Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has defended his decision to part ways with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and align with those inclined to retain the presidency in the South till 2031.

Finitiri who disclosed this yesterday insisted that no northerner has any business joining the presidential race in 2027 in the spirit of fairness and unity of the country.

The governor, who recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), said although anybody could vie for any political office, the southern region should retain the Presidency.

Speak during a television chat monitored by this newspaper, Fintiri said his relationship with Atiku remained cordial despite their political differencies.

Atiku, who hails from Adamawa (Northeast), is in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) jostling for the coalition ticket to take another shot at the presidency next year.

He was the PDP standard bearer in the 2023 presidential poll won by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The governor said: “For those of us who believe so much in this country, growing up to see others kept Nigeria one for us; that we also are benefithing and enjoying, so, we are following the candidacy of the South.

“There is no strained communication with the former VP as a result of political differences.

“I still have; there is nothing that has gone bad. It is just that everybody has taken their political ways. I am today in APC, they are in another party.”

According to the governor, the stability of Nigeria matters in the polity.

He added: “It is still the turn of the South to complete. A northerner has no business at the moment to vie for the office of the President.

“If there is no other candidate, we should support Bola Tinubu to complete his tenure. After all, he has done so much. He initiated good policies that are working, that are showing us light at the end of the tunnel.

“There is no business of anybody in the North to do with the Presidency at the moment. It is the turn of the South; they should complete their eight years, if we are really serious about this country. It should rotate so that we will all be brother’s keepers.”

Adamu Atiku’s resignation welcome

The governor said he believed Atiku’s son, Adamu, left the state executive council to align politically with his father, a decision he described as welcome.

He said: “We excused him. I don’t think he really wanted to resign. We excused him out of the government so that he can pitch tent with his father, which is the normal thing to do.

“Some of these things do not only bother on politics, morality also comes in. And we felt that at this moment, he needs to be excused to join his father.”

Fintiri names nominees to replace Adamu Atiku, two others

The governor has forwarded three names to the House of Assembly for consideration for appointment as commissioners.

One of the nominees will replace Adamu, who, on Monday, resigned his appointment as Commissioner for Works and Energy Development.

He resigned after refusing to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Other nominees are: Sali Idris (Maiha Local Government Area); Muhammed Suleiman (Mubi North Local Government Area) and Chubado Mohammed (Jada Local Government Area).

House of Assembly Speaker Bathiya Wesley directed the Clerk to inform the nominees to appear with their curriculum vitae for screening by the Assembly on March 9. (The Nation)

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