Rita Odafe
The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) has called out former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, along with other northern leaders, for allegedly plotting to remove President Bola Tinubu from office.
In a show of support for Tinubu’s reelection in 2027, the group cautioned against attempts by self-proclaimed northern leaders to disrupt the zoning principle and force the President out before his term ends.
In a statement released on Monday, the General Secretary of OPC, Bunmi Fasehun, accused El-Rufai and his peers of trying to undermine the informal agreement on power sharing between the North and South.
“Those who harbor bitterness and are calling for Asiwaju’s early removal should remember the rotational principle that has fostered inclusivity and fairness in governance since 1999. This principle must not be jeopardized for the personal gains of political opportunists like Hameed Baba-Ahmed and Nasir El-Rufai,” Fasehun remarked.
Fasehun emphasized that the OPC, with over 10 million members, will not remain passive while these political maneuvers threaten the nation’s unity.
“The historical significance of Asiwaju’s role in restoring the presidency to the North in 2015 should not be dismissed. It marked a pivotal moment in Nigerian history, as an opposition party triumphed in a presidential election,” he added.
He explained further, “God used Tinubu’s strategies, connections, and resources to achieve what was once deemed impossible during the elections in 2015 and 2019.”
The OPC stated that Tinubu significantly rallied his South-West constituents to support Buhari during both elections.
Fasehun further lauded Tinubu as a key figure in Nigeria’s democratic fight, comparing him to the legendary South African leader, Nelson Mandela.
“Just like the OPC’s founder, the late Dr. Frederick Fasehun, Tinubu significantly contributed to NADECO, which was crucial for our nation’s democratic ideals, confronting military rule both domestically and internationally. He is the first Nigerian President from the forefront of this struggle in the Fourth Republic,” he concluded.
