₦airaland Forum

The North is already counting the 2031 presidency as theirs. They are making a serious mistake.
While northern politicians continue to fight among themselves over who should be the next “anointed” candidate, Godswill Akpabio has been quietly consolidating power. As Senate President, he sits at the centre of the current power structure. He has Tinubu’s ear, controls key legislative processes, and has built relationships across party and regional lines.

By the time President Tinubu completes his eight years in 2031, the political terrain will look very different. The North’s traditional advantage of unity will once again be undermined by internal rivalry. That is exactly the opening Akpabio thrives on.
He does not need to shout. He does not need to campaign early. He is already positioned inside the system. When the time comes, he will present himself as the experienced, tested, and strategically placed candidate who can hold the centre while the North remains divided.

Many people still underestimate him. That underestimation is his greatest asset.
2031 will not be an automatic northern presidency. It may well be the year a calculated South-South politician walks away with the prize while others are still arguing about whose turn it is.
The game has already started. Most people just haven’t noticed.

Concentrate on delivering Akwa Ibom to Tinubu first. Atiku won Akwa Ibom state in 2023. Where was Akpabio then? Did he do anti-party? If the North hadn't given Tinubu 5.6m votes, would Akpabio have become senate president? Come and chop politician.

Nyesom Wike is positioning for vice president by 2031 in preparation for president in 2039. He will scatter everything if it is denied him. Akpabio and everyone else know that fact. So don’t go there.

oglalasioux:
Nyesom Wike is positioning for vice president by 2031 in preparation for president in 2039. He will scatter everything if it is denied him. Akpabio and everyone else know that fact. So don’t go there.

Under which party ?

No Northern presidential candidate will make Wike his VP! OBJ and Atiku fight has taught many politicians a lesson.

Wike is too desperate and power drunk! If Atiku didn't pick him as his VP in 2023. Nobody else will do it.

stanluiz:
Under which party ?

No Northern presidential candidate will make Wike his VP! OBJ and Atiku fight has taught many politicians a lesson.

Wike is too desperate and power drunk! If Atiku didn't pick him as his VP in 2023. Nobody else will do it.

Wike will scatter everything. He will open a barrel of worms.

Let me tell you, Wike will be very instrumental to whoever emerges APC presidential candidate in 2031. And the candidate will in turn make him VP. Wike will pull down Nigeria if anything short of that happens.

Which Akpabio? The one that would get carried away watching Natasha 's waist

@OP.

Atiku's dishonorable attempt to replace Buhari, when he knows a power rotation agreement is in place keeping the fragile peace between adversarial ethnic groups of Nigeria, now means it would not be out of place for a Southerner to compete to replace Tinubu in 2031.

I don't believe it will happen though as the South is far less addicted to the Presidency than the North and thus will tend to honour the North-South zoning agreement.

What I do believe though is that the South has now been put on alert it must be more independent of 'One Nigeria ' and begin to gain greater regional autonomy because it is obvious, without a shadow of doubt, most leaders from the North wants to gain power to keep all us backwards, unsafe and unproductive as they are.

This one just opened mouth and splits jargon s

TopBanter:
@OP.

Atiku's dishonorable attempt to replace Buhari, when he knows a power rotation agreement is in place keeping the fragile peace between adversarial ethnic groups of Nigeria, now means it would not be out of place for a Southerner to compete to replace Tinubu in 2031.

I don't believe it will happen though as the South is far less addicted to the Presidency than the North and thus will tend to honour the North-South zoning agreement.

What I do believe though is that the South has now been put on alert it must be more independent of 'One Nigeria ' and begin to gain greater regional autonomy because it is obvious, without a shadow of doubt, most leaders from the North wants to gain power to keep all us backwards, unsafe and unproductive as they are.

I think you’re still underestimating how Nigerian politics actually works.
Yes, Atiku’s attempt against Buhari weakened the moral force of the zoning argument. Once one side treats the agreement as optional when it suits them, it becomes harder to insist it is sacred later. That part is correct.

But the idea that the South will simply “honour” the arrangement out of principle is optimistic. Politics is not driven by honour. It is driven by opportunity, structure, and calculation. If a Southern politician is already sitting inside the power structure, controlling key institutions, and has built cross-regional networks by 2031, the temptation to go for it will be strong especially if the North is divided, as it often is.

Akpabio’s current position is relevant here. He doesn’t need to shout about 2031 now. The people who end up competitive are often the ones who remain useful, stay close to power, and keep their options open while others fight publicly. Zoning has never been an iron law. It has always been a political arrangement that holds only as long as the side that benefits from it has the strength to enforce it.

