In less than two years, some governors in their second term will end their tenure, and bid farewell to the seat of power of their various states. In Nasarawa State, the people of Nasarawa North Senatorial District say Governor Sule is not tired, as they still want him to remain relevant in the political limelight, and should represent them at the Senate in 2027. In this piece, our Nasarawa State Correspondent LINUS OOTA, traces the idea behind the clamour for such agitation.
As Nigeria gradually approaches the defining year of 2027, political permutations are already gathering momentum across the country. In Nasarawa State, the most talked about is the heavy pressure by traditional leaders, stakeholders across party lines , past and present political appointees and elected office holders, religious leaders, youths and women groups, from Nasarawa North Senatorial District are giving Governor Abdullahi Sule sleepless nights that he must represent them at the Senate.
Some political analysts have been pointing out what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands to gain in 2027 if Governor Sule is elected into the Senate.
Sule has been vocal and consistent in defending the Tax Reforms and Subsidy Removal policies of President Tinubu, whom some Nigerians describe as harsh economic policies on Nigerians, but Governor Sule has consistently maintained that the actions of President Tinubu has helped the country in no small measures in revamping the economy.
The governor had in January 2024 after the Supreme Court Judgement declaring him legitimate winner of the 2023 Governorship election in the state, proclaimed that he was done with political contest in his life as he was only interested in becoming Governor of Nasarawa State and not any other political office, not even the president of Nigeria.
He disclosed this in January 2024 while speaking on his victory at the Supreme Court during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said, “I came in only to be a governor; I did not come in to be a Chairman, a senator or a member of the House of Representatives. I don’t have any dreams for those offices.
“I have no dream of becoming even President; I have no dreams for that. I can tell you categorically that Abdullahi Sule would not go for Senate after leaving office. By the time I finish my eight years, I can do whatever I want to do,” Sule had said in January 2024.
The video of the Channels interview went viral on social media especially amongst residents of the State, a development that got the people of Nasarawa North Senatorial District worried apparently.
Barely a year and half of such declaration by the governor, stakeholders both within and outside the Senatorial zone are mounting pressure on Governor Abdullahi Sule to recent that declaration, insisting that he must run for the Senatorial seat, describing that decision as great disservice to humanity, to God that he worship, and above all the good people of Nasarawa North Senatorial District.
However, by 2027, there is going to be a vacuum in the Senatorial slots for Nasarawa North following the ill health of the current occupant of the seat, Senator Godiya Akwashiki. Senator Akwashiki adjudged to be the most performing Senator the zone ever produced in history had stood by his people in both difficult times and in attracting real democratic dividends.
Akwashiki was elected into the Senate in 2019 on the platform of the APC after serving as Majority leader of Nasarawa State House of Assembly between 2011-2015 and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly between 2015-2019. He was re-elected into the Senate in 2023 on the platform of the SDP before he got ill rendering him ineffective.
Due to ill health, his effectiveness at the Senate is no longer been felt by his people at home, and the entire people of the zone ranging from religious leaders, traditional rulers, party chieftains, former and serving political office holders across party lines, youths and women groups are therefore craving for someone that will continue from where Senator Akwashiki stopped.
And because of the strategic importance of President Tinubu’s economic policies and the deep understanding of such policies by Governor Abdullahi Sule, many people believe that having him at the Senate to dissect the nitty gritty of such economic policies on the floor of the next Senate in 2027 will not only help the president maintain the momentum of his Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigerians but will put the Senatorial zone on the world map.
A prominent religious leader, a Christian to be precise, who was part of a recent delegation to the Governor told our correspondent authoritatively that they recently stormed the government house to register their worry concerning the Governor’s stance on the 2027 political contest.
He said they were there to persuade him to seek an elective post as a mark of their appreciation for the qualitative leadership he has so far given the state and the party, adding that the party’s spirit would be dampened if the Governor refused to go for the Senatorial seat.
“We are all worried by what we saw on social media concerning what you said about your ambition in 2027. It won’t be fair on our part to you if after all that you have achieved for the state, you do not move ahead to the Senate. We the entire stakeholders of the zone are here by insisting that you must contest the Nasarawa North Senatorial seat.”
He said that the call on the governor to seek another election after his eight years term is a unanimous stand of the zone and of course the majority of the constituents of Nasarawa North Senatorial District.
The stakeholders further disclose that going by the early political alignments in the country, they are convinced that Governor Abdullahi Sule’s membership of the Senate in 2027 will drive President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Senate and he will effectively defend his economic policies.
