INTERVIEW: Tinubu will fix grievances of the north before 2027, says Muhammed Belgore

Muhammed Mustapha Belgore, an Abuja-based legal practitioner and writer, believes the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu is all but guaranteed if the north is in his corner. In this interview, he assesses the chances of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition in the 2027 general election and the possibility of Goodluck Jonathan joining the fray, among other issues.

You are no doubt a politically conscious youth. But do you think today’s youth are generally mindful of politics?

Yes, I believe today’s youth are generally mindful of politics. As I stated before this interview, my generation is the golden generation that will save this country. While it may seem that not all youths may be fully participating, everyone is watching with keen interest, especially as policies directly affect their survival in the harsh situations we find ourselves in. They have no choice; Nigeria is home, and politics touches every aspect of life here.

We have to tighten our belts. Our forebears have disappointed us. They preferred to teach us to kneel down to greet our elders rather than secure the institutions that would make our lives easier. Healthcare, electricity, pipe-borne water, education, what have you, nothing. They just pocketed the billions. We can’t let our own children look at us in that manner. No.

Do Nigerian youths care about who their political leader is, and should they really care, after being disappointed for so long?

Absolutely, Nigerian youths care about who their political leader is, and they should care deeply. After years of disappointment, it’s understandable to feel disillusioned. But disengagement is not the answer. Policies shape our survival, and as I’ve said, we’re all watching keenly because there’s no escaping the impact. Nigeria is home, we must care to change it for the better.

What is your impression of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the man you commonly refer to as a political phenomenon?

Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a political phenomenon who I adore. His track record is one of triumph, from building Lagos into an economic powerhouse to navigating national politics with strategic brilliance. He is a leader who understands the ubiquity of politics in Nigeria, where everything is politics, and he has mastered it.

We had the PDP in the political saddle for so long, and we have also had the APC in the saddle for quite a while now. Which can you say has done well or better?

Between PDP and APC, I’d say APC has done better, especially under leaders like Tinubu. PDP held power for 16 years from 1999 to 2015, but corruption and inefficiency plagued their tenure. APC, since 2015, has focused on reforms, anti-corruption drives, and infrastructure, though challenges remain. But if Tinubu is the leg that APC stands on, at the end of his eight-year tenure, I expect that APC will stand tall when compared with PDP.

Is the formation of ADC really necessary, considering the fact that the political figures remain the same?

The creation, or rather the recent revival of ADC as a coalition, is not necessary, given that the same political figures are involved. ADC was founded in 2005, but now in 2025, it has become a platform for opposition leaders like Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, Amaechi, and others to unite against APC. It’s the same recycled politicians shifting for power, not ideology. It won’t bring fresh change.

In time past, when Nigerian politics seemed to have been about serving the masses, politicians defected from parties based on ideologies and desire to better the lot of the electorate. But today’s defections seem to be pocket-motivated. What do you think?

Maybe I’m too young to know, but I can’t remember when it was ever based on ideologies and a desire to serve the masses. I think the egregiousness of the greed woven into the fabric of their sinister intentions is only more pronounced now. It’s always been about personal gain. Politics is ubiquitous in Nigeria. Everything is politics here, and that ubiquity often leads to self-interest over public good.

Can ADC really take power from APC?

Factually, no. ADC cannot take power from APC. Maybe 2031. But 2027? There’s no magic they want to perform. Let’s be practical, even with the coalition of big names, the opposition is fragmented, and the APC’s hold, especially under Tinubu, is strong. The recent defections to the APC weakened the opposition further.

Who would you say is the face of the ADC?

ADC doesn’t have a single “face” right now. It’s a coalition. David Mark has been named interim national chairman, but key figures include Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, and others who joined in 2025 to challenge Tinubu.

Tinubu’s past, according to you, is a tale of triumph, but every man has a losing point! Do you think that applies to Tinubu, whose track record you already know?

Every man has a losing point. But for Tinubu, whose past is a tale of triumph that I know well, I don’t see it applying anytime soon. He’s not God; he’s failed in certain respects as well in the past, but he is resilient, strategic, and adored for good reasons. His track record in Lagos and nationally shows he’s built to win, even against all odds.

Months before the 2015 general election in which General Buhari locked horns with former president Goodluck Jonathan, one already knew the position of the north. From your perception, what is the permutation of the north about 2027?

From my perception as a youth, the north’s permutation for 2027 is not mainly about reclaiming power in 2027. Yes, there’s growing unity in the north against Tinubu’s administration, feeling marginalised and all that. But Tinubu will fix this grievance before 2027. The north will not be cheated, this is biblical. No, the north will not be cheated. As Brazil is to football, that is how the north is to politics, and Tinubu knows this. He will dot the Is and cross the Ts where necessary.

There have been underground moves to recall Jonathan into the 2027 presidential race. Do you see him jumping into the ring?

I don’t see Jonathan jumping into the ring for 2027. If he wants to erase that fragile legacy he has as Nigeria’s democratic hero, then he can jump in. But he will drown because of the category of politicians we have now. He’s not their calibre. He should just sit down and enjoy his hero status. Unless he wants them to use him for their own selfish reasons. The truth is he will only be an expendable tool to them.

If you were to advise ADC, who would you suggest they give the baton to: Atiku, Obi or el-Rufai?

What I will advise ADC to do will sound very absurd, but I’m telling you that it is how they will win. When I saw that they made Bolaji Abdullah their interim spokesperson, I felt okay, perhaps these guys may get it right. But I don’t know, I guess we’ll see. None of those bigwigs can win. But if they support a technocrat like Bolaji Abdullahi; Atiku, Obi, Amaechi, el-Rufai, David Mark, let them just decide that the goal is to win and sacrifice their own ambitions, and then support a candidate. That gives Nigerians the impression of a fresh start, then they will have a chance. Let them just unite behind a candidate Nigerians are not expecting, and then give it everything. But I know they won’t do that. Atiku will contest till thy kingdom comes.

With a weakened G5, which APC had in 2015, don’t you think that APC has lost its legs?

Yes, with a weakened G5, APC has lost some legs. The G5—Wike, Makinde, Ortom, Ugwuanyi, and Ikpeazu— supported Tinubu in 2023, but now the group is fractured. Some, like Wike, are in Tinubu’s government; others have lost influence post-2023. APC relied on them for southern support, but their weakness exposes vulnerabilities.

Can a one-party system work in Nigeria?

A one-party state is where only one political party is legally allowed to govern, controlling all aspects of power without opposition. It can work in stable, ideologically unified nations like China. But in diverse Nigeria, it would stifle democracy, breed corruption, and lead to authoritarianism. We need multi-party competition for accountability.

If Tinubu has 2027 in his pocket, what does that say about the economy and the future of the youths of Nigeria?

See, democracy has a lot of challenges. Continuity is a problem. There are policies that take time to bear fruit. If someone else comes in and starts running the country de novo, we will go back to square one. Let him finish his eight (8) years. Let’s see the result of another uninterrupted eight (8) years of democratic rule. As for the future of Nigerian youths, is he not the first to initiate the student loan policy? Was their future looking better under his predecessors? Come on… let him put 2027 in his pocket and zip it up.

You write and speak politics. When are you going into politics proper?

I write and speak about politics, and I feel like a politician already, even though I’m not particularly active with any party at the moment. Politics is ubiquitous, especially in Nigeria, where everything is politics. I’ll step in when the time feels right to contribute more actively.