By DAYO ADESULU
- Power Rotation Will Prevail in 2027, Says Former Presidential Spokesperson
- Okupe Criticizes Lack of National Elite Development in Nigeria
- Call for South to Retain Presidency for Balanced Political Transition
Power Rotation to Dictate 2027 Presidency
Former presidential spokesperson, Doyin Okupe, has categorically stated that the presidency will not return to the North in 2027, even if the incumbent, President Bola Tinubu, does not secure a second term. Speaking during an interview with Arise TV on Monday, Okupe tackled the agitation for a Northern presidency in the next electoral cycle, emphasizing the principle of power rotation between the North and South.
“For 2027, power cannot return to the North yet. That’s not how we do it. We rotate between the North and the South. The North does eight years, at the end of which the South does eight years,” Okupe said.
He clarified that while President Tinubu may not necessarily remain in office, the presidency must remain in the South.
Criticism of Sectional Politics
Okupe lamented Nigeria’s failure to cultivate a cohesive national elite, arguing that this has perpetuated political stagnation.
“Our failure to evolve a national elite system is one of the most fundamental problems why Nigeria is stagnating because we all pull in different directions,” he stated.
He highlighted how past political leaders prioritized national interests over sectional concerns, a practice he believes has diminished in contemporary governance.
Regret Over Leadership Transition Planning
Okupe also expressed disappointment with former Nigerian leaders, including Ibrahim Babangida, Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and TY Danjuma, for failing to nurture a younger generation of political elites capable of sustaining a balanced polity.
“Unfortunately, they’ve not been able to raise an elite class, a younger group, that can effectively take over from them,” he remarked.
He stressed the need for new, unified leadership to address the country’s pressing challenges.
Conclusion
Okupe’s comments reignite debates over Nigeria’s rotational presidency system and the need for inclusive leadership. With the 2027 elections on the horizon, the push for a balanced transition between the North and South continues to dominate political discourse.
