2027: Clamour for Tinubu to pick me as VP out of place – Sen Barau

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has said the clamour by the Northern Nigeria Progressive Youth Assembly (NNPYA), for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pick him as his running mate for the 2027 election is out of place at the moment.

Senator Barau, in a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, urged the  NNPYA to stop the campaign and channel their energy and resources to supporting President Tinubu in implementing his Renewed Hope Agenda for the country.

Daily Trust reports that the polity has been twitching in recent times with tongues wagging over the possibility of President Tinubu retaining Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate in 2027.

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Recently, there was a push back during a meeting of the North East Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe, where the national vice chairman of the party in the zone, Salihu Mustapha, refused to join others in endorsing Shettima for a joint ticket with President Tinubu ahead of the election.

Senator Barau said, “My attention has been drawn to various posts on social media and in some national dailies by some groups, including the Northern Nigeria Progressive Youth Assembly (NNPYA), urging our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to pick me as his running mate come 2027. This is out of place at this moment and not in our best interest.

“I want to appeal to the NNPYA and all other groups and individuals engaged in this clamour to refrain forthwith and channel their energies and resources towards supporting President Tinubu in his quest to address the numerous challenges facing our country,” he said.

Senator Barau, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, said, “If you are truly my supporters, please, desist from this unnecessary clamour and join the train to restore the glorious days of our country under the able leadership of President Tinubu.

“Let us rally around his excellency to continue delivering his lofty programmes encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

While reiterating his undiluted commitment to the administration’s success, he said it is incumbent on Nigerians to team up with the president to transform the country.

“This is not the time to engage in this kind of clamour. What should be paramount to all of us at this moment is the success of the president.

“He is genuinely committed to turning around our country’s fortunes positively. Therefore, I appeal to all to support him in continuing with his programmes and policies that have started to bear positive fruits. Be part of the team to restore the glorious days of our country,” Senator Barau said.