Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Wednesday, warned Nigerians not to be fooled by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tricks to again “grab power and run with it” in 2027.

Frank who made this call in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, specifically urged northern and southern leaders including opposition parties to resist Tinubu’s desperate 2027 presidential bid.

He revealed that while Tinubu is on the one hand blackmailing Southerners, especially opposition governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) by playing the ethnic card to gain support, he is on the other hand threatening to deal with them if they fail to support him by declaring a state of emergency in their states over spurious charges of violence and corruption.

“He has increased the intensity now by blackmailing, intimidating and putting at least five PDP Governors from the South under duress to defect along with their Members in the National Assembly to the APC.

“To Tinubu, the 2027 election is about him versus the North and that is why he is trying desperately to enlist the support the South through manipulation and subterfuge.
He has forgotten so soon that the North helped him to get to power in 2023,” he said.

According to the Bayelsa-born political activist, 2027 should not be about North or South but who would fix the myriads of challenges confronting the country, including incessant killings, kidnappings and banditry as well as the harsh economic conditions foisted on the masses by Tinubu through fuel subsidy removal, increased electricity tariff and high cost of food and other essential services.

He said: “Nigerians are in need of a President who will help Nigeria become better, not ‘Northern candidate or Southern candidate’ or ‘Northern President or Southern President’.

“The country is overcharged already with divisions along ethnic lines. We therefore can’t afford to have a President who is setting one region against another for the sake of his own personal ambition.

“For me, Timi Frank, as a Southerner, I don’t believe in tribalistic and a divisive president. I believe in a leader that will come and unite rather than divide Nigeria.

“I advise every Northerner still supporting Tinubu to have a rethink. They should know that the North that apparently ‘assisted’ Tinubu to gain power in 2023 are suffering the most today.

“It is a fact that the north has been grossly sidelined in appointments and other infrastructure development programmes by Tinubu who has prioritised his personal and tribal life interests over the every thing else.

“This is why the North should wake up. They should know this route Tinubu is going in terms of 2027 politics, is not the best for Nigeria. They should rise and speak with one voice in 2027.

“I want the Northern leaders to know that should Tinubu find his way back to power in 2027, the North will suffer untold neglect as Tinubu and the APC don’t have their genuine interest at heart.

“As we speak, at least five opposition governors are set to defect to APC not because they like Tinubu but due to intense political pressure, intimidation and blackmail, while those who will remain have been made to sign undertakings to deliver their states to Tinubu otherwise they will be made to lose their second terms elections.

“Tinubu does not believe in the power of the people. Tinubu is working to steal the election results, to grab it and run away with it like he did in 2023.

“If the North can’t see the omen of imminent regional stagnation and destruction, they will regret it if they do nothing to stop Tinubu in 2027.

“Tinubu does not believe in democracy and that is why he has succeeded in ensuring that PDP, Labour Party and any other opposition parties are enmeshed in intractable internal crisis in order to deny capable and qualified aspirants platforms to challenge him in 2027.

“His singular aim is to retain power in 2027 by hook or crook. He is doing all he can at the detriment of Nigerians, a complete negation of the oath of office he swore to on assumption of office as President.”

He lamented that at the moment, Nigeria is on auto pilot under his watch, yet he wants to force himself on Nigerians again in 2027.

He added: “Nigerians must on their part, prepare to reject him. It is the only patriotic thing to do as citizens. As citizens, we have a duty to reject a bad, clueless and rudderless leader and do all that is legally necessary to prevent him from returning to power.”

He urged the opposition leaders in the country to ensure that their coalition succeeds in defeating Tinubu in 2027.

“The coalition is in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. I therefore appeal to the leaders of the coalition to put Nigeria and Nigerians first as their decision would help reshape the country and its future going forward,” he said.

Ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second anniversary commemoration FCT Minister Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike inspected some key projects earmarked for commissioning on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

The projects inspected are Julius Berger Plc’s extensive renovation of the International Conference Centre (ICC), the China Geoengineering Corporation (CGC) ‘s construction of the access road from Ring Road 1 (Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway) by N16 to Katampe District and the bridge linking Maitama and Katampe districts.

Addressing newsmen after the inspection, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work. He however, raised concerns regarding the subcontracting of the furnishing of the main Conference hall to a separate entity, deeming this arrangement as unacceptable.

He said, “We were at the International Conference Centre, and the work is going on as expected. The only problem we identified this afternoon has to do with the furniture that will be in the conference hall and I was surprised to hear that there is a different contractor for that, which is unacceptable to us”.

Barrister Wike said he has summoned representatives of Julius Berger, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), and the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Abuja Investment Company, to clarify the matter.

“The job was given to Julius Berger entirely. I cannot have different qualities. You cannot say the upper part is furnished by Julius Berger and the lower part is furnished by another company. It’s not acceptable to me”, the Minister said.

He further stated that, “The quality of work, generally, by Julius Berger is very fine. The issue is how they reassigned the furnishing of the conference hall to another company, and that’s why I summoned the acting Executive Secretary and the GMD of the Abuja Investment Company to come and tell us who did that and, on whose approval, because I approved and I know the amount of money. So, when they say Abuja Investment is the one, who is going to pay for it? Of course, I’m not going to accept that. And of course, you know, if anything shady went on, you will hear that I have applied the big stick. Nobody will be a sacred cow.”

Speaking on the observed progress on the Arterial Road N16 project, the Minister expressed his satisfaction with the quality of work being delivered by CGC. He noted the continuous work being carried out, even at night, based on security reports, and expressed confidence that the project would be completed within the stipulated timeframe to commemorate the President’s second-year anniversary.

He commended the company and assured residents of the administration’s commitment to timely completion.

L-R MD, CGC, Zhong Xiang, ES, FCDA, Engr Richard Yunana Dauda, FCT Minister, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike during the inspection of the access road from RR1 to Katampe district on Wednesday

The Minister said: “I’m happy with what the company, CGC, is doing. From the security reports, even when you come here at night, they are working. I believe by the grace of God, they will meet up with the timeline for the second-year anniversary of Mr. President.

“I’m happy with the quality job they have done. I’m sure those who are living within this neighborhood are happy with what they are seeing now. So, I congratulate them, and I assure them on our part, we will do what we can to make sure the job is completed on schedule.”