***Says Northerners Opposing Tinubu Don’t Believe in Nigeria’s Unity
Former Niger State Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jonathan Vatsa, has strongly criticized former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over their opposition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s potential re-election in 2027.
Speaking in Minna on Friday, Vatsa dismissed the duo as “self-serving politicians” who no longer have the credibility or influence to speak for the North.
He argued that any attempt to push for power to return to the North in 2027 is a direct threat to Nigeria’s unity, stating that only the South East has a legitimate claim for the presidency after Tinubu’s tenure.
“Both El-Rufai and Babachir Lawal cannot even win their local government areas in a free and fair election in 2027 because the average Northerner is now politically wise and no longer deceived by religious and ethnic sentiments,” Vatsa declared.
He accused El-Rufai of fueling insecurity in Kaduna, particularly in Southern Kaduna, to secure his second term in 2019, an issue he claims is still haunting the region. He praised Tinubu for restoring peace and inclusivity in the area, warning that attempts to turn the people against Tinubu in 2027 would fail.
Vatsa further claimed that the North’s political unity, once solid under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has now crumbled, leaving the region more fragmented than any other in Nigeria. He alleged that past Northern leaders have used religion and ethnicity to manipulate the masses while hoarding power and resources for themselves.
“They always deceive the poor Northerners with religion and ethnicity, but after elections, they corner everything for themselves and their families, leaving the people in hunger and poverty. That era is over. The slogan now is ‘dey for who dey for you,’” he stated.
In a scathing remark, Vatsa referenced the infamous N600 million “grass-cutting scandal” involving Babachir Lawal, suggesting that individuals with corruption-tainted records should not be leading opposition efforts against Tinubu.
“Even if you multiply El-Rufai and Babachir Lawal by 36 in every state, they cannot stop President Tinubu in 2027. Only God and the Nigerian people can decide, not a few individuals who have outlived their political relevance,” he concluded.
As the political landscape heats up ahead of 2027, Vatsa’s comments highlight the deepening divisions within the Northern political elite, raising questions about the region’s unity and influence in future elections.