A storm of political debate erupted in Ibadan yesterday as the President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, openly threw his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid. Sukubo argued that if former President Muhammadu Buhari from the North was allowed to serve two full terms, then justice demands that Tinubu completes eight years for the South.
Speaking at a high-stakes consultative meeting with South-West NYCN stakeholders, Sukubo insisted that the 2027 election should not be up for grabs. According to him, it is about fairness, balance, and allowing Tinubu to consolidate his policies. “Given that the late President Buhari from the North had two uninterrupted terms, it is only fair and just that the South also completes its two terms through President Tinubu’s re-election,” he declared, stressing continuity over constant political upheaval.
The meeting, which also doubled as part of Sukubo’s campaign for re-election as NYCN president, drew youth leaders and state chairmen from across the South-West. They not only endorsed Tinubu but also pledged their loyalty to Sukubo, warning against what they described as unconstitutional moves to unseat him outside the council’s guidelines.
In his pitch for a second term as NYCN president, Sukubo vowed to leverage digital innovation and technology to empower Nigerian youths. He said his focus would be on creating opportunities for leadership development and amplifying young voices in national decision-making. “My vision is to harness the energy and creativity of young people while amplifying their voices for national growth,” he said.
Stakeholders at the meeting, including Oyo State Chairman Comr. Abdulsalam Abdulquadri and youth leader Comr. Olalekan James, declared that the South-West zone remains firmly behind Sukubo. They emphasized that any attempt to remove him outside due process would not stand.
As 2027 politics heats up, Sukubo’s bold endorsement of Tinubu has thrown fresh fuel into Nigeria’s power rotation debate, raising questions on whether equity or performance should determine the next phase of leadership.
