In a quiet corner of Mariri, Kano, Mallam Adamu Muhammad Nababa leans back in his modest home, his voice calm but resolute — the kind of tone that carries both experience and caution.
A retired civil servant and the pioneer Director of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS), Nababa has seen power rise and fall. And now, he has a warning for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Don’t hand Lagos over like it’s a family business,” he says. “It’s not just about politics — it’s about perception, legacy, and the future of our democracy.”
Nababa is referring to the growing drumbeat of support for Seyi Tinubu — the president’s son — to contest the Lagos State governorship in 2027. Though President Tinubu has not publicly backed the idea, Nababa says the whispers are getting louder, and the implications deeper.
“This is how cracks begin,” he warns. “The APC must learn from others — from Jigawa, from Kano, from history.”
He recalls the downfall of the PDP in Jigawa when former Governor Sule Lamido endorsed his son for governorship — a move that fractured the party and drove away strong allies.
“Lamido had clout. But one wrong call cost his party dearly. Loyalty in politics is fragile. Once it’s broken, it doesn’t heal easily,” Nababa said.
In Lagos, murmurs within the State House of Assembly are already hinting at unease. “You may not hear it loud, but the signs are there. Some are watching. Some are waiting. Some are ready to walk away.”
Nababa insists that political ambition, especially among children of powerful figures, must be earned, not inherited.
“Politics is a craft. You don’t throw someone in at the top and expect respect. Let him start small. Let him fail and rise like every other leader.”
He doesn’t deny Seyi Tinubu’s potential, but challenges the pathway. “Let him build his name, not carry his father’s shadow.”
He also draws attention to similar developments in Kano, where the son of a former governor now holds a commissioner post — a move that has not gone unnoticed by the public. “People are connecting the dots. You may call it service, but others see succession.”
Nababa also had strong words for Sule Lamido, who recently criticized Seyi Tinubu’s Ramadan outreach to northern communities. “The man who gave his son a governorship ticket has no moral ground to speak. At least Tinubu hasn’t declared anything.”
In closing, Nababa makes his plea not as an opponent, but as a patriot.
“This country is delicate. What we need now is unity, not legacy politics. Let the next governor of Lagos rise from the people — not from a palace.”
For a nation watching closely, Nababa’s voice is one of rare clarity in a season clouded by ambition. The message is simple: a dynasty might win elections, but it can’t win hearts.