“The national emergency must take precedence over regional calculations, personal pride, and political alliances. Every patriot must be prepared to confront that reality and pursue a better future through the democratic process”.
BY BELLO GWARZO ABDULLAHI
We live in an era of rapid political realignments—some pragmatic, others amateurish. In a democracy, all manner of perspectives are bound to emerge. Umar Ardo, true to form, has raised a valid point worth considering: the North should not make the return of the presidency to the region an overriding condition for its political choices in 2027. Drawing lessons from 2003 and 2015, he argues that the region should protect its interests, preserve vital political alliances, and negotiate a Northern Development Compact with President Bola Tinubu or other contenders. His central thesis is that having a Northern president is not synonymous with a developed North. Yet, in his lengthy analysis, he misses the bigger picture.
Nigeria’s core problem in 2027 is not simply about which region produces the next president. It is about whether the country can afford another four years of APC governance—a fundamental question we must confront honestly. Across the federation, families struggle to cope with the cost of living, businesses battle punishing operating conditions, youth search desperately for employment, and communities grapple with relentless insecurity. Nigerians want to know when their lives will improve and when the government will deliver the security, opportunity, and dignity they deserve.
These are not exclusively Northern problems. They afflict citizens in the South, North, East, West, and Middle Belt alike, regardless of varying regional experiences. This is why the 2027 debate must transcend regional calculations and focus squarely on the condition of the nation.
Ardo is correct that a Northern president does not automatically guarantee development. However, the same logic applies to political alliances. The fact that the North helped forge an alliance with the South-West does not mean it must remain permanently bound to that arrangement, regardless of the consequences for the country. Political alliances are not sacred marriages; they are built upon shared expectations and mutual interests. When those expectations are unmet, reviewing the relationship is entirely legitimate. Preserving an alliance for its own sake while citizens languish in hardship prioritizes political convenience over public welfare.
Nor should the historical lessons of 2003 and 2015 be used to discourage fresh political choices. History should serve as a guide, not a prison. The purpose of reflecting on past decisions is to learn and make better choices, not to insist that yesterday’s alliances dictate tomorrow’s politics. The real issue is not whether presidential power must return to the North, but whether the APC government deserves a renewed mandate given widespread public dissatisfaction with its performance. That is a national question, and every Nigerian has the right to ask it.
Those who supported the APC in 2015 or 2023 should not feel compelled to defend every subsequent misstep simply because they once believed in the party. Supporting a political party is not a lifetime obligation; neither should opponents be expected to reflexively justify every action of the opposition. What matters is the evidence before us, the lessons learned, and the future we wish to build. This debate must also move beyond who was right in 2015 or who deserves credit for past realignments. While such reflections have academic value, Nigerians cannot eat past political achievements. They need answers to today’s crises. A clear distinction exists between defending a political legacy to satisfy personal pride and addressing a present predicament—the latter demands courage, honesty, and a willingness to discard obsolete assumptions.
I am equally concerned by suggestions that the North should prioritize preserving its relationship with the South-West solely to safeguard its long-term position in the national power equation. Inter-regional cooperation is desirable, but it must be anchored in mutual respect and shared progress. No region should tolerate sub-par governance out of fear of losing an alliance, a standard that must apply universally across regions and political parties.
Nigeria faces structural crises that no regional development compact can solve in isolation. The nation requires a credible, comprehensive program for security, economic recovery, electricity generation, education, healthcare, employment, and infrastructure. It needs an administration capable of explaining its decisions, accounting for public resources, and demonstrating measurable progress. Above all, it requires leaders who recognize that public office is a solemn responsibility, not a perpetual entitlement.
While a Northern Development Compact may help the region articulate its priorities, the North must not negotiate its future as though the rest of the nation’s problems can be ignored. Its security, agricultural, educational, and employment challenges are inextricably linked to wider national and institutional conditions. The region’s interests are far better served by a functioning country than by an alliance that merely preserves political influence.
This is why the 2027 conversation must center on national renewal. Nigerians must rigorously examine the APC’s record, scrutinize the alternatives, and determine which proposals offer a credible path forward. The opposition, for its part, must do more than criticize; it must present a practical, fully costed program with measurable benchmarks for accountability.
Furthermore, we must reject intimidation. No Nigerian should be made to feel that questioning the government amounts to disloyalty, or that challenging an established political arrangement threatens national unity. Intimidation can be direct or subtle—manifesting as appeals to ethnic loyalty, warnings of regional isolation, or the insidious suggestion that changing political direction is inherently dangerous.
Citizens must not allow such pressure to distract them from reality. Peace is vital, but it cannot mean enforced silence in the face of hardship. National unity matters, but it cannot be sustained by demanding that citizens ignore their grievances. Democracy guarantees the freedom to question those in power and, when necessary, to replace them through constitutional means.
At the same time, ending the APC’s tenure should not be treated as an end in itself. Nigerians must insist on a credible alternative capable of restoring public confidence and delivering competent governance. Changing occupants in office without reforming how government operates leaves root problems unresolved.
This critical juncture calls upon all patriots—regardless of region, religion, or political affiliation—to look past personal ambitions and partisan loyalties. The primary task is to forge a broad national commitment to accountable leadership, economic opportunity, security, and social justice.
Ardo is right to insist that political wisdom must prevail over regional ambition. Yet, true political wisdom also recognizes when an alliance has outlived its utility, when an incumbent government must answer for its record, and when the national interest demands a change of course.
The 2027 election must not be reduced to a parochial contest over which region secures the presidency. It must be an opportunity for Nigerians to decide whether the current trajectory is acceptable or if the nation requires a credible alternative.
The choice must not be dictated by the ambitions of political elites, the preservation of antiquated alliances, or ego-driven attempts to validate past decisions. Instead, it should be guided by the lived experiences of ordinary Nigerians and the prospects for a viable future.
Our people have endured enough uncertainty and hardship. They deserve far more than rhetorical arguments over who occupies Aso Rock; they deserve a country where children can safely attend school, families can afford basic necessities, businesses can thrive, communities live in security, and public institutions genuinely serve the people.
That is the true test of leadership—and the fundamental reason why the 2027 debate must transcend the North’s quest for power.
Nigeria comes first. The national emergency must take precedence over regional calculations, personal pride, and political alliances. Every patriot must be prepared to confront that reality and pursue a better future through the democratic process.
…Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, a public affairs analyst based in Gombe can be reached viabgabdullahi@gmail.com
