The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Yusuf Atah, has said there is no vacancy in the home of the President, Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, until 2031.
Atah said the Presidential Villa will still be occupied in 2027 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The minister was reacting to what he called a pernicious campaign of outright distortion, falsehood and malice, sponsored by those who lost out in the political machinations surrounding the last general election.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his media aide, Seyi Olorunsola, the minister refuted the narrative by “some elements, particularly from the APC, PDP, and Labour Party (LP),” that the North’s population opposed President Tinubu’s administration and would, therefore, not support his re-election bid in 2027.
Attah said: “This claim is not only baseless; it is disrespectful to the genuine sentiments and aspirations of millions of northerners who have benefited from the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“As the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, I wish to set the record straight: there is no vacancy in Aso Rock Villa in 2027.
“The insinuation that northerners have ‘closed ranks’ against President Tinubu is a deliberate misrepresentation designed to foment discord, stir regional prejudice, and undermine national cohesion.
“It is instructive to recall that since May 2023, President Tinubu has pursued an agenda that is demonstrably inclusive, strategic, and geared toward regional balance.”
The minister, who hails from Kano State, noted that, despite inheriting severe security deficits, President Tinubu has engaged vigorously with the hydra-headed challenges of insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence, deploying new strategies, reinforcing security frameworks, and working hard to restore confidence.
“Indeed, northern stakeholders themselves have publicly acknowledged improvements in security and infrastructure under his watch.
“On the economic front, the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of exchange rates (among other reforms) have unlocked critical fiscal space for state governments and local governments.
“More resources are now available for development at the grassroots, while autonomy for local government areas ensures that local priorities are addressed promptly.
“President Tinubu’s tenure has also seen a steady acceleration of infrastructure projects across the North,” Atah said.
He confirmed that Islamic clerics, religious leaders, traditional rulers, cultural stakeholders, and influential civil society personalities have lent their moral authority and backing to President Tinubu’s candidacy for 2027.
Attah said: “To the northern people, I say: do not be swayed by the false rhetoric of failed and retired politicians whose only agenda is to reclaim access to the public purse.
“Their smear campaign is a smoke screen for their irrelevance and opportunism. Instead, weigh the record: the inclusion you see, the projects you see, and the benefit you feel.”
Kaby Fanen Ihyongo, @TheNation
