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OPINION: BORNO 2027: LET THE TICKET MOVE SOUTH

Published

3 months ago

January 10, 2026

By: A G Abubakar

Democracy may well be the best form of political arrangement devised in modern history, yet it is far from a perfect system. It comes with inherent flaws, just as it offers the flexibility required for societies to function effectively. Democratic systems are ultimately guided more by their underlying values and philosophies than by rigid dogmas. Practitioners are therefore expected to adapt democratic principles to local realities. It is within this context that concepts such as zoning, rotation, and power-sharing have emerged as legitimate democratic tools to manage diversity and promote development. Democracy is not a mere game of numbers but a system designed to uphold inclusiveness at all levels.

Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, Nigeria has consciously re-engineered democratic practice to reflect its diversity and to address persistent concerns of equity, inclusion, and justice. Many sub-national entities—states, local governments, and even non-governmental organisations—have adopted this flexible approach to liberal democracy. After all, democracy exists for man, not man, for democracy. Even in advanced societies, democratic systems vary widely, ranging from parliamentary to presidential, unicameral to bicameral, and other hybrids. No society should be enslaved by rigid forms or doctrines. It is precisely this flexibility that has enabled minorities, immigrants, and historically marginalised groups to win elections in many parts of the world.

It is against this backdrop of workable and inclusive democracy that deliberate efforts should be made to zone the governorship of Borno State to the South in 2027, in the interest of equity and global democratic best practices. Any credible aspirant from the zone should be presented not as a deviation from tradition, but as a unity candidate—a symbol of balance in a state long perceived to be under the monopolistic grip of Borno North and Central senatorial districts. The Central zone has had a greater hold since the advent of the current Republic in 1999 to date. The lesson here is, if the leadership at the national level could be rotated between the North and South regions of the country, then it is only logical to shift power across the three senatorial zones in the states, in the name of equity.

Historically, the two zones have leveraged their comparatively larger voting strength to produce all civilian governors of the state. Under civilian rule, Borno State has been governed by Mohammed Goni (1979–1983), Asheik Jarma (1983), Maina Ma’aji Lawan (1992–1993), Mala Kachalla (1999–2003), Ali Modu Sheriff (2003–2011), Kashim Shettima (2011–2019), and Babagana Umara Zulum (2019–date). All, except Asheik Jarma—a Shuwa Arab—are of Kanuri extraction from either Borno North or Central. Attempts by prominent sons of Borno South, such as Muhammad Abba Gana, Ambassador Pindar, and Durkwa, were subtly resisted.

Unsurprisingly, this pattern has bred deep resentment among the people of Borno South, who believe—legitimately—that they deserve not just a chance, but the same level of political support they have consistently extended to others. The South is under no illusion about the realities of politics: power is not gifted; it is contested. Yet, political competition does not negate the place of equity. This is why arrangements such as zoning, balance, and “turn-by-turn” exist in party politics.

Democracy was never intended to be a zero-sum game, nor is equity a political crime. Inclusiveness, unity, and shared development remain its core objectives. A prosperous and united Borno is a collective gain for all its constituent parts, irrespective of ethnic, linguistic, or religious differences.

Any honest conversation on political equity must also confront certain hard realities. Relinquishing power is never easy—especially in a fragile democracy like Nigeria, where political office often implies unfettered access to public resources. The allure of patronage, dominance, and control remains a powerful deterrent to genuine power-sharing. The dominant groups are therefore ever ready to twist the meaning of democracy in a bid to maintain the status quo. In the process, they at times give the system a bad name.

Among dominant groups, particularly the Kanuri, fears—both real and imagined—persist about entrusting political destiny to others. These anxieties are amplified by the fact that much of the lower and middle manpower of the state originates from the South, which in turn influences recurrent expenditure patterns. Additionally, private artisanal and technical services—mechanics, craftsmen, and ICT professionals—are largely dominated by Southern Borno indigenes; though currently waning away.

While the Borno North and Central’s apprehensions are largely emotional, the democracy in the South has its fair share of surmountable challenges, too. They include organisational and resource constraints, less than desired political alliances across the state, and high sociocultural diversity. Somehow, the diversity has come to define part of the region’s strength. Be that as it may, the unequitable exclusion of the Zone from the state’s number one seat remains one of the disconcerting feelings the people have to contend with.

