Tinubu is my political father, I’ll do whatever he asks me – Deputy Senate President

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin has publicly declared unwavering loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, saying he is ready to do whatever the president asks of him—even if it means becoming his running mate in the 2027 presidential election.

Jibrin made this known during a media briefing on the upcoming zonal public hearings of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, amidst growing speculation about who may emerge as Tinubu’s running mate in the next election cycle.

“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.

“So, bringing this issue is quite premature. That’s why I told those groups frankly, I don’t know them. I thank them for believing in me. But I told them, ‘Instead of wasting energy on things that are not relevant now, channel your resources to supporting the President. When the time comes, we’ll play politics. But this time is for governance’,” Jibrin said.

The Deputy Senate President described Tinubu as his political mentor and expressed deep gratitude for the president’s support over the years.

“Mr. President is my political father. You’ll be surprised if I start telling you what he has done for me and my people. So, whenever he asks me to do something when the time comes, I’ll do it. I’m very loyal to him.

“So, if the time comes and he says I should work with him, I will do it, whatever he asks me to do, I’ll do. I’m loyal to him, 100 per cent,” he affirmed.

During the briefing, Jibrin also spoke about the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, which he chairs. He announced that 59 bills and 31 proposals are currently under review, with public memoranda expected to further shape the reform process.

The zonal public hearings will take place across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones: South-South: Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom (chaired by Senate President Godswill Akpabio or his representative)North-West: Kano (chaired by Barau Jibrin)South-West: Lagos (chaired by Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele)North-Central: Jos (chaired by Deputy Senate Leader Senator Lola Ashiru)North-East: Maiduguri (chaired by Chief Whip Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno)South-East: Enugu (chaired by Deputy Chief Whip Senator Peter Nwebonyi)

The hearings are expected to gather public input on key areas of constitutional reform, as the Senate pushes forward with its review process.