Oluwo woos North for Tinubu’s re-election

By Kayode Idowu

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has called on political leaders and power brokers in Northern Nigeria to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027.
The monarch said allowing Tinubu to serve two terms would, in his view, strengthen the longstanding political relationship between the North and South-West and promote fairness in the country’s power-sharing arrangement.
Oba Akanbi made the appeal in a statement

issued by his Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, and made available to journalists on Thursday.
According to the monarch, the South-West supported the late President Muhammadu Buhari, who hailed from the North and served two terms, arguing that the North should reciprocate by supporting Tinubu to complete eight years in office.
He said the relationship between the two regions was based on a longstanding understanding that should transcend political affiliations and electoral competition.
“President Bola Tinubu, being a Yoruba man from the South-West, deserves eight years in office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after his predecessor, late Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, who also spent eight years in office,” Oba Akanbi said.
He added that the historical relationship between the North and South-West should serve as another reason for Northerners to support the President.
“Both the North and the South-West have built an uncompromising understanding that must be sustained beyond political lines. In the South-West, we supported late President Muhammadu Buhari to rule Nigeria for eight years. The North should pay back. After President Tinubu’s eight years, we will return the power to them,” he said.
The monarch described the North and South-West as examples of regional cooperation capable of contributing to national cohesion.
“The North and the South-West are perfect role models for a united Nigeria. They both have a heavenly bond that cannot be distracted by artificial contest. We are the cement that bonds the nation together,” he said.
Oba Akanbi also linked his position to his personal relationship with Northern Nigeria, noting that his royal marriage was to a woman from the region.
“This understanding informed my royal marriage from Northern Nigeria,” he said.
The Oluwo further expressed optimism that continued power rotation between the two regions could strengthen national unity.
He said allowing Tinubu to complete two terms would also provide the President with more time to implement his policies and reforms.
“I have strong hope that the power rotation will cement the unity of Nigeria. I equally express strong assurance that the eight years will allow the President to complete his reformative policies that will benefit all and sundry, irrespective of their political and cultural attachments,” the monarch said.
His appeal comes as political activities and alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to intensify across the country.