As the current Senate President, Akpabio sits as the No. 3 citizen in the country. This is arguably the most powerful networking position in Nigerian politics. He dictates committee chairmanships and legislative favors for Senators from all 109 senatorial districts.

By 2031, he will have had years to build a massive, fiercely loyal nationwide political structure using the influence and resources of the National Assembly. He won't just be a regional leader, he will have "boys" and allies in every state 🤔🤔

TopBanter:
@OP.

Atiku's dishonorable attempt to replace Buhari, when he knows a power rotation agreement is in place keeping the fragile peace between adversarial ethnic groups of Nigeria, now means it would not be out of place for a Southerner to compete to replace Tinubu in 2031.

I don't believe it will happen though as the South is far less addicted to the Presidency than the North and thus will tend to honour the North-South zoning agreement.

What I do believe though is that the South has now been put on alert it must be more independent of 'One Nigeria ' and begin to gain greater regional autonomy because it is obvious, without a shadow of doubt, most leaders from the North wants to gain power to keep all us backwards, unsafe and unproductive as they are.

The power hungry North led by Northern Governors, championed a Southern Presidency in 2023, which led to Tinubu winning huge swathes of the North over Atiku

Zoning died when Goodluck Jonathan ran for office in 2011 when the Presidency was zoned to the North. Many of the people bringing up zoning today justified discarding zoning then...even going as far as calling it unconstitutional

As for your last paragraph, you can't be serious, when a Southern President Tinubu has inflicted more damage on this country than any recent President, Buhari included

We are not all wilfully blind to facts

Tsarbomba:
The North is already counting the 2031 presidency as theirs. They are making a serious mistake.
While northern politicians continue to fight among themselves over who should be the next “anointed” candidate, Godswill Akpabio has been quietly consolidating power. As Senate President, he sits at the centre of the current power structure. He has Tinubu’s ear, controls key legislative processes, and has built relationships across party and regional lines.

By the time President Tinubu completes his eight years in 2031, the political terrain will look very different. The North’s traditional advantage of unity will once again be undermined by internal rivalry. That is exactly the opening Akpabio thrives on.
He does not need to shout. He does not need to campaign early. He is already positioned inside the system. When the time comes, he will present himself as the experienced, tested, and strategically placed candidate who can hold the centre while the North remains divided.

Many people still underestimate him. That underestimation is his greatest asset.
2031 will not be an automatic northern presidency. It may well be the year a calculated South-South politician walks away with the prize while others are still arguing about whose turn it is.
The game has already started. Most people just haven’t noticed.

People like you think Nigeria's presidency is a game of musical chairs... jokers

You'll eventually find out

IMEI:
The power hungry North led by Northern Governors, championed a Southern Presidency in 2023, which led to Tinubu winning huge swathes of the North over Atiku

Zoning died when Goodluck Jonathan ran for office in 2011 when the Presidency was zoned to the North. Many of the people bringing up zoning today justified discarding zoning then...even going as far as calling it unconstitutional

As for your last paragraph, you can't be serious, when a Southern President Tinubu has inflicted more damage on this country than any recent President, Buhari included

We are not all wilfully blind to facts

Rubbish. Prove factually how "a Southern President Tinubu has inflicted more damage on this country than any recent President" when the entire world is hailing him and comparing PBAT to lee Kuan Yew.

Lee Kuan Yew led Singapore to become a developed nation, even as they were a former colony of the UK, like Nigeria, yet Britons are now moving to Singapore for better lives.

You are not exposed or knowledgeable. Life and societal development is not about cheap petrol and 70k Naira minimum wage monthly, around £33.00 British pounds sterling, whereas Brit earn £2,203 pounds minimum wage monthly meaning most Brits can buy cars and afford goods and services that makes life comfortable till we depart the earth.

Yet you support a system that makes Nigerians one of the most impoverished and deprived people on earth, with most Nigerians unable to ever buy a car or own homes, escape 'Pako' homes and even defeat generational poverty.

Nigeria has one of the poorest human development index in the world (fact check me on that) yet you continue to rant against PBAT because you simply do not know the difference between living well, as folks of developed nations enjoy, and merely existing as is the case for Nigerians.

Tinubu's reforms, other Presidents avoided, are precisely what is needed so Nigeria can become developed and Nigerians can begin living well rather than just existing like scavengers who can never own cars, homes or even eat protein like chicken etc.

To win the presidency, Akpabio must show the public direct, tangible benefits from his time in office as senate president!

