting that the principle of rotational presidency must be respected for the sake of fairness and national unity.
Amosun spoke on Sunday at the Ake Palace Pavilion in Abeokuta while addressing leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress who gathered to celebrate his 68th birthday.
He said it was only right for the South to complete an eight year tenure at the presidency, noting that the North had just concluded a similar period in office.
According to him, rotation between the North and South remains a stabilising factor in Nigeria’s political arrangement and should not be discarded for selfish interests.
“In the interest of Nigeria, we must observe rotation. If the North takes the presidency at a time, the South will take it the next time,” Amosun said.
He recalled that the immediate past president from the North, Muhammadu Buhari, served two terms of eight years, adding that it was now the South’s turn to complete its own cycle through Tinubu.
“The last president from the North did eight years. Now it is the turn of us in the South, and we have Tinubu in the saddle. He is representing all of us in Nigeria, even though he is from the South West,” he added.
The former governor described respect for zoning as a “no brainer” for anyone who truly desires peace, equity and unity in the country, stressing that Tinubu’s presidency should be seen beyond regional lines.
Amosun also expressed confidence that the current administration’s economic and governance reforms would yield positive outcomes with time.
He urged Nigerians to remain patient and supportive, saying the Renewed Hope agenda was gradually laying the foundation for sustainable growth.
Reaffirming his place within the ruling party, Amosun said his loyalty to the APC remained firm, describing himself as one of the party’s founding leaders in Ogun State. He maintained that the history of the APC in the state could not be told without reference to his role and that of other early leaders.
“In this Ogun State, you cannot talk about APC without talking about Amosun and those of us who laboured to build the party, with all due respect to our leaders and elders,” he said.
The event was attended by several party stalwarts and political figures, including former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Lekan Adegbite, former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Tunji Isola, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Tunde Lemo, as well as former senators Iyabo Anisulowo and Gbenga Obadara.
