₦airaland Forum

A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Buba Galadima, has defended calls for a political alliance between the North and the South-East ahead of the 2027 general election.

This is even as the NDC chieftain said supporters of a Peter Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket have faced criticism for their position.

Galadima made the remarks while speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday, in reaction to recent comments by the NDC’s vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who advocated greater political cooperation between the North and the South-East.

According to Galadima, those backing an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket are being unfairly criticised by people who lack an understanding of Nigeria’s political history.

He argued that political alliances between the North and the South-East were not new, citing the cooperation between leaders of the Northern People’s Congress, NPC, and the National Council of Nigerian Citizens, NCNC, before and after Nigeria’s independence.

Galadima recalled that leaders such as Ahmadu Bello and Kashim Ibrahim worked alongside Nnamdi Azikiwe and other NCNC leaders during the struggle for independence.

According to him, the coalition reflected Nigeria’s unity in diversity before it was disrupted by the military coup of 1966.

Galadima maintained that the collapse of the First Republic should not be blamed on civilian political leaders, insisting that the military was responsible for truncating the democratic system.

Galadima said: “I saw what the senator has said. That’s a point that I have been making for a long time, and that statement was meant to address contemporary issues on the table in Nigeria, more so in northern Nigeria.

“This is because those of us from this part of the country that had supported the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket are being called several different names by ignorant people who have no history of the Nigerian state.

“If they heard what Kwankwaso said, it’s not new because during the First Republic and before it, I mean, before independence, the northern leaders, led by Ahmadu Bello, Kashim Ibrahim, the former governor of northern region, and a host of others had worked together with the NCNC under Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr. Ndili, Chief Melford Okilo, and a host of others to fight for independence.

“And when 1960 came, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello teamed up together to rescue power from the colonial masters. Then Dr. Azikwe became the president of Nigeria and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, while Balewa, representing the NPC, became the prime minister and head of government.

“And at that time, the unity and plurality of government was not in question. There was everybody in that government.

“Unfortunately, that unity in diversity was truncated in 1966. A lot of people gave it different coloration. I am sure, in my mind, that nobody would want to destroy his house. Neither did Opara, Mbadiwe, Akiloye or Akinjide, who are prominent members of that government, wouldn’t have advocated for the coming of the military.

“So, if anything had happened, I would rather blame the military than blame civilian members of that government, and certainly not the generality of the people.

“We have been called several names, saying we are bringing an Igbo man. Unfortunately, it’s not only the government of APC, even some opposition political parties, instead of us fighting our common opponent, that is the APC and its government, we are fighting ourselves.

“And we asked, where did we pick Obi from? Where did we get Obi from? We got Obi from Atiku. He was his vice presidential candidate.

“Atiku ran with Senator Ben Obi as vice presidential candidate. He ran with Peter Obi as vice presidential candidate. He ran with Okowa as vice presidential candidate. Now we are hearing he is going to run with Amechi as vice presidential candidate.

“So, can anybody supporting Atiku be right in denigrating us that we are promoting Igbo people?”

Parachoko:
Nah so Obidients dey call people names for supporting Tinubu-Shettima ticket

Macphenson:
Even Buhari at one time ran with Chuba okadigbo

AMINDA:
Buhari ran with Chuba Okadigbo and with Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke before pivoting to the Southwest where he ran with Pastor Tunde Bakare and then Pastor Yemi Osinbajo and won. Atiku ran with Ben Obi and then Peter Obi before pivoting to Ifeanyi Okowa and now Rotimi Amaechi. Is history about to repeat itself? Kwankwaso is not being attacked for running with a Southeasterner, he is being attacked for destroying the coalition to Tinubu's advantage after ensuring that his godson defected to the APC as a measure of security. Barely 3 years ago, he also ran for president just like Atiku after 8 years of Buhari and publicly declared that he will rather support Tinubu if he couldn't get it. He has met with Tinubu at least 6 times after Tinubu won in 2023. It will be naïve to believe a deal-making man like Tinubu who had earlier sacked Ganduje as APC chairman on Kwankwaso's request will fail to strike any deal with Kwankwaso after 6 meetings.

Jossyman0007:
So what are you insinuating?

Come out plain with your conspiracy theory, because I know you are disappointed Obi and Kwankwsao left ADC for your Atiku

One minute you loath Tinubu,the next minute you are confessing how strategically position he is in politics.

OGA,Stop being a confused fellow.




UNAM -IKOT

AMINDA:
Atiku won your state Akwa Ibom in 2023. I don't think you should be in the best position to be commenting on this. Tinubu became president because a lot of Northerners paid back the support that he gave to Buhari in 2015 against his Southern brother, Jonathan. Of course you can call that strategy or playing the long game. He saw a perfect opportunity in Buhari and took it. Don't forget that he had supported Ribadu and even Atiku in the past without any success but he never said "Emi lokan" until he supported Buhari and won. Tinubu invested 2.1m votes in Buhari and reaped 5.6m votes in 2023 to become president. Delayed gratification is not a virtue known to many and that's perfectly fine. Politics is not taught in class and until betrayed, Northerners always repay their debts. If you are back supporting Tinubu today, it's because you think he will win the 2027 elections again.

Emesiere

SeeWahala:
Who called PEJ a hippopotamus?

Who called GEJ clueless?

Who CARRIED COFFIN for who?

It's almost another electioneering season and this is your only plan? to LIE and RIG?

Okay, nigerians are here ready for you this time✌️🤪

Parachoko:
Who called the ACN Amala and Ewedu Party?

Racoon:
What Nigeria need is good governance and whoever can produce it.

Obaofaba:
Very good.

No normal person will not insult anyone trying to foist Obi on us most especially here in the North.

Parachoko:
Nah so Obidients dey call people names for supporting Tinubu-Shettima ticket

Parachoko:
Who called the ACN Amala and Ewedu Party?

SlavaUkraini:
https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/16/2027-were-being-called-names-for-supporting-obi-kwankwaso-ticket-buba-galadima/

ArcSEMPECJ:
There was nothing like Obidients during Goodluck Jonathan tenure,

Parachoko:
Nah so Obidients dey call people names for supporting Tinubu-Shettima ticket

Obaofaba:
Very good.

No normal person will not insult anyone trying to foist Obi on us most especially here in the North.