The immediate past chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Sheikh Abdullahi Saleh Pakistan, has warned that denying President Bola Tinubu a second term could trigger a political crisis, arguing that the country should maintain a smooth rotation of presidential power between the North and South.
Pakistan made the remarks while addressing youth groups at his residence in Kano, where he urged Nigerians to consider the implications of regional political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He argued that Tinubu should be allowed to complete two terms in office, citing the need for political continuity and what he described as fairness in the country’s power-sharing arrangements.
According to the former NAHCON chairman, opposing a president primarily because of his region of origin could deepen political divisions and create tensions that might affect future transitions of power.
He also drew comparisons between the security situation under former President Muhammadu Buhari and the current administration, arguing that Tinubu inherited major security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping and the Boko Haram insurgency.
Pakistan claimed that kidnapping and banditry expanded during Buhari’s tenure, while the insurgency in the North-East predated that administration.
He maintained that the security challenges confronting Tinubu should be assessed in the context of the problems inherited by his government, rather than treating them as issues that began under the current administration.
The former commission chairman also cited the Abuja-Kaduna road and railway corridors as examples of what he described as improvements in security. He argued that travel along the routes had become safer compared with the situation during the previous administration.
However, his assessment represents his own view of the security situation. Conditions vary across locations and periods, and claims of improved safety require independent assessment against available security data and reports of attacks.
Pakistan further defended Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly in relation to food prices. He claimed that a bag of rice that sold for approximately ₦120,000 under Buhari was now selling for about ₦57,500, while a bag of millet had fallen from around ₦85,000 to approximately ₦30,000.
The figures he cited were not accompanied by details of the locations, product grades or periods used for comparison. Food prices can vary considerably across markets, and the examples should not be taken as evidence of a uniform nationwide decline in food costs.
Nigeria’s economic conditions remain a central issue in the debate over Tinubu’s re-election prospects, with supporters pointing to reforms and investment while critics continue to raise concerns about the cost of living, household purchasing power and the pace of economic recovery.
Pakistan also warned against what he described as political efforts to deny Tinubu a second term despite the precedent set by former political leaders who supported two-term arrangements for their successors.
His comments come amid growing debate over zoning, regional representation and the distribution of political power ahead of 2027.
Whether Tinubu secures re-election will ultimately depend on the electoral process and voters’ decisions. Pakistan’s warning nevertheless highlights how arguments about regional balance and political continuity are becoming part of the wider campaign debate.