Yakubu Dogara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, has urged Nigerians to focus on justice and fairness rather than political pressure or fear when considering power-sharing and religious balance in governance.
Dogara made the remarks during an appearance on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, amid speculation that Vice-President Kashim Shettima could be replaced as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Christian-born politician emphasized that governance should prioritize inclusivity and equity to build a nation that works for all citizens. Responding to rumors linking him as a potential running mate, Dogara stated:
“Leave me out of this. Whatever we are doing shouldn’t be because we are afraid of anybody breathing down our necks; it should be because it is the right thing to do. We are talking about running an inclusive government, bringing everybody in this country together, so that we can build a nation that works for all of us.”
Dogara also highlighted the importance of considering broader religious balance in discussions about rotational presidency:
“If we are talking about rotational presidency, it should include considerations of the Christian faith as a whole, not just northern Christians. A Muslim president, whether from the north or south, represents the Muslim community, and a Christian represents the Christian faith. This is how you achieve religious balance.”
He stressed that any decisions along these lines should be guided by a sense of justice rather than fear:
“Justice demands that we balance things. That should be our concern.”
Regarding the possibility of the APC fielding a Christian running mate in 2027, Dogara acknowledged ongoing discussions but deferred ultimate authority to the president:
“At the end of the day, whatever the president decides, nobody who is a serving president has ever lost the party primaries. We assume that the president will secure the party’s ticket. Ultimately, it is up to him, but if there is overwhelming support for balancing considerations, as a democrat, I believe he will listen.”
Dogara concluded by cautioning against dividing the north along religious lines, stressing that unity is critical:
“Particularly for us northerners, anyone who seeks to divide the north along religious lines has already conquered it.”
