A chieftain of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has asserted that there is a vacancy in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said his position is supported by the Nigerian constitution and guided by the will of the people.

The elder statesman made the submission in response to the position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, who held that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock and Northern politicians interested in the presidency should wait till 2031 when President Bola Tinubu is expected to conclude his second term in office.

However, reacting to Akume’s submission, Galadima, during an interview with Vanguard which was published on Sunday, dismissed the position of the SGF, adding that he was only trying to protect his job.

The NNPP chieftain said counting from 1999, by 2027, the South would have ruled Nigeria for 18 and a half years, while the North has ruled for only nine and a half years, eight years of Buhari and one and a half years of Yar’ Adua which means, automatically, the North can lay claim to the presidency again.

“Well, in the first place, I wouldn’t want to discuss Nigerian issues on the basis of North and South. I am a nationalist and will remain so until I die. But, the issue would be about equity and justice and for me, Akume, a sociologist, and brother of a historian should have known better. If he looks at Aso Villa which he said there is no vacancy, he should know that other people were there before, namely: General Buhari, General Babangida, Chief Shonekan, General Abacha, General Abubakar, Chief Obasanjo, Yar’ Adua, Jonathan, and now President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“So, if all the 10 former presidents and heads of state that stayed there are no more there, he should also know that one day, sooner or later, President Bola Tinubu would also go. Nigerians behave as if they don’t understand history. If you are talking of region, Akume is one of the people I respect very much because as governor of Benue State in 1999, he was one of the foremost northerners that worked for the interest of the North.

“In fact, he was more northern than the Caliphate because Akume spent most of his time defending the New Nigerian Development Corporation, NNDC, and Bank of the North. At a point, only Benue had commanding shares in Bank of the North. For him to make a somersault over what he believed in before, I just laugh and say, well, the man is protecting his ‘garri’ (cassava flour).

“Did he really make a somersault? His words were clear based on opinions on a gentleman’s agreement by political parties since 1999. He was talking about rotation of presidency between the North and South, two tenures of four years each (eight years total).

“I thought you would go back. You started from the end. I don’t want to discuss North and South, but if that is what you want us to educate Nigerians on, by 2027 the South would have ruled this country (since 1999) for 18 and a half years, while the North has ruled for only nine and a half years, eight years of Buhari and one and a half years of Yar’ Adua which means, automatically, that you can revert to the North so they can make up for the deficit, if that is what he is talking about. But I believe in who has delivered on his promises to Nigerians. Has that man occupying that seat ameliorated the condition of the people? We would ask Akume for their scorecard,” Galadima said.

The NNPP chieftain argued further that Nigeria is practising democracy and not a monarchy, so it is left to the citizens, not one person to determine their next leader.

“What have they done for Nigerians? Are we practicing monarchy? I thought it is democracy. That’s why I don’t want to talk about North and South. What I want to talk about is who delivered on the dividends of democracy to Nigerians. If President Tinubu delivers very well and Seyi, his son, would be the best person to succeed him, for me, I have no problem. But, what the people feel now in their bodies will determine what they vote in 2027.

“There is big vacancy in Aso Rock. In fact, there is no body occupying that seat in 2027, according to the Nigerian constitution. So, Akume’s assertion is only laughable. When I heard it and looked at him talking about that, I said, “Ha! My friend is protecting his ‘garri,“” Galadima concluded.