Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Yusuf Atah, has declared that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock Villa until 2031, affirming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will remain in office beyond 2027.

Atah made the statement on Thursday while responding to what he described as a “pernicious campaign of distortion, falsehood, and malice” allegedly sponsored by disgruntled politicians who lost out in the last general elections.

In a statement signed by his publicity aide, Seyi Olorunsola, the minister dismissed claims by some individuals from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party that the North is disenchanted with President Tinubu’s administration and would not support his re-election in 2027.

He maintained that the President continues to enjoy widespread support across the North and the rest of the country, stressing that those peddling divisive narratives are only attempting to sow discord for personal political gains.

“This claim is not only baseless—it is disrespectful to the genuine sentiments and aspirations of millions of Northerners who have benefited from the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“As the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, I wish to set the record straight: there is no vacancy in Aso Rock Villa in 2027.

“The insinuation that Northerners have ‘closed ranks’ against President Tinubu is a deliberate misrepresentation designed to foment discord, stir regional prejudice, and undermine national cohesion.

“It is instructive to recall that since May 2023, President Tinubu has pursued an agenda that is demonstrably inclusive, strategic, and geared toward regional balance,” Atah, who hails from Kano, said.

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The minister noted that, despite inheriting severe security deficits, President Tinubu has engaged vigorously with the hydra-headed challenges of insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence, deploying new strategies, reinforcing security frameworks, and working hard to restore confidence.

“Indeed, Northern stakeholders themselves have publicly acknowledged improvements in security and infrastructure under his watch.

“On the economic front, the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of exchange rates (among other reforms) have unlocked critical fiscal space for state governments and local governments.

“More resources are now available for development at the grassroots, while autonomy for Local Government Areas ensures that local priorities are addressed promptly.

“President Tinubu’s tenure has also seen a steady acceleration of infrastructure projects across the North,” Atah said.

He confirmed that Islamic clerics, religious leaders, traditional rulers, cultural stakeholders, and influential civil society personalities have lent their moral authority and backing to President Tinubu’s candidacy for 2027.

“To the Northern people, I say: do not be swayed by the false rhetoric of failed and retired politicians whose only agenda is to reclaim access to the public purse.

“Their smear campaign is a smoke screen for their own irrelevance and opportunism. Instead, weigh the record: the inclusion you see, the projects you see, and the benefit you feel,” he said. (The Nation)