Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin has responded to growing calls for him to become President Bola Tinubu’s running mate, declaring his complete obedience to the President’s wishes.
The Kano North lawmaker made these remarks during a press briefing in Abuja about the upcoming zonal public hearings of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.
When questioned about the vice presidential speculation, Jibrin stated, “I will do whatever the President wants me to do.” He elaborated on his position, saying, “Honestly, I don’t want to say anything about this now. Because one point is very clear. 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.”
Jibrin described the current political discussions as premature, emphasizing the need to focus on governance rather than election politics. “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,” he said. The Deputy Senate President advised supporters to channel their energy into supporting the administration’s development agenda rather than early campaign activities.
Reflecting on his political relationship with Tinubu, Jibrin revealed, “Mr. President is my political father. You’ll be surprised if I start telling you what he has done for me and my people.” He recounted how Tinubu helped resolve Kano’s political crisis and supported his Senate bid, saying, “When we had our problem in Kano, he resolved that issue for us. He made it possible for me to be given the ticket to the Senate in 2023. He stood by me to become the Deputy Senate President.”
Regarding potential future political roles, Jibrin made his loyalty clear, “So, if the time comes and he says, ‘I want you to work with me,’ well, 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%.” He stressed their shared progressive ideology, noting, “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.”
During the same briefing, Jibrin outlined plans for the constitutional review process, announcing that zonal public hearings would consider 59 bills and 31 proposals. The hearings will be held across six geopolitical zones with Senate leaders chairing each location: Ikot Ekpene (South-South) chaired by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Kano (North West) chaired by Jibrin himself, Lagos (South West) chaired by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Jos (North Central) chaired by Deputy Senate Leader Lola Ashiru, Maiduguri (North East) chaired by Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno, and Enugu (South East) chaired by Deputy Chief Whip Peter Nwebonyi.
