A fierce call has emerged against electing a Northern presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2027 elections, with activist Shehu Gazali Sadiq sharply criticising National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu over remarks describing terrorists as “our brothers”.
In a strongly worded reaction circulating on social media, Mr Sadiq urged Nigerians to reject any Northern aspirant for the presidency, arguing that comments from prominent Northern figures, including Mr Ribadu, reveal a troubling tolerance towards terrorism that has plagued the country for years.
The controversy stems from a resurfaced video of Mr Ribadu, in which he stated that some terrorists in Nigeria want peace and should be seen as “our brothers”.
He advocated for dialogue and understanding with those willing to lay down arms, while stressing that talks are not compulsory and that security forces would continue eliminating those who persist in violence.
The statement has sparked widespread outrage, with many accusing it of downplaying the severity of attacks that have killed thousands and displaced communities across the North.
Mr Sadiq’s headline response—”We Must Not Elect a Northern Presidential Candidate as President in 2027″—directly links Mr Ribadu’s words to broader claims that Northern political elites view terrorists as kin, protecting or excusing them rather than confronting the threat head-on.
He has previously highlighted similar sentiments from figures like Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and the Sultan of Sokoto, framing them as evidence of complicity that sustains insecurity.
The backlash comes amid persistent terrorist violence in northern Nigeria.
Recent incidents, including deadly attacks in states such as Borno and Kogi, have left soldiers and civilians dead, reigniting debates over whether dialogue or military action offers the best path forward.
Critics of Mr Ribadu’s approach argue it risks appearing soft on perpetrators responsible for kidnappings, killings, and destruction, while supporters maintain that addressing root causes through rehabilitation could reduce bloodshed.
Mr Sadiq’s stance taps into deep ethnic and regional divisions ahead of the 2027 polls.
Many online voices echo his view, insisting that leadership from outside the North is essential to break what they call a cycle of leniency towards terrorists.
Others defend the idea of dialogue as pragmatic, pointing out that outright rejection of talks has not ended the violence.
As the election cycle heats up, Mr Sadiq’s intervention underscores how security failures and perceived elite attitudes continue to fuel polarisation.
Whether his call gains wider traction remains to be seen, but it highlights the raw emotions surrounding terrorism and the choices Nigerians face in picking their next leader.
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