The prolonged confinement to secondary roles has also weakened the South’s political reach. The experience required to mount and sustain statewide campaigns—strategy, alliances, structure, and resources—remains limited. Notable aspirants such as Ambassador Saidu, Engineer Muhammad Abba Gana, Durkwa, Captain Kadafir Mshelia, and Paul Bassi of the UPN in the 80s, could only go so far. Without access to the patronage and material advantages of incumbency, their campaigns lacked the necessary political “fertiliser” to thrive statewide.

The time has come for political actors in the South to start doing the needful in earnest. Early bridge-building and alliance formation are essential and should as such be embarked upon now. Political spaces in Borno South — deputy governorships, senatorial seats, and other strategic positions—must also be democratised and equitably distributed and rotated across the various sections of the zone. For, what is good for the goose must also be good for the gander.

The North and Central Borno political elite, for once, must rise to the responsibility of being their brother’s keeper. Excluding an entire zone from the highest office for decades undermines unity and development. A tripod stands firmer on three legs than on two, no matter how strong the pair. Moreover, fears of domination are unfounded: Borno North and Central control 19 of the 28 seats in the State Assembly, plus the Speaker, ensuring institutional balance and also effective checks on the Executive, regardless of background.

As a state emerging from years of insurgency, Borno can not afford exclusionary politics. Rebuilding peace and development demands collective ownership of power. Allowing the governorship to rotate across zones would be a powerful gesture of goodwill and reconciliation.

Globally, democratic flexibility offers compelling lessons. London and New York—cities with over 80% white Christian majorities—elected Muslim mayors: Sadiq Khan and Zohran Mamdani. Sadiq is a Muslim of Pakistani extraction who has been a mayor of London since 2016. Mamdani is of Indian-Ugandan background, aged 34, who got sworn in as New York’s mayor recently.

Barack Obama and Rishi Sunak rose to leadership in the United States and the United Kingdom, respectively; two of the most powerful nations on the planet Earth. Sunak is Hindu-practicing British politician of Indian descent, while Obama is a Blackman of African extraction. Therefore, democracy, when practised well, is not only “colour blind” but provides space for all to participate in nation building, even in the most unlikely places like Palestine and Iraq. Hanan Ashrawi has been a strong pillar of Palestinian politics, just as Tariq Aziz (1936-2015) was in Iraq. It’s all been about inclusiveness at the highest levels. Paradoxically, the successive ruling parties in Borno would not facilitate the choice of a state governor, from any of the nine (9) local government areas, in the South.

At home, some of Borno state’s most effective military administrators—Musa Usman, Abdulmumin Aminu, Buba Marwa, among others—were not indigenes of the states they governed. There is no empirical evidence that any ethno-religious leadership combination has produced superior development outcomes in Nigeria. Beyond psychological comfort and ego massage, such pairings have made little difference, be it a Muslim-Muslim, Muslim-Christian, Christian-Christian, or Christian-Muslim leadership combination.

If Borno South is good enough to supply votes, manpower, and loyalty, then it is good enough to supply a governor. Anything short of zoning the 2027 ticket to the South is not “democracy” but ethnic iniquity. For decades, power has circulated within a narrow corridor under the excuse of numbers, while an entire zone is condemned to perpetual deputy status. That is not leadership; it is political hoarding. Borno can not claim moral authority on justice, inclusion, or even post-insurgency healing if fair play is thrown overboard in state affairs. Power hoarded breeds resentment; power shared builds states.

Let 2027, be remembered as the year Borno chose justice over fear/prejudice, equity over dominace, and unity over habit, by letting the ticket move South. Democracy is not religion. As such, its way of practice is never sacrosanct. It is just a secular political art form. Be that as it may, it has moral foundations —justice and equity—values that are God-ordained and which are central to all faiths. This moral justice justice should be extended to Borno South; a zone that equally boasts of a rich pool of seasoned politicians, retired generals, technocrats, and entrepreneurs that fit the political bill and are also capable of delivering. Giving them the ticket in 2027 shall signify a new dawn of democracy in Borno in action, form, and essence.
A.G. Abubakar
agbarewa@gmail.com

