Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has strongly criticized Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, for his recent visit to northern Nigeria, where he distributed food to residents.

Lamido described the gesture as a humiliation and an insult to the people of the region.

Speaking in Hausa in a video, Lamido denounced the act as degrading and politically motivated.

“You will hear people saying that Arewa is known for bravery and integrity, yet Tinubu is going to Sokoto and Kano, distributing cooked rice to our people,” he said.

“This is total humiliation. Is this how to govern or promote good governance? What Tinubu is doing to the northern people is an insult.”

He further questioned the implications of such actions on the legacy of the region’s past leaders.

“Is this what we have been subjected to? This is the height of humiliation, and they know it. Arewa, which produced great leaders like Aminu Kano, Sardauna (Sir Ahmadu Bello), Tafawa Balewa, and many other prominent figures, is now being reduced to a region where people are only given cooked rice.”

Lamido urged northern Nigerians to take a stand against what he perceives as an act of disrespect.

“However, it is up to us to unite and resist this humiliation or fold our hands and allow an outsider to come to our region and belittle us.”

“It is time to stand for what is right. If we stay on the right track in this country, no one can ever defeat us,” he added.

Seyi Tinubu recently visited several northern states, including Niger, where he distributed food packages during the Ramadan fasting period.

The items, such as Danwake—a local dish made from bean flour—were packed in plastic bags featuring images of both President Tinubu and Seyi Tinubu.

However, the initiative was met with strong backlash.

Many in the northern communities viewed the gesture as an attempt to gain political favor amid the region’s economic difficulties.

Critics argued that offering basic street food items during Ramadan, especially with personalized branding, was both insensitive and exploitative.

Buba Galadima, a key figure in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and a close associate of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has dismissed claims of any agreement between the North and South regarding the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking in an interview on Sunday, Galadima emphasized that opposition parties should focus on ensuring credible elections rather than debating the regional backgrounds of presidential candidates.

“I don’t discuss the North and I don’t discuss the South when I speak on democracy. Okay. If Tinubu is finishing and has done well, and Nigerians decide to vote for Seyi Tinubu, I have no grudge, provided that there is a free and fair election,” he stated.

“I have no grudge because that is democracy. Opposition should be more concerned about credible election, than this North and South thing.”

Addressing rumors of a pre-existing arrangement between the regions, he declared, “And anybody who tells you there is any understanding or agreement between the North and South, tell him he’s a liar. And he doesn’t understand what democracy is. He doesn’t understand what politics is. As far as I am concerned, I am talking about democracy, I am not talking about North and South.”

His remarks come shortly after a major political development where the 2023 presidential candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, the Labour Party (LP)’s Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, announced the formation of a coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is yet to officially state its position on the coalition being formed by key opposition figures ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, DAILY GAZETTE has learned that the party may consider joining the alliance on one condition: that it does not lose its distinct identity in the process.

Having ruled Nigeria for 16 years before being unseated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, the PDP remains a major force in opposition politics.

Last week, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, confirmed his participation in a coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu and the APC in 2027.

Atiku’s statement was in response to an earlier call by former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who urged opposition leaders to unite against the APC.

El-Rufai made this call while announcing his decision to leave the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

During a press conference organized by opposition leaders to discuss the President’s controversial declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, Atiku was asked whether the emerging coalition would be the primary opposition platform against the APC in 2027. He responded unequivocally, saying, “Yes.”

Sources within the PDP have indicated that the party expects Atiku to clarify his position soon. A National Executive Committee (NEC) member, speaking anonymously, stated, “We expect him to shed more light on his decision as we proceed. For now, he is still a high-ranking member of our party, the PDP.”

“We have been following his public statements and engagements, and he hasn’t announced to anyone that he is leaving or has left our party.”

“Yes, he left the party on two previous occasions over the past two decades—first to join Tinubu’s Action Congress (AC) to contest the 2007 presidential election, and then in 2013 or thereabouts to join others in forming the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

“Note, however, that on each of these occasions, he returned to the PDP. Now, whether he is planning to leave to join others or he wants others to come join us to beat the APC rigging machine in 2027, only he can explain.

“For now, from my interactions with members of his team, one thing is clear: this time around, Atiku’s move is a strategic step towards unifying opposition forces against the ruling APC.

“His announcement of the formation of a coalition signals a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, as opposition leaders seek to present a united front against the current administration.

“The proposed coalition is expected to bring together key political parties and stakeholders, including prominent figures like Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

“It’s worth noting that Atiku’s decision might not be universally accepted within the PDP, as some members may have different opinions on the best strategy to challenge the APC in 2027.

“Nevertheless, Atiku’s move demonstrates his commitment to opposing the current administration and his willingness to work with other opposition parties to achieve this goal.”

While Atiku’s move is being debated, PDP leaders insist that the party’s identity must remain intact.

A former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, made this clear when he dismissed El-Rufai’s call to join the SDP.

Lamido said, “The party we formed, the PDP, is the one that gave birth to El-Rufai. You’re not enough to make us leave the PDP.

“He (El-Rufai) once said that there are no elders in Nigerian politics, but now he is calling on us to join him in the SDP.”

Questioning El-Rufai’s motivation, Lamido further stated, “Leadership is done with patience and vision, and doing things for the peace of the followers and the country as a whole.”

He reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, asserting that the party had not done anything to warrant him leaving for another.

His stance was echoed by Chief Bode George, another founding member of the PDP, who has repeatedly stated his commitment to remaining in the party.

Former House of Representatives member for Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankashi Constituency, Gudaji Kazaure, has explained that his recent visit to Atiku Abubakar was in support of the former vice president’s efforts to address Nigeria’s challenges.

According to Naija News, Kazaure, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Jigawa State, revealed that his visit followed a meeting held by Northern elders to discuss the country’s situation.

Speaking on Saturday after his visit to Atiku, Kazaure, alongside other Northern politicians, expressed concern over the abandonment of the electorate by many elected officials.

He also criticized the current administration’s approach to fighting corruption, stating that the government had failed to deliver on its promises.

Explaining his position, Kazaure said, “I visited our father, Atiku Abubakar. I visited him because of the Nigerian problem we are facing now. Politically, all the Northern elders and leaders, we gathered and had a meeting before meeting him. So that let all our politicians come together to find a lasting solution. Because most of our elected people, they abandoned us, they abandoned all what we are trying to make this country great.”

“Many of our problems that we already talked about or we reviewed in the previous administration, none of it was executed. We have nobody in this country that will say we didn’t expose corruption, we didn’t talk about corruption. And this government promised to continue investigating what will be in the future. And up to now, not enough. Nobody invited me, nobody called me, nobody knew whether I am existing or not.”

“So that is why we cooperate to call all our patriotic politicians to come and join one way. And we are here waiting for the instruction of the Northern Nigeria and the Nigerian in general, those who are patriotic and looking for a Nigerian progress. We are ready to follow wherever they carry us. We are ready to go. We don’t care which any party.”

“We are here for the main project of how to save the country. So wherever our elders carry us, we are ready to follow them. This is the reason I visited my father to come and do greeting to him. And he received me with respect, like as a son, and I am grateful for what he said, because he is not thinking for himself.”

“He is thinking for Nigerian people. And whoever thinks for Nigerian people, he is the person that we are supposed to put him on the front. Because Nigerian people first. Nigerian people second. Nigerian people third. And we are ready to serve the country in one way or the other. So this journey of all our political elders, we are ready for them to show us where we are going to. And we are ready to follow, inshallah (sic).”