Tinubu is my friend, but our differences are political – Lamido

Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, says his friendship with President Bola Tinubu will not stop him from opposing the president politically ahead of the 2027 elections.

Lamido, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said every Nigerian has the right to contest the presidency and that telling aspirants the truth should not be mistaken for hostility.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC, the former governor explained that politicians can hold personal relationships while still maintaining political differences. He stressed that his priority remains working with opposition parties to “rescue and rebuild Nigeria.”

His comments come after he was spotted exchanging pleasantries with President Tinubu at the wedding of former Zamfara Governor Abdulaziz Yari’s son in Kaduna, an interaction that sparked speculation in political circles. Lamido also recently hosted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, further fueling discussions about alignments ahead of 2027.

Reflecting on his friendly chat with Tinubu at the Sultan Bello Mosque, Lamido said, “We know each other very well, but we haven’t met in a while. I told him, ‘You look nice.’ He replied, ‘Sule, I love you because you are trustworthy.’ We laughed and moved on.”

Lamido insisted that his long-standing ties with both Tinubu and Atiku go beyond party lines, noting that Atiku was Vice President while he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs during the PDP’s formative years.

He added that the PDP is working to resolve its internal crisis and reposition itself for future elections. According to him, ongoing consultations and compromises are necessary to build unity and chart a progressive path for Nigeria.

“Not just me—every Nigerian has a right to the President. If he is wrong, there’s nothing wrong with telling him the truth,” Lamido said.