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2027: Ganduje, El-Rufai again disagree over position of North on Tinubu

2027: Ganduje, El-Rufai again disagree over position of North on Tinubu
The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, has come under attack from northern leaders and groups over his call on the North to bury any ambition of contesting the presidency in 2027.
They accused him of working against the interest of the North just to please President Bola Tinubu.
The controversy surrounding Ganduje’s statement highlights the complex dynamics of Nigerian politics, particularly regarding zoning and power rotation. As the country prepares for the 2027 presidential election, it remains to be seen how this debate will unfold.
Ganduje had urged northern politicians nursing presidential ambition in 2027 to bury the idea, insisting that President Tinubu would serve two terms.
Apparently reacting to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who, in a post on his verified X handle, threatened that in 2027, the North would give Tinubu the same treatment meted out to former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
But Ganduje, while hosting leaders and members of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre, PBAT Media Centre, and Tinubu Northern Youth Forum, TNYF, at APC National Secretariat in Abuja, said expectations that the North would produce the President in 2027 should be “perished.”
“When a leader from the northern part of this country was in office for eight years, we advocated that the next president in our party should come from the South”, he stated.
“And luckily enough, we worked very hard with the cooperation of Nigerians. Our President has come from the South and is going, insha’Allah, for a second term in 2027. And then after that, it will be turned to the northern part of this country”.
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‘Dangerous precedent’
However, the statement seems to have provoked stakeholders in the region, who told Sunday Vanguard that what the APC chairman said is a “dangerous precedent.”
The Middle Belt Forum, MBF, said the statement wasn’t surprising, adding that Ganduje was doing the bidding of his “benefactor.”
National President of MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, said: “It is a political statement, and he is representing the party. Whether he likes it or not, the President is the main man for the party, and the benefit he would get comes through the President.
“So, whether he is from the North or wherever, he just has to support the President. It is, therefore, not surprising that, in spite of the Northern resistance for whatsoever reason, he is supporting the President, so it is not surprising.
“However, there are things we need to learn from the behavior of the North. There is this thing they call ‘Takiya.’ It is a holy deceit. It is practiced in the North in some things.
“So, what he says may not exactly be what he meant. So, let’s hope and believe that what he said was what he meant, and that was not a deceit aimed at appeasing those he wants to, with the intention of doing something else.
“This is something our Southern brothers do not seem to know or understand. But for those of us in the North, when one of us says something, we weigh it properly based on the action that might follow.”
‘Disturbing questions’
On his part, National President of Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, said Ganduje’s position raised disturbing questions about Nigeria’s democracy.
He said: “Ganduje’s call for politicians from the North to drop any ambition of contesting against Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election raises important questions about the principles of democracy and the right to political participation.
“It is essential to analyze this statement in the context of democratic principles and the right to political participation. In a democratic society, every citizen has the right to contest for political office and present themselves as candidates for election.
“This right is enshrined in the constitution and is a fundamental aspect of a functioning democracy. Ganduje’s call for politicians from the North to refrain from contesting against Tinubu raises concerns about the freedom of political expression and the right to participate in the democratic process.
“By discouraging potential candidates from running for office, Ganduje’s statement could be seen as an attempt to limit the choices available to voters and stifle political competition.
“Such a directive could also be interpreted as an attempt to consolidate power within a particular political faction or region, rather than promoting a fair and open electoral process.
“In a diverse and multi-ethnic country like Nigeria, it is essential that all regions and groups have equal opportunities to participate in the political arena and present their ideas and policies to the electorate.
“It is also worth noting that the 2027 presidential election is still several years away, and it is premature to make such sweeping statements about potential candidates and their eligibility to contest for office.
2027: Ganduje, El-Rufai again disagree over position of North on Tinubu
VANGUARD
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Police arrest killers of Chinese national in Ogun

