By John Umeh
Former Ogun State governor and senator, Ibikunle Amosun, has publicly aligned himself with President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, stating that fairness and national balance require the South to retain the presidency for a full eight years.
Amosun made the declaration on Sunday in Abeokuta while addressing leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Ake Palace Pavilion, where party stalwarts gathered to celebrate his 68th birthday.
The former governor reaffirmed his standing within the APC and used the occasion to emphasize the importance of Nigeria’s informal zoning and power-sharing arrangement. He argued that disregarding rotational leadership between the North and South would undermine unity and political stability.
According to him, although President Tinubu comes from the South-West, his leadership transcends regional identity and reflects a national mandate. Nevertheless, Amosun maintained that the presidency currently belongs to the South and should not be interrupted before completing a second term.
He cited the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that the North enjoyed an uninterrupted eight-year tenure, which should now be mirrored by the South in the interest of equity.
“This is not about sentiment or region; it is about justice and continuity,” Amosun said, adding that respect for rotation remains essential for maintaining trust among Nigeria’s diverse regions.
Beyond the succession debate, Amosun expressed confidence in the Tinubu administration, saying ongoing reforms were beginning to show promise. He called on Nigerians to remain patient, assuring them that the government’s Renewed Hope agenda would deliver long-term economic and social benefits.
The former senator also reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC, describing himself as one of the party’s foundational figures in Ogun State. He stressed that the APC’s emergence and growth in the state were the result of collective sacrifices by early leaders and should be protected rather than weakened.
The event attracted several high-profile APC figures, including former Minister of Mines and Steel Development Lekan Adegbite, ex-Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Sarafa Tunji Isola, former CBN Deputy Governor Tunde Lemo, and former senators Iyabo Anisulowo and Gbenga Obadara, among others.