If Akpabio uses his remaining time as Senate President to push through landmark constitutional reforms. such as full Local Government autonomy, State Police, or increased resource control/derivation for states he will gain huge popularity among grassroots voters and local government leaders nationwide.

Delivering policies that put money directly into state and local hands would turn local government chairmen and governors across all 36 states into his natural campaign machinery for 2031

The only explanation why a supposed Sane humsn being will pass these Assertion is becos of " Access to Rig Election" ..thats just the logic

when you listen to anyone speak from APC, listen to the basis ;. it comes from na we dey power na we dey decide everything, power belong is in our hands and pepple Vote don't coun

just listen to Wike, bwala, or any of them .... play what i said nd figure it out

IMEI:
The power hungry North led by Northern Governors, championed a Southern Presidency in 2023, which led to Tinubu winning huge swathes of the North over Atiku

Zoning died when Goodluck Jonathan ran for office in 2011 when the Presidency was zoned to the North. Many of the people bringing up zoning today justified discarding zoning then...even going as far as calling it unconstitutional

As for your last paragraph, you can't be serious, when a Southern President Tinubu has inflicted more damage on this country than any recent President, Buhari included

We are not all wilfully blind to facts

That’s not an accurate reading of what happened in 2023.
Most Northern politicians did not champion a Southern presidency out of principle. Many of them wanted a Northern candidate. Buhari himself was widely reported to prefer Ahmad Lawan as the consensus choice.

There was serious pressure for a Northern consensus candidate before the primary.
Tinubu did not win because the North collectively decided to hand power to the South. He won because he built a stronger political structure, secured key delegates, and outmanoeuvred his rivals including those who preferred a Northern option

Tsarbomba:
That’s not an accurate reading of what happened in 2023.
Most Northern politicians did not champion a Southern presidency out of principle. Many of them wanted a Northern candidate. Buhari himself was widely reported to prefer Ahmad Lawan as the consensus choice.

There was serious pressure for a Northern consensus candidate before the primary.
Tinubu did not win because the North collectively decided to hand power to the South. He won because he built a stronger political structure, secured key delegates, and outmanoeuvred his rivals including those who preferred a Northern option

No

There was a faction led by the APC chairman Abdullahi Adam that wanted Ahmed Lawan to succeed Buhari which was opposed by majority of Northerners in APC, most vocally Northern Governors led by El-Rufai and Zulum

Buhari himself preferred Osinbajo to take over and didn't seem too predisposed to a Tinubu candidacy

Tinubu didn't win because of his genius, he won because Buhari despite his apparent preference, chose not to strongarm the party into imposing his choice, which further enabled El-Rufai and co to push on

Tinubu did put in the work to be elected, but trying to downplay the Northern input in his emergence as President is misleading

TopBanter:
Rubbish. Prove factually how "a Southern President Tinubu has inflicted more damage on this country than any recent President" when the entire world is hailing him and comparing PBAT to lee Kuan Yew.

Lee Kuan Yew led Singapore to become a developed nation, even as they were a former colony of the UK, like Nigeria, yet Britons are now moving to Singapore for better lives.

You are not exposed or knowledgeable. Life and societal development is not about cheap petrol and 70k Naira minimum wage monthly, around £33.00 British pounds sterling, whereas Brit earn £2,203 pounds minimum wage monthly meaning most Brits can buy cars and afford goods and services that makes life comfortable till we depart the earth.

Yet you support a system that makes Nigerians one of the most impoverished and deprived people on earth, with most Nigerians unable to ever buy a car or own homes, escape 'Pako' homes and even defeat generational poverty.

Nigeria has one of the poorest human development index in the world (fact check me on that) yet you continue to rant against PBAT because you simply do not know the difference between living well, as folks of developed nations enjoy, and merely existing as is the case for Nigerians.

Tinubu's reforms, other Presidents avoided, are precisely what is needed so Nigeria can become developed and Nigerians can begin living well rather than just existing like scavengers who can never own cars, homes or even eat protein like chicken etc.

No exposed human will compare Tinubu to Lee Kuan Yew

I hope to God that you're just trolling, because it'll be just sad if you're being serious

IMEI:
No exposed human will compare Tinubu to Lee Kuan Yew

I hope to God that you're just trolling, because it'll be just sad if you're being serious

Many have. Including globally acclaimed economists and technocrats. You're clearly not exposed and likely prejudiced or tribalisitic. Confess your ethnic group and let's take it from there.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph5XCf8jgOE?si=oykwOAt7isJCcNxk

TopBanter:
Many have. You're clearly not exposed and likely prejudiced or tribalisitic. Confess your ethnic group and let's take it from there.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph5XCf8jgOE?si=oykwOAt7isJCcNxk

The same World Bank and IMF that on one hand praise Tinubu's reforms, then on the other, state that poverty is deepening in the Country and the Government needs to provide more safety nets

Tinubu has been implementing Bretton Woods Institutions' prescriptions since he became President, you expect them to trash the same economic prescriptions they offered?

