Whatever the President asks me to do, I will do it 100 percent. I don’t know the groups making these calls, but I appreciate their confidence in me. However, I told them to focus on supporting President Tinubu. There will be time for politics, but now is the time for governance
Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has broken his silence regarding rising calls from various political quarters suggesting he should be considered as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 presidential election.
In a media briefing held in Abuja, Senator Barau addressed the matter with humility and deference, stating emphatically that his loyalty to President Tinubu remains absolute. He said he would not hesitate to take on any role assigned to him by the President, stressing: “Whatever the President asks me to do, I will do it 100 percent.”
Responding to questions during the press conference, which focused on the upcoming zonal public hearings by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Barau clarified that it was too early to delve into issues surrounding 2027 politics.
“To be honest, I don’t want to dwell on this issue right now. The President has been working relentlessly to reposition the country and change its trajectory in a way that brings lasting prosperity,” he explained.
“We are all witnesses to the myriad of challenges he inherited. But he has remained open-minded, determined, and focused. We, as his allies and partners in governance, are standing by him—day and night—to support his vision.”
Barau expressed his appreciation to the groups and individuals rooting for his elevation in 2027, but he urged them to redirect their energies toward supporting the administration’s developmental agenda instead of speculative political campaigns.
“I don’t know the groups making these calls, but I appreciate their confidence in me. However, I told them to focus on supporting President Tinubu. There will be time for politics, but now is the time for governance,” he said.
The Deputy Senate President reaffirmed his close personal and political relationship with President Tinubu, describing him as a father figure and benefactor.
“Mr. President is like a father to me and to the nation. Many don’t know what he has done for me and my people. During the political turbulence in Kano, it was President Tinubu who stepped in and ensured I received the Senate ticket. He also played a pivotal role in my emergence as Deputy Senate President,” he disclosed.
Barau pledged his complete loyalty, affirming that he comes from the same progressive political tradition as President Tinubu.
“Our destinies are intertwined. We are both progressives to the core, and in our fold, loyalty is paramount. So, if Mr. President says, ‘Come and work with me,’ my answer will be, ‘Yes sir, I’m ready.’ I am 100% loyal,” Barau stated passionately.
Meanwhile, speaking on the forthcoming zonal public hearings of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Barau, who also serves as the committee’s deputy chairman, announced that the hearings will consider no fewer than 59 constitutional amendment bills and 31 proposals already submitted to the National Assembly.
He revealed that in addition to the pending bills, Nigerians are invited to contribute further by submitting memoranda at the zonal hearings, scheduled to hold across the six geopolitical zones.
The hearing venues and respective leaderships are as follows: South-South Zone: Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State – under the chairmanship of Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio or his representative.
North-West Zone: Kano – chaired by Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin.
South-West Zone: Lagos – under Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.
North-Central Zone: Jos – chaired by Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru.
North-East Zone: Maiduguri – under the leadership of Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno.
South-East Zone: Enugu – chaired by Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Peter Nwebonyi.
Barau emphasized the importance of public participation in the constitutional review process, calling on citizens to actively engage and make their voices heard for the sake of national progress.