Kaduna State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Sadiq Mamman-Lagos, has urged Northerners seeking to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 to allow him to complete his tenure, insisting that it is still the turn of the South-West to produce the president.
Mamman-Lagos, who spoke in an interview to journalists, said Northern politicians should stop agitating for power and instead allow Tinubu to complete his constitutional tenure, stressing that the North would have the opportunity to produce its preferred candidate when the time comes.
He said the political arrangement that produced the Tinubu presidency was based on an understanding among political leaders across the country, recalling the role played by former President Muhammadu Buhari and other Northern leaders in the emergence of Tinubu.
According to him, Tinubu demonstrated political maturity by supporting Buhari’s presidential ambition despite the latter’s previous unsuccessful attempts, adding that the former Lagos governor subsequently played a major role in building the political structure that produced Buhari as president.
The commissioner said Northerners should therefore be patient with the current administration rather than allowing political differences to create unnecessary tension ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mamman-Lagos dismissed the growing activities of opposition politicians, particularly those operating under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as insufficient to threaten the APC’s chances in Kaduna State, saying the opposition lacked the grassroots structure required to win elections.
He said political candidates should be assessed based on their records in public office, political structures and contributions to the development of their communities rather than their popularity on social media.
The commissioner cautioned politicians against mistaking social media trends and large crowds at rallies for actual electoral support, noting that many voters, particularly women in rural communities, are not active on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
He said women remained a major force in Nigerian elections because of their ability to turn out in large numbers to vote, particularly at the grassroots, urging politicians to pay greater attention to them when planning for elections.
Mamman-Lagos expressed confidence that Governor Uba Sani would secure a second term in Kaduna State, attributing the administration’s advantage to what he described as its achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, education, sanitation and other sectors.
He identified Southern Kaduna as a critical political bloc in the 2027 election, saying the region had witnessed greater inclusion under the present administration through political appointments, road construction, healthcare interventions and other development projects.
According to him, the improved relationship between the government and communities across Kaduna had strengthened unity in the state, arguing that political stability and peaceful coexistence would ultimately work in favour of the APC.
Mamman-Lagos also highlighted the administration’s investments in road construction, renovation of primary schools and hospitals, as well as sanitation and youth engagement programmes, saying residents could physically inspect the projects rather than relying on political propaganda.
He said his ministry had created employment opportunities through sanitation operations and sports initiatives, including the engagement of thousands of people in environmental sanitation and the establishment of a football team that provides opportunities for young people.
The commissioner challenged opposition politicians seeking to govern Kaduna to present their records in public office and explain what they had achieved, saying voters should examine their political credentials and contributions before deciding who deserves their support.
Mamman-Lagos said leadership was not determined by academic qualifications or the ability to speak sophisticated English, arguing that effective governance required wisdom, practical experience, capacity and the ability to understand the needs of ordinary people.
He also defended the Uba Sani administration’s relationship with non-indigenes, saying Kaduna had historically accommodated Nigerians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds and that the state’s cosmopolitan character should be preserved.
According to him, Governor Uba Sani’s background and exposure had enabled him to relate with people across ethnic and religious divides, adding that such an approach was necessary to sustain peace and unity in Kaduna.
Mamman-Lagos urged the people of Kaduna to remain peaceful and law-abiding despite the economic hardship confronting Nigerians, saying the current difficulties were inherited and could not be resolved overnight.
He maintained that the APC would approach the 2027 election with the record of the Uba Sani administration as its major campaign instrument, expressing confidence that voters would reward the government based on its performance and return the governor to office for a second term.