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JS Tarka Stadium goes agog as Gwer East, Gboko II youths battle for Awunah’s N1 million prize, trophy

Published

34 minutes ago

April 20, 2026

Our Reporter

From Hassan Taiye

Thousands of football enthusiasts and supporters of Hon. Dave Awunah, a frontline aspirant for the Benue North Senatorial District in the 2027 senatorial election, stormed the JS Tarka Stadium, Gboko, as early as 9 a.m. for the grand finale of the Dave Awunah Zone B 2026 Invitational Soccer Tournament.
The one-week football fiesta attracted youths in their thousands from Guma, Makurdi, Gwer West and Gwer East Local Government Areas, turning the stadium into a centre of excitement and celebration.
The invitational tournament, our correspondent gathered, was organised as part of Hon. Awunah’s commitment to youth development, taking young people off the streets and campaigning against drug abuse, narcotics and other social vices.
Awunah, who has consistently projected himself as a strong advocate for youth empowerment, has in recent months supported youths, women, widows and artisans across the Benue North Senatorial District.
He has also reportedly received blessings and endorsements from several traditional rulers within the district.
One traditional ruler, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to his position, described Awunah as a rare politician with genuine concern for the people.
“For the first time, we are witnessing a selfless politician who matches his words with action by empowering women, youths and widows, even before assuming office,” he said.
He added, “No candidate can stand against him in the next election. We will vote for him massively.”
Many political observers believe Awunah currently enjoys strong grassroots support across the senatorial district.
Youths from the various local government areas have also continued to express strong support for his senatorial ambition, describing him as a leader with compassion and vision.
A philanthropist and youth mobiliser, Titus Apenda from Guma, linked Awunah’s generosity to his late father, Padopas.
“Generosity runs in their blood. It is a natural trait, and he is not doing it for selfish reasons. He may have inherited it from his father,” Apenda said.

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Kwara APC to Saraki: Your relationship with Offa robbery convicts not hidden

Published

37 minutes ago

April 20, 2026

Our Reporter

He’s not above prosecution, law:

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that Senator Bukola Saraki is a known political patron of ‘good boys’ who made the state a living hell for the people in his days as either Governor or President of the Senate.

Addressing journalists in Ilorin on Saturday, APC Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Babatunde, said the convicted Offa bank robbers were known to have strong relationship with Saraki “who had at many times patronised them for political reasons”.

According to the party, this relationship was clearly established in the testimonies of the former Chief of Staff to the Governor, Yusuf Abdukwahab, and Ayo Akinnibosun, one of the convicts who headed a political group allegedly funded by Saraki.

“The attention of the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to the melodramatic press statement by the Kwara State PDP and Senator Bukola Saraki, accusing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of a ‘surreptitious plot’ over the charges rightly slammed against him and three others over the tragic 2018 Offa robbery incident,” Babatunde told reporters.

“Neither Saraki nor the PDP needs to lose sleep if their hands are clean. But they must come to terms with the fact that the court deals with evidence and fact, not dramatic statements that seek to erase the facts of history.

“Rather than the shameful resort to personal attacks like a child whose lollipop was taken away, we advise him to go face his trial and let the court establish his guilt or otherwise.

“Senator Saraki’s denial of link with the murderers is laughable and characteristically deceitful, given the large volume of evidence to the contrary. Only cowards make such denial. The testimonies of the Chief of Staff to the Governor Yusuf Abdulwahab and Ayo Akinnibosun do not support Saraki’s claims, but we leave the court to do their work when the case begins in June. Beyond these testimonies, everyone who lived the realities of the time knew his claims to be false.

“We also find it funny that Saraki, who is no more than a lapdog of another politician and is grossly distrusted for his poor record of personal integrity across political spectrum, was saying a performing Governor is not popular. Kwarans can see clearly who truly understands what development and governance are, as compared to the stagnation seen under his watch.

“We particularly commend the state government for the boldness to put Saraki to trial despite his vaingloriness and boastfulness in deceit. The convicts have named his role in how they acquired guns and other logistics. This is a matter of court record. So, the trial could not have been more timely at a time Nigerians want sponsors and godfathers of criminals, terrorists, and bandits to be unveiled and shamed. Indeed, the pattern of bandit attacks on innocent people and how PDP foot soldiers are often the first to break reports of ongoing attacks gave people reasons to sniff foul play.

