Ambassador-designates to South Africa and Mexico, Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri, have firmly stated that the presidency should not shift to the North in 2027. In a joint declaration issued on Saturday, the two appointees argued that Northern Nigeria already enjoyed two complete terms under former President Muhammadu Buhari, which was supported by the South. Therefore, they believe the South should retain power until 2031 to maintain balance and honor the informal pact that has guided Nigeria’s Fourth Republic since 1999.
The statement emphasized that the South’s current hold on power is not random but a deliberate outcome of the power rotation arrangement. They described any suggestion of returning power to the North after just one term from the South as unpatriotic and harmful to national unity and stability. The duo specifically backed President Bola Tinubu’s second term, noting that Tinubu was instrumental in returning power to the North in 2015.
According to the ambassadors-designate, the gentleman’s agreement that ushered in the Fourth Republic after 16 years of political turbulence requires a balanced rotation between North and South. They warned that disrupting this arrangement could undermine the country’s progress and cohesion. Their comments come amid growing political discussions ahead of the 2027 elections, with some northern leaders reportedly eyeing a return to power.