The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Yusuf Atah, has declared that the Presidency remains occupied until 2031, asserting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue in office beyond 2027.
Atah made the remark while reacting to what he described as a “pernicious campaign of outright distortion, falsehood and malice” allegedly propagated by political opponents dissatisfied with the outcome of the last general election.
In a statement released in Abuja by his media aide, Seyi Olorunsola, the minister dismissed claims by “some elements, particularly from the APC, PDP, and Labour Party (LP),” that the North had turned against President Tinubu and would not back his re-election in 2027.
“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,” Atah stated.
“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.”
He described the notion that northerners had “closed ranks” against President Tinubu as a “deliberate misrepresentation designed to foment discord, stir regional prejudice, and undermine national cohesion.”
Atah commended Tinubu’s leadership since assuming office in May 2023, saying the President has implemented policies that are “demonstrably inclusive, strategic, and geared toward regional balance.”
According to him, despite inheriting severe security challenges, Tinubu has tackled insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence through new strategies and strengthened frameworks.
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“Indeed, northern stakeholders themselves have publicly acknowledged improvements in security and infrastructure under his watch,” he said.
Atah also highlighted economic reforms, noting that “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.”
He added that these measures have provided more resources for grassroots development while enhancing local government autonomy and ensuring 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 further noted that Islamic clerics, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society figures have thrown their weight behind the President’s 2027 bid.
“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,” Atah warned.
“Their smear campaign is a smoke screen for their irrelevance and opportunism. Instead, weigh the record: the inclusion you see, the projects you see, and the benefit you feel.”