As the time approaches , all odds favours Governor Sule for Nasarawa North Senatorial Seat as one does not require any guess work, he stands tall , not just for his loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu but also for his strategic relevance and unbroken connections.
He never stood aloof or in outright opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s policies. His commitment to the party, the president, and the idea of national integration makes him not just a participant in the Renewed Hope Project but a pillar of its future success when Bola Ahmed Tinubu is re-elected back as President of Nigeria.
The tax reform bill championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and opposed by some northern leaders is a major factor for Governor Abdullahi Sule who is versed in economic matters, will use to influence the next national assembly members to support the Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed during his second term in 2027.
As a second term Governor, Engr Abdullahi Sule is vocal in explaining the significant benefit of the task reform bill now an act to northern Nigeria. He revealed recently that the reforms, particularly the revised Value Added Tax (VAT) distribution formula, would ensure greater equity and fiscal balance across the country.
“These reforms are a game-changer for northern Nigeria. Under the new VAT sharing formula, 50% will be allocated for equity, 30%, based on derivation, and 20% tied to consumption. This adjustment reflects a fairer system that addresses long standing dispute” Sule said
The Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) which initially had some reservations of the tax, later announced its support for President Tinubu’s proposal after securing assurances from the President’s Tax Reform Committee , chaired by Taiwo Oyedele.
According to Governor Sule, the endorsement came after thorough deliberations and adjustments to the reform framework to accommodate regional and state specific concerns, adding that the discussions surrounding the tax reform bills are intended to uphold President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision rather than criticize or oppose him.
He explained further that governors like him “have everything to appreciate President Tinubu for making governance easier and more beneficial for them. It is because of the president that today, all the projects we are executing, I’m not borrowing one naira. All the work that you see going on. I did not borrow one naira.
“I cannot therefore turn around and fight the president who has helped me to look good,” he said.
Governor Sule has also been vocal about the gains of subsidy removal by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that it has increased the allocation of states triple times, therefore enhancing their performance without taking loan especially in Nasarawa State.
He explained that the subsidy regime under the present administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is different from the Petroleum Task Force (PTF) and SURE-P of previous administrations.
He explained further that the money realised from the removal of subsidy is being ploughed back to the various tiers of governance for development across the states and local government areas.
According to the governor, unlike in the previous dispensations where monies from subsidy removals were mostly utilised by the federal government, under President Tinubu the monies being realised are being channeled back to the states and local governments for much needed development.
He expressed appreciation that as a result of the improvement of revenue coming to the states, his administration was able to settle part of the gratuity of members of the forums, a gesture that necessitated the solidarity visit. Some of the elected council officials left office in the 70s and were yet to receive their benefits until now.
“We must thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I saw all kinds of criticisms about this withdrawal of subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange and where the money is going. These are the kinds of places the money is going to,” he stated.
He recalled the precarious economic situation he inherited when he became Governor in 2019, with both the state and local government areas only able to pay salaries of workers in percentages.
“The truth is that, don’t mistake me for criticising anybody. When we came in and met something, I was not trying to criticise anyone. I am just trying to present the facts as they are. We came in when the local government was having difficulty in even paying full salaries. That was the situation we found on the ground. It’s the same thing with pension. Pension both at the local government and the state were having challenges.
“When I said that, then you can imagine there is no way these people can have any savings. Because since they don’t have even enough to pay, where will they save? The entire allocation of the local government, sometimes it would be 1bn, their salary was already N1.1bn. Sometimes, it would be a little bit above N2bn, 2.4, 2.3. That was what we met. Today, the local government is boasting of N5bn. That is the situation just that the salary has also increased significantly to over N2bn,” he said.
Governor Sule dismissed any attempt to compare the previous subsidy regime to the present regime under President Tinubu, stressing that evidence of the distribution and utilisation of the subsidy windfall is visible for all to see across the states and local government areas.
“Other people said that during Abacha’s time, after withdrawal of subsidy, there was PTF. During Jonathan after withdrawal of subsidy, there was SURE-P. Somebody was challenging why don’t we have similar things now. Our own is different. Because the money is going to people.
During the Abacha regime when there was the withdrawal, we did not have dualization of Shendam Road. We didn’t have dualization in Akwanga. We never saw dualization in Keffi. We didn’t see any of those. Antau Bridge was collapsing at any given opportunity. The market in Keffi was witnessing frequent fire outbreaks and consuming the houses of people, their wealth and everything gone. The same thing here in Lafia, Akwanga and elsewhere.
