Former Governor of Jigawa State and ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has declared his readiness to support any political coalition or framework whether within or outside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that would promote Nigeria’s security and unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking to journalists in Kano on Tuesday, the PDP stalwart stated, “I believe in Nigeria. So, any arrangements, be it within or outside the Peoples Democratic Party, that will secure and save Nigeria, I am ready to work with it in 2027.”
Lamido’s remarks come amid growing political realignments and speculations that he might defect to another party, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC). However, the elder statesman firmly dispelled those rumours, maintaining his loyalty to the PDP.
“I’m still in PDP. Even though PDP has some problems, I cannot renounce my history. I can’t simply walk out of my skin and crawl in flesh and blood and be conferred with a smaller skin called ADC. I cannot,” he said with emphasis.
Lamido, who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1999 and 2003 and later governed Jigawa State from 2007 to 2015, said his political identity is deeply rooted in the PDP. He explained that the party had entrusted him with significant responsibilities and roles that shaped his political journey.
“So, I cannot simply renounce my history, my legacy and my heritage and say, ‘Today I got something new. I am out of PDP.’ I will not do that,” he added.
Addressing calls for the creation of new states across the country, Lamido said the agitations were understandable but misplaced in the face of more urgent national issues.
“Will the creation of new states solve our problems insecurity, poverty, hunger and the division between the North and the South? There are more pressing issues than creating additional states,” he argued.
He also reacted to the recent visit of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, a former Governor of Kano State and leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Lamido described the visit as legitimate, adding that every Nigerian has the right to engage politically across party lines.
