2027 debate takes new turn — Aspirant questions what really matters

Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing; follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates. Click to Follow us

A presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, Mohammed Hayatudeen, has stated that the ongoing debate over zoning is diverting attention from the pressing challenges facing the country.

Speaking on the Political Paradigm programme on Channels Television, he urged a shift in national discourse toward critical issues such as insecurity, economic decline and job creation.

“Last week, 416 people were abducted and threatened with execution. What has that got to do with zoning? The thousands of our fellow citizens killed over the last three years, what has that got to do with zoning?

“The mother who cannot afford to buy food at the market, the father who cannot send his child to school. What has any of that got to do with zoning?” He queried.

Hayatudeen maintained that Nigerians require leaders defined by competence, character and empathy rather than regional considerations.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from. What matters is that you have the capacity, the skill, the vision and the deep empathy to deliver for every single Nigerian,” he said.

He stressed that the country’s security challenges are closely linked to economic conditions.

According to him, prolonged economic mismanagement has contributed significantly to rising insecurity.

“Nothing happens in a vacuum. There has to be an underlying cause,” he said, adding: “The economy has been under-managed and has underperformed for at least 20 years. Consequently, poverty has risen five or six times within this period, and today, approximately 110 million Nigerians are living below the poverty line.”

He dismissed claims that insecurity is primarily driven by election cycles, insisting that available data does not support such assertions.

“I am a numbers guy. I have compared the data with think tanks abroad and institutions within Nigeria. The evidence does not support that narrative,” he stated.

On his choice to contest under the ADC, Hayatudeen explained that the party’s structure and leadership align with his vision.

“Their leaders are forthright, tenacious and experienced. They have the determination to mobilize everything required to contest and win this election at all levels,” he said.

He added that the party’s focus on issues such as the cost of living, insecurity, job creation and poverty reduction reflects the concerns of ordinary Nigerians.

Hayatudeen also expressed concern over what he described as a shrinking political space in the country.

“What the government has done, through surrogates and the instruments of state, is to muzzle the political space, making it impossible for Nigerians to exercise genuine freedom of choice,” he warned.

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.