“It is a sacred and lawful duty of the state government to try him in the law court; it is then the prerogative of the court to either convict or discharge him. But let no one try to raise unfounded sentiments in favour of a man notorious for his sponsorship of “good boys” who terrorised this state for many years.

“Governor AbdulRazaq remains focused on governance. While PDP is busy re-litigating 2018 in press statements, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is building and commissioning schools, constructing several roads, paying counterpart funds for rural roads, upgrading healthcare centers, developing the state at a fast pace, and ensuring salaries and pensions are paid as and when due. That is what unsettles the PDP and Saraki: a government working without sharing Kwara’s treasury among political godfathers or arming thugs who then started robbing innocent people.

“Law does not answer to press statements. Now that the state government has rightly said Saraki and others have questions to answer regarding the Offa robbery, the proper place to do explanations (shalaye) is the court, not Facebook or media. The PDP should advise Senator Bukola Saraki to clear his name through the judicial process now that he has been formally charged, instead of sponsoring panic statements to intimidate public institutions. No one is above the law, and no amount of media noise will stop the law from taking its course.

“We advise the Kwara PDP and Saraki to find a better campaign strategy than hiding behind a tragedy that cost families their loved ones. Kwarans are wiser now. They will not be dragged back to an era where government was run as a private estate.

“The APC government in Kwara is committed to security, development, and justice for all. Our government will neither be distracted nor intimidated by the rants of Saraki and his boys.”

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Kwara PSN chair lauds Tinubu, AbdulRazaq over healthcare policies

Published

39 minutes ago

April 20, 2026

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Chairman of the Kwara State chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharmacist Abdulmalik Mohammed Baba, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving tax waivers for the pharmaceutical sector, saying the policy would significantly reduce the cost of medicines across the country.

Pharmacist Abdulmalik while speaking with journalists on Sunday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said the two-year tax relief granted to pharmaceutical companies would ease the burden of production and importation, especially amid high foreign exchange rates.

According to him, “importation of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) is very expensive, and the high exchange rate has been a major factor driving up the cost of drugs. With this tax waiver, we expect a drastic reduction in prices.”

He described the policy as timely, noting that it would improve access to essential medicines for Nigerians.

The PSN Chairman also lauded Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for reforms in the health sector, particularly the improved welfare of healthcare workers.

He noted that the Governor ensured that pharmacists in the state civil service are paid in line with their counterparts at the federal level through the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), a move he said has boosted morale and helped retain skilled professionals despite rising emigration.

“Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has done exceptionally well. The remuneration of healthcare workers in Kwara is commendable and has reduced the impact of the ‘Japa’ syndrome in the sector,” he said.

Pharmacist Abdulmalik added that the state government also restored accreditation for internship training of pharmacists after over two decades and approved the pharmacist consultant cadre, describing both as major milestones for the profession.

On inter-professional relations, he said pharmacists in Kwara maintain a cordial working relationship with medical doctors, contrary to tensions reported in some other states.

“Our relationship with doctors in Kwara is very smooth. We collaborate on programmes and support one another professionally,” he said.

Speaking on the controversial ban on sachet alcohol, Baba said the society played a key role in public enlightenment on its health risks, particularly its high ethanol content.

“Some sachet alcohol products contain as much as 40 to 50 per cent ethanol. This poses serious health risks, especially as they are easily accessible and often abused,” he said.

He explained that the suspension of the ban was influenced by strong industry stakeholders, noting that the alcohol sector involves multi-billion dollar investments.

On drug safety, the PSN chairman warned Nigerians against patronising unregistered medicine vendors, urging them to buy drugs only from licensed pharmacies.

“People should look out for the ‘Rx’ symbol and ensure they buy from registered pharmacies. That is the only way to avoid fake or substandard drugs,” he said.

He, however, acknowledged the efforts of regulatory agencies such as the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in curbing the circulation of counterfeit and illicit drugs.

Abdulmalik noted that enforcement actions by these agencies, including closure of illegal premises and seizure of unregistered products, have helped reduce the prevalence of fake medicines.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the PSN to continued collaboration with regulators to safeguard public health.