Politics
2023: Masari Wants South To Produce President
Against the position of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum that power rotation is unconstitutional, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has maintained that power should shift to the South come 2023.
According to the incumbent Governor of President MuhammaduBuhari’s home State, shifting power to the South does not in any way violate the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as declared by the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum after a meeting of the Governors in Kaduna on September 27, 2021.
Masari made the assertion during an interactive session with journalists at the StateHouse, on Tuesday.
“I am a member of the Northern Governors’ Forum. But let me make my position very clear. This Constitution is made for us and not us for the Constitution. Yes, the Constitution did not say you must shift or rotate power. So, If you do, does that mean you have violated the Constitution? If you collectively decide to elect a President from any part of this country, have you violated the Constitution?” he queried.
The Katsina Governor said he would continue to advocate for rotation of power in the country until Nigerian politics is out of the murky waters.
“I still believe as a principle not as a law that until such a time when we have a stable politics, I think rotation or shifting power from time to time will help to consolidate our federation. I support it. So, I still maintain my stand.
“This is my personal opinion as a person which I think that the Constitution you have mentioned has given me the right to make that comment. That’s why I said in my capacity as Aminu Bello Masari,” he added.
Masari also recalled that way back in the 90’s while as a member of the Constitutional Conference and Transition Committee, “the initial recommendation of our committee was that each zone would be given the opportunity of five years to lead through the instrumentality of the National Assembly.
“But that was the recommendation of the transition committee. Even though, after that, a lot of things happened before coming to the floor. All that has become part of history but I have the records. I know what happened.
“So, I think the fact of the matter is that we have to understand that the Constitution is made to guide us and there are certain positions, by taking them, you are not compromising the Constitution, nor are you breaking the law. So my position remains the same. I do believe in the power shift,” he declared.
The Senate yesterday received the 2026-2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper from President Bola Tinubu, marking the formal launch of the 2026 federal budget cycle.
In a letter addressed to the upper chamber, Tinubu said the submission complies with statutory requirements and sets out the fiscal parameters that will guide the preparation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
He explained that the MTEF/FSP outlines the macroeconomic assumptions, revenue projections, and spending priorities that will shape Nigeria’s fiscal direction over the next three years.
The letter was read during plenary by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of the document.
“It is with pleasure that I forward the 2026 to 2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for the kind consideration and approval of the Senate.
“The 2026 to 2028 MTEF and FSP were approved during the Federal Executive Council meeting of December 3, 2025, and the 2026 budget of the Federal Government will be prepared based on the parameters and fiscal assumptions therein,” the President stated.
Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved the fiscal projections, pegging the oil benchmark price at $64.85 per barrel and adopting a budget exchange rate of ?1,512/$1 for 2026—figures expected to significantly shape revenue forecasts and expenditure planning.
After reading the President’s letter, Jibrin referred the document to the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), with a directive to submit its report by Wednesday, December 17.
The Senate adjourned shortly after to allow committees to commence scrutiny of the fiscal framework and continue the ongoing screening of ambassadorial nominees.
Tinubu’s communication to the Senate came less than 24 hours after he transmitted the same MTEF/FSP documents to the leadership of the House of Representatives.
The letter was read on the House floor by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who also urged timely legislative action as required by law.
The MTEF and FSP are statutory instruments mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act and serve as the blueprint for Nigeria’s annual budgets.
They outline the government’s fiscal stance, macroeconomic assumptions, revenue frameworks, projected deficits, and sectoral priorities over a three-year period.
The Tide reports that approval by the National Assembly is a prerequisite for the executive to present the Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year.
In a statement on Saturday, the former Senate Leader stated that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
The ex-Senate Whip warned that allowing the list to pass could deepen ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be consolidating national unity.
He highlighted disparities in the spread of nominees, noting that while some states have three or four slots, others have none. He also cited the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly died in July.
“The entire North-East states have seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively.
“North-Central region has 10 nominees in the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominee while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Senator Ndume said.
According to him, such imbalances could heighten tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust.
“I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment and stakeholder in the country. He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Senator Ndume added.
He accused the legislators of undermining the sanctity of the legislature and acting as instruments of destabilization.
“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions since they assumed office, shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress,” Comrade Ememobong stated, adding that “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.”
“So the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC,” he said.
Comrade Ememobong announced that the party would deploy constitutional provisions to reclaim its mandate from those who have “ignobly and surreptitiously” abandoned the platform on which they were elected.
“Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now switched to another platform,” he said.
He urged party members in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast.
“We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity,” Comrade Ememobong assured.
-
Politics2 days agoSenate Receives Tinubu’s 2026-2028 MTEF/FSP For Approval
-
News2 days agoRSG Lists Key Areas of 2026 Budget
-
News2 days agoDangote Unveils N100bn Education Fund For Nigerian Students
-
News2 days agoTinubu Opens Bodo-Bonny Road …Fubara Expresses Gratitude
-
News2 days ago
Nigeria Tops Countries Ignoring Judgements -ECOWAS Court
-
Sports2 days agoNew W.White Cup: GSS Elekahia Emerged Champions
-
Featured2 days agoFubara Restates Commitment To Peace, Development …Commissions 10.7km Egbeda–Omerelu Road
-
News2 days ago
FG Launches Africa’s First Gas Trading Market, Licenses JEX