Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin has reacted to calls for him to become President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in 2027, saying, “Whatever he asks me to do, I’ll do. I’m loyal to him.”
Barau made the remarks while addressing reporters during a press conference on the upcoming zonal public hearing of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.
He said, “Honestly, I don’t want to say anything about this now. Because one point is obvious. Mr President, since the inception of this administration, has been trying so hard to change the trajectory of the country in a way that will bring prosperity to the nation.”
“We all know the problems that he inherited. And we’ve been working with him day and night. Because he’s our father, he’s the father of the nation. He’s open-minded.”
“We understand what he’s doing. And at this time, there’s no point in discussing all these issues. What he’s doing is a work in progress. The best thing to do is to continue cooperating with the President and supporting him. Not only the legislature but the entire people of this country should support the President.”
“So, bringing this issue up is quite premature. That’s why I told those groups, I don’t know them. I thank them for believing in me. But I told them, look, instead of wasting your energy on things that are not relevant now, channel your resources to support the President.”
“When the time comes, we’ll play politics. But this time is for governance. This is the issue.”
“Mr. President is my political father. You will be surprised if I tell you what he has done for me and my people. So, whenever he asks me to do something, when the time comes, I’ll do it. I’m very loyal to him.”
“You see, Mr. President is a very kind-hearted person. When we had our problem in Kano, he resolved that issue for us. He allowed me to be given the ticket to the Senate in 2023. He stood by me to become the Deputy Senate President.”
“So, if the time comes and he says, ‘I want you to work with me,’ I would say, ‘Thank you, sir,’ and I will do it. So, whatever he asks me to do, I’ll do. I’m loyal to him, 100%.”
“The president is the father of the nation, so make no mistake. But for now, we stand by him, work with him, and want him to succeed. When he succeeds, we all succeed.”
“Our faiths are tied together. Because we come from the same family—we are Progressives—I come from the Progressive fold, where he comes from.”
“We are all progressives. That’s about my political history. I’m a progressive to the core. So, we cherish loyalty. I’m 100% loyal to Mr. President. In 2027, I’ll do whatever he tells me to do.”
At the same briefing, Barau also spoke on the constitution amendment process. He said the zonal public hearings of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review will consider 59 bills and 31 proposals, with more input expected from the public in the form of memoranda.
The hearings will be held across six geopolitical zones: Ikot Ekpene for the South-South (chaired by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio or his representative), Kano for the North-West (chaired by Barau himself), Lagos for the South-West (chaired by Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele), Jos for the North-Central (chaired by Deputy Senate Leader Lola Ashiru), Maiduguri for the North-East (chaired by Chief Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno), and Enugu for the South-East (chaired by Deputy Chief Whip Peter Nwebonyi).
