Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, said many northers regard Major Gen. (retd.) Muhammadu Buhari’s regime as a waste of opportunity for their region.
Na’Abba said this during an interview on Daily Trust TV, stating that most people in the north are opposed to zoning because they feel they did not benefit from the president’s leadership.
He said, “It is not as if northerners and southerners are at war, but in any relationship from time to time, you get some friction. This friction arises from certain reasons,”
The former speaker also described the president as “highly opinionated” noting that he had created an evident divide between the north and the south while presumably favouring one side.
Na’Abba also stated that the president works alone and does not carry out due consultation regarding his policies, rather he believes its a one man show.
“You cannot run a country in a manner that suggests you are highly opinionated. And this opinionation has nothing to do with the people. If it has to do with the people and their welfare, and their feelings — I think it’s ok.
“People in the south have this perception that he is a tribalist… he can’t even manage the country. Someone told me that this man can’t even manage his home, how can he manage a country?
“This idea of zoning, no matter how many times a president comes from a particular zone, it will never satisfy anybody. For example, within the north today, the idea of many people that the presidency must shift to another region is not a welcome idea because the feeling of many people is that the years of this president is a waste. They’ve not gained anything from it.
“So, why should anybody even talk to them about zoning? When they believe they have the numerical strength to elect another person.
“No consultation. Since he suggests that, he works alone. We become president or whatever not because we have the monopoly of wisdom. Nobody has it.”
Now Na’Abba Is Under Fire For Bashing Buhari
Ghali Umar Na’Abba, came under heavy criticism for describing President Muhammadu Buhari’s term as a waste…
The APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, told Daily Trust last night that Na’Abba was looking for political relevance.
The party said Buhari is the best of all the presidents Nigeria has had on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since the return to democracy in 1999, after many years of military rule.
“Na’Abba has been out of circulation and now he is looking for relevance. We all know that he has served his term but he has nothing to offer to Nigeria. What did he do? What kind of laws did he pass to help the people of Nigeria or the northerners or the less privileged in the North?
“So he has lost it. The president has truly performed more than any PDP president and both the North and the South have benefitted from this administration. So Ghali Na’Abba has no facts.
“If you look at appointments, the North has benefitted more than the South, so what benefit is he talking about?” he queried.
Ignore Na’Abba’s malicious criticism — Presidency
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has urged the media to ignore what he called “Na’Abba’s malicious criticism” of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said, “The media should learn to ignore Speaker Na’Abba’s malicious criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari. The President consults widely. The fact that the former Speaker has not been called into the tent does not mean that there is nobody inside.
“There are some people who are unhappy that they are no longer in a position to travel with a retinue of twenty people at public expense and buying 600 ties at a go.”
You have lost touch with reality — BCO
Reacting, the National Coordinator of the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO), Danladi Pasali, told Daily Trust over the phone yesterday that Na’Abba had lost touch with the reality.
“What do you expect from the opposition? Na’Abba has lost track of the system. Even in Kano, nobody remembers him again. People have even forgotten that he is in existence.
“President Buhari has done very well; not only in the North but in the entire country. Look at the achievements that the president has done; the empowerment programmes, the infrastructure, name it. The infrastructure in the country is overwhelming.
“On the issue of zoning, I think it should be enshrined in the constitution because to me, it is something that will carry the day. Zoning will keep the country intact. In my own personal opinion, I support zoning.
“And I know that Mr President is a man of peace who believes in the unity of this nation and I know that he believes in zoning as well. So you can’t just accuse Mr President of running the country without proper consultations.
“Mr President has ministers, he has advisers and you can’t say the rule of law is not applicable. The two chambers of the National Assembly and the judiciary are doing their work.
“So Na’Abba is just ventilating his own view; you don’t expect an opposition to applause because they look at everything from the negative point of view,” he said.
AYO DADA – I fault Na’Abba’s point of view, giving him the benefit of the doubt on his genuineness. That the north has gained nothing from Buhari’s presidency is no southerner’s fault or business, rotational presidency is a must because of our diversity of ethnicity. If Nigeria were to go on merit in choosing the president, the north will be at a disadvantage every time, with due respect to the north.
Even with my benefit of the doubt, I still suspect a spin, a reverse psychology by Na’Abba, to somehow forestall Southern presidency come 2023; Who does he think is a better candidate than Osinbajo from the north?
- Coalition to unseat Tinubu in 2027 will collapse, says Fayose
- Presidency Denies Claim Shettima Was Denied Access To Aso Villa
- Police extradite fugitive “killerboi” from Qatar over murder of Lead City student
- Peter Obi Meets Alabi Quadri After Release From Prison, Makes Fresh Promise (Photos)
- 2027: Atiku accuses Wike of betrayal, defends opposition coalition
JOIN OUR MaTaZ ArIsInG COMMUNITY!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER NOW
Our newsletter gives you access to a curated selection of the most important stories daily.
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via:
Email: ad@matazarising.com
TEXT AD: To advertise here – Email ad@matazarising.com
![Peter Obi’s poster boy reunites with mum, siblings [PHOTOS]](https://matazarising.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0903-780x470-1-190x122.jpeg)