We're talking about the Country of Nigeria's President and you're narrowing it down to tribe? Who should be questioning whose exposure?

oglalasioux:
Wike will scatter everything. He will open a barrel of worms.

Let me tell you, Wike will be very instrumental to whoever emerges APC presidential candidate in 2031. And the candidate will in turn make him VP. Wike will pull down Nigeria if anything short of that happens.

Wike is as powerful as Tinubu allows him to be. You are overestimating him. He is politically powerful though. But mark my word, no one will make Wike Vp.

IMEI:
The same World Bank and IMF that on one hand praise Tinubu's reforms, then on the other, state that poverty is deepening in the Country and the Government needs to provide more safety nets

Tinubu has been implementing Bretton Woods Institutions' prescriptions since he became President, you expect them to trash the same economic prescriptions they offered?

We're talking about the Country of Nigeria's President and you're narrowing it down to tribe? Who should be questioning whose exposure?

Rubbish. I talk about tribalism because you lot are the most guilty of it meaning you can never be dispassionately objective when issues concern a leader from an ethnic group you do not like. Like PBAT.

Per the bolded, crucial reforms, unavoidable to save Nigeria from bankruptcy and begin our march towards developed nation status as Singapore achieved it, can never come without sacrifice and initial hardship because of what we have done wrong for several decades now.

What is important to note is that President Tinubu has done his job and duty near impeccably at federal level.

Governors and local Government leaders, getting more allocations, need to do more. For example, a defined solution for high cost of food is for Nigerian Governors to invest in Agriculture as a priority.

Are they doing that? No. How is that then the fault of Mr.President if he has done his job yet ordinary Nigerians wont hold their local leaders to account to do their job?

Of course fuel subsidy removal will raise transport cost which will affect literally everything but it's benefit are many and crucial for our growth and development as a nation.

Due to fuel subsidy removal, Governors are recieving up to 300 to 400% greater federal allocation than they got under Buhari meaning they must be held to account to do more to make transport affordable.

Even Tinubu has addressed the issue directly telling Governors to do more for their people and assist him transform Nigeria since he has provided them with more money to address problems.

You lot should stop coming here daily to make illogical arguments and comments out of what is obviously hatred of "Yoruba President".

Tsarbomba:
The North is already counting the 2031 presidency as theirs. They are making a serious mistake.
While northern politicians continue to fight among themselves over who should be the next “anointed” candidate, Godswill Akpabio has been quietly consolidating power. As Senate President, he sits at the centre of the current power structure. He has Tinubu’s ear, controls key legislative processes, and has built relationships across party and regional lines.

By the time President Tinubu completes his eight years in 2031, the political terrain will look very different. The North’s traditional advantage of unity will once again be undermined by internal rivalry. That is exactly the opening Akpabio thrives on.
He does not need to shout. He does not need to campaign early. He is already positioned inside the system. When the time comes, he will present himself as the experienced, tested, and strategically placed candidate who can hold the centre while the North remains divided.

Many people still underestimate him. That underestimation is his greatest asset.
2031 will not be an automatic northern presidency. It may well be the year a calculated South-South politician walks away with the prize while others are still arguing about whose turn it is.
The game has already started. Most people just haven’t noticed.

I can't see it myself, who in APC will support him knowing the rotational agreement and knowing South East are due to take over from The North in 2037.

Maybe he will join another party to achieve that aim but I am not sure any party can withstand the APC Superstructure as things currently stand.

aswani:
I can't see it myself, who in APC will support him knowing the rotational agreement and knowing South East are due to take over from The North in 2037.

Maybe he will join another party to achieve that aim but I am not sure any party can withstand the APC Superstructure as things currently stand.

Zoning is a political understanding, not a constitutional law. It has been stretched, ignored, and renegotiated whenever the balance of power shifted. The same way people once insisted the North must complete its turn after Yar’Adua, until circumstances and political calculation produced a different outcome.

Inside the APC, support does not always follow neat regional schedules. It follows who controls structures, who remains useful, and who can negotiate from a position of strength when the real contest begins. A politician who has spent years at the centre of the party’s legislative arm is not automatically locked out just because of an informal agreement.!