A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called on political and traditional leaders in Southern Nigeria to stand firm in defense of President Bola Tinubu amid growing opposition from what he described as a small elite group in the North intent on undermining the President’s 2027 reelection campaign.
Speaking to journalists in Osogbo on Sunday, Oyintiloye emphasized that President Tinubu had consistently supported northern political interests and, as such, should be reciprocated with support from the region during his second-term bid.
He voiced concern over a recurring pattern in Nigeria’s political landscape, where a segment of the northern elite allegedly mobilizes to frustrate Southern Presidents.
“This has been recurring, and the nation’s political history won’t forget the kind of intimidation Southern Presidents often suffered at the hands of very few men from the North who always mount serious opposition to the reelection bid of such President,” Oyintiloye said.
Highlighting Tinubu’s longstanding alliance with the North, he noted that the President had done enough to merit the backing of key northern stakeholders. He urged political and royal leaders in the North to marginalize those he described as “self-appointed leaders” who are bent on blackmailing the President. “Therefore, the time has come for the region to further put the tiny few behind the mischief being plotted against the President where they really belong,” he stated.
Oyintiloye also advised Southern political leaders and traditional rulers to avoid aligning with certain politicians from the North who are opposed to Tinubu. “And this is the more reason the Southern leaders must rise and rally support for the President. This support is necessary to put an end to the consistent, negative political trajectory that second-term bids, whenever a Southerner is the President, often follow,” he added. “They should shield the President against unwarranted attacks from just a handful of politicians from the North.”
He further appealed to key traditional leaders, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Chairman of the Council of Southern Traditional Rulers; Obi of Obinugwu, Cletus Illomuanya; King Jaja of Opobo, Dandeson Jaja; and the council’s Secretary, Benjamin Ikenchuku Keagborekuzi I, Dein of Agbor, to lead efforts in consolidating regional support for Tinubu’s 2027 reelection bid.
“I also want to advise ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Prof. Wole Soyinka, former President of the Nigeria Senate, Ken Nnamani, and other Southern elders to rise to the occasion and stop a repeat of negative history. They should defend Southern Nigeria from the few Northern power mongers,” Oyintiloye said.
He concluded by stating that President Tinubu’s reelection would foster national stability and ensure continued fairness in federal development projects across all regions of the country.
