The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has urged the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and other northern political bigwigs to shelve the ambition of contesting for the 2027 presidency and wait till 2031.

Naija News reports that Akume, who spoke on Sunday while featuring on a TVC programme, said it is still the turn of the South to produce a president in 2027, stressing that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would complete his second term.

Akume specifically asked the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, to perish the thought of taking over the presidential villa in 2027, saying if God wants him to be president, he can win an election at the age of 90.

Akume, a former governor of Benue State, stated that Tinubu has not lost goodwill among Nigerians despite the controversy of the tax reform bills and other strategic economic decisions taken within the last 17 months of his administration.

The SGF further defended the tax reform bills as well-envisioned proposed legislation that would help the country when passed by the National Assembly.

Akume appealed to Nigerians to allow the bills to scale through the required legislative processes, noting they are well-envisioned for Nigeria and Nigerians.

He said, “President Tinubu as a southerner, should be allowed to have a second term, meaning that those eyeing the Presidency from the North in 2027 should look beyond that year by waiting till 2031.

“If it is the will of God for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to be President of Nigeria, even at the age of 90 years, he can get it. But he and other northerners eyeing the office now should look beyond 2027.”