Police arrest killers of Chinese national in Ogun
The Ogun State Police Command has detained two suspects, Yunusa Abdullahi and Peace Keno Danlami, in connection with the murder of Chen Wang, a Chinese national who was allegedly stabbed to death in his office early this year.
Wang, an employee at WH Great Resource Ltd. in Ogere, was assassinated on January 12, 2025.
According to a statement made on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, and forwarded by the Ogun State Command spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, the victim died from stab wounds to the chest.
The police stated, “The incident, which occurred on January 12, 2025, drew immediate attention when the Ogun State Police Command received a distress call regarding the discovery of Mr Wang’s lifeless body within his office premises. Preliminary findings revealed that the deceased had suffered fatal stab wounds to the chest.”
The police added, “The event, which occurred on January 12, 2025, gained rapid attention when the Ogun State Police Command received a distress call about the discovery of Mr Wang’s lifeless body within his office premises.
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According to preliminary findings, the deceased died as a result of deadly stab wounds to the chest.
“In line with the strategic policing mandate of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force Technical Intelligence Unit was promptly mobilised to provide high-level operational and technological support,” the statement read.
Investigators determined that two manufacturing workers, believed to be in a romantic relationship, took advantage of reduced staffing on the day of the incident.
Odutola added, “While on overtime duty, they allegedly disabled the company’s security system, unlawfully accessed Mr Wang’s office and committed the fatal attack. They subsequently stole the keys to his residence, which they later burgled before fleeing the state with stolen cash.”
Following several weeks of surveillance and tactical cooperation, operatives from the Force Headquarters and Ogun SCID located and apprehended Abdullahi, 25, of Borno State, and Danlami, 20, of Taraba State, on July 14 in Jos, Plateau State, where they were hiding under fictitious names.
“The swift deployment of digital forensics, biometric analysis, and human intelligence by the Nigeria Police played a decisive role in bringing the perpetrators to justice,” the statement noted.
According to the statement, the Inspector General praised the Ogun State Police Command and the Force Technical Intelligence Unit for their professionalism and dedication.
The IG also reassured the public about the police’s continuous efforts to protect both citizens and foreign nationals through proactive and precision-led investigations.
“The suspects are currently in custody and will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations,” the statement added.
Police arrest killers of Chinese national in Ogun
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Kidnapped Chief Imam of Uromi regains freedom

Kidnapped Chief Imam of Uromi regains freedom
The Chief Imam of Uromi in Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Sheikh Murtadho Muhammad, has regained his freedom after spending five harrowing days in the hands of his abductors.
Sheikh Muhammad was released on Saturday, July 13, bringing relief to the Uromi Muslim community and his family, who had been anxiously awaiting his safe return.
The respected Islamic cleric was abducted on Monday, July 8, at the Angle 90 area of Uromi. According to reports, he had stepped out of his residence to buy food for his family when he was forcefully taken by unidentified gunmen.
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The kidnappers however called the family members and demanded ransom of N30 million but Daily Trust couldn’t confirm the payment of the ransom.
The Edo State police command’s spokesperson, CSP Moses Yamu, said intense and sustained pressure from the police and the local vigilante led to the release of the kidnapped chief Imam.
He said investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping of the victim with a view to track and arrest the perpetrators.
Yamu, who said the Chief Imam is in stable condition, added that he has since been reunited with his family.
While charging the public to remain vigilant and continue to support the Police with timely and credible information, he said no stone will be left unturned in identifying and apprehending those behind the kidnapping.
Kidnapped Chief Imam of Uromi regains freedom
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Buhari could have died earlier relying on Nigerian hospitals – Adesina

Buhari could have died earlier relying on Nigerian hospitals – Adesina
Former presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, has addressed the controversy surrounding the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari in a London hospital, offering a candid defense of the late leader’s decision to seek medical care abroad.
Speaking during a live broadcast on Channels Television as part of the special funeral coverage, Adesina responded to criticisms over Buhari’s long-standing reliance on foreign healthcare.
According to Adesina, those questioning why Buhari passed away in a UK hospital are missing the bigger picture. He stated firmly that Buhari had been receiving treatment in the United Kingdom long before he became president in 2015, and added that relying solely on Nigeria’s health system could have cost him his life much earlier.
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“President Buhari had been using London hospitals for years, even before he assumed office. His doctors over there were familiar with his history,” Adesina said.
He added that expecting the former president to abandon the doctors who understood his condition would have been unreasonable.
According to Adesina, many Nigerian hospitals do not have the medical expertise or advanced equipment necessary to handle the health challenges Buhari faced.
“Let’s be honest with ourselves: if he had depended on our local hospitals for that particular health issue, he may not have survived it. And perhaps, we would have lost him a long time ago,” he stated.
Discovererngr.com reports that Buhari, who died in a London hospital on Sunday, July 13, is being buried Tuesday in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, with full state honours.
Buhari could have died earlier relying on Nigerian hospitals – Adesina
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