Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has issued a sharp rebuke of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Onanuga's criticism follows recent remarks by Atiku concerning Nigeria's power rotation principle.
In a strongly worded statement, Onanuga accused the former presidential candidate of trying to disrupt the established North-South power rotation formula. He suggested this was a tactical move ahead of the 2027 election. The presidential aide advised Atiku to abandon any ambition of running again, telling him to "bury your 2027 ambition."
Onanuga emphasized that the existing rotation arrangement is a critical political tradition that should be respected to maintain national unity.
Onanuga's public dismissal of a former vice president reveals the administration's firm stance on enforcing an unwritten power-sharing rule. His choice to address this through a formal statement, rather than backchannel political discussions, signifies a deliberate public messaging strategy.
This move is less about governance and more about shaping the narrative for the next electoral cycle, attempting to box a major opposition figure into a corner before the race even begins. It prioritizes political maneuvering over addressing the substantive issues raised about the zoning agreement's flexibility.
For politically engaged Nigerians, this exchange signals an early and acrimonious start to the 2027 campaign season, where internal power dynamics will likely overshadow pressing national concerns. The public is being presented with a political squabble while expecting substantive debate.
Such early posturing from the presidency suggests that the next election will be framed around rigid regional loyalty rather than policy or performance, potentially deepening the country's existing political fault lines.
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