Kayode Williams
Former Lagos State Deputy Governor Kofo Bucknor-Akerele has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s reported focus on a second-term ambition, describing it as a “misplaced priority.”
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, Bucknor-Akerele, who served as Tinubu’s deputy between 1999 and 2002, said Nigeria is currently at a critical juncture that requires urgent socio-economic reforms rather than political maneuvering.
“Unfortunately, what I see right now is that the president is looking for a second term, and that seems to be his focus,” she said. “But I think he should try and look at what people like Emeka Anyaoku and many others of that calibre are doing – trying to fashion something that will change Nigeria for the future generations.”
The octogenarian, a member of The Patriots, an influential group led by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, stressed that Tinubu’s advisers should redirect his attention to fixing the country’s deep-rooted challenges.
“I hope his advisers will be able to tell him that 2027 is not our priority right now; our priority is making Nigeria great again,” she added.
Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023, has faced mounting criticism over economic hardship, currency instability, and rising insecurity. Reports of political alignments and opposition coalitions ahead of the 2027 general elections have further intensified public debate about the president’s intentions.