“But today, we are not seeing development only in our senatorial zones headquarters, we are seeing development also in every town and some of the rural areas. That is where the money is going. In addition to that, they still have savings. This money that the local government sat down and agreed to pay is from their savings,” he said.
These and many more are some of the remarkable policies of the Tinubu administration that Engr Abdullahi Sule will defend with his last drop of blood when he gets to the Senate in 2027 and matters like the Tax Reform and fuel Subsidy Removal issues come up for deliberation.
Recently in Akwanga LGA, the headquarters of Nasarawa North Senatorial district, the stakeholders of the APC gathered in their large numbers and urged Governor Abdullahi Sule who is completing his second term as Governor of the state in 2027 to seek election into the Senate to represent Nasarawa North Senatorial district.
The endorsement came during the APC stakeholders meeting of Nasarawa North Senatorial district held in Akwanga local government area of the State.
The commissioner of water resources Hon Muluku Agah Mohammed moved the motion to adopt President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Abdullahi Sule as their sole candidates to be elected as President and Senator in 2027, and the Commissioner of Youths and Sports development, Hon Kwanta Yakubu seconded the motion.
Speaking at the Stakeholders meeting, the Executive Chairman, Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, NSUBEB Dr Kassim Muh’d Kassim says the decision to send Governor Abdullahi Sule to represent Nasarawa North Senatorial district in the 11th Senate in 2027 is a collective decision of the entire stakeholders of the Nasarawa North Senatorial district.
He declared their readiness to deliver President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Abdullahi Sule, stating that their leadership has brought economic reforms and inclusive governance deserving of continuity .
“This is a collective decision by all of us to support President Tinubu for a second term, and our Governor, Engr Abdullahi Sule to go to the Senate in 2027, we will mobilize our people to deliver them in 2027”
“We have endorsed Governor Abdullahi Sule today to proceed to the Senate due to his immeasurable achievements, his experience, exposure and network can lead to more efficient and effective legislative business as far as his personality is concerned.
“Allowing a polished democrat like Governor Sule to represent us at the Senate will provide stability and continuity in governance. We are begging Governor Sule to be our leading light because he has governed us well, he is a detribalised Nigerian, he is an easy going and indivisible fellow who enjoys interacting with people. Engr Abdullahi Sule is the only Governor in the history of Nigeria that picks strange calls and returns missed calls.
“A leader that operates an open door policy and people’s friendly leadership styles, and we can’t afford to lose such a man in the leadership of the northern zone” he said
He describe the Governor as a honest man who is truthful and transparent in all his dealings with people”he is a man of integrity who adheres to moral and ethical principles and he is very compassionate by identifying and empathizing with struggles and needs of his people and above all, he is a man with confidence as his abilities and decisions often inspires trust and motivate others”
Reading the communique after the meeting, Former Secretary to State Government, SSG Mr Timothy Anjide “The Stakeholders of the APC in Nasarawa North Senatorial district met in a critical session to deliberate on pressing issues concerning the party, the government, and the future of the district.
“The meeting was attended by virtually all the key Stakeholders of the APC in the Senatorial district and after extensive and fruitful deliberations, the meeting resolved to acknowledge and appreciate President Tinubu for appointing son’s and daughters of Nasarawa North Senatorial district in to strategic positions in federal agencies, boards and parastatals.
“In recognition of his vision, leadership and developmental focus, the stakeholders unanimously endorse Mr President for a second term in office.
“The stakeholders deeply appreciate His Excellency for his unwavering commitment to inclusive governance, impactful developmental strides and consistent support for the APC family in the district.
“A unanimous vote of confidence was pass on His Excellency, Engr Abdullahi Sule with strong call and appeal to His Excellency to represent Nasarawa North in the Senate come 2027” the communique read
The meeting was convened by the Executive Chairman of Akwanga and chairman of ALGON in the state, Hon Safiyanu Isa Andahar, supported by the Chairman of Nasarawa Eggon and Wamba LGAs, the three LGAs make up Nasarawa North Senatorial district.
All party officials from council wards, LGAs, State and Zonal officers from the zone attended the endorsement meeting.
Other Prominent figures in attendance includes Senator John Danboyi, incumbent House of Representative member for Akwanga, Wamba, Nasarawa Eggon federal Constituency Hon Jeremiah Umaru, current members of Nasarawa State House of Assembly from the Zone, all Council Chairmen from the zone, serving commissioners, special advisers, SSAs, SAs and PAs from the zone, head of government agencies from the zone and all former elected and political appointees from the zone.
