The 19 Northern governors have reaffirmed their support for the government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, amidst criticisms by Arewa leaders of marginalisation of the region by his administration.
This was made known in an address by the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who is also the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, delivered at the interactive session organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) on Tuesday in Kaduna, to review the performance of Tinubu in the last two years.
Yahaya said, “Today, we gather not for empty rhetoric, but to examine those promises and assess the level of progress so far,” pointing out, “What we find is an administration that has delivered meaningful results for our region despite facing significant national challenges.”
He said, “This shows that our democracy can only work when leaders deliver on their promises, and leaders can only deliver when citizens are engaged, and policies and programs are designed and implemented in ways that reflect the yearnings and aspirations of the citizenry.”
Yahaya remarked, “I make bold to say that the evidence of progress is visible across our region. Thanks to Mr. President’s renewed hope agenda, many projects started by the previous administration are now racing towards completion. These include the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line, the rehabilitation of the Kaduna Refinery, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline project, and continuation of drilling activities in Kolmani Oilfields. These projects promise to bring industrial growth and energy security to Northern Nigeria.”
Highlighting further the footprints success in the North, he said, “New infrastructure projects are also coming up, including various inter-state road networks like the ambitious Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway that will connect Northern producers to southern markets, agriculture value chain initiative targeting northern states, expansion and upgrade of healthcare facilities all point to a deliberate policy towards uplifting the wellbeing of our people.”
He noted, “On the security front, we have witnessed significant progress. Through coordinated military operations and improved intelligence gathering, over 300 bandit kingpins and terrorist commanders have been eliminated, disrupting criminal networks that terrorised our communities. While challenges remain, the trajectory is clear – the siege on our people is being lifted.”
On the economic front, Yahaya explained, “The creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development addresses a generations-old challenge, providing a framework to modernise our pastoral economy,” adding that “this administration has also demonstrated commitment to our youth through targeted grants and renewed efforts to tackle the Almajiri and out-of-school children crisis through partnerships with state governments, traditional institutions and international partners.”
He said, “There is no doubt that the economic reforms undertaken by this administration, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate floatation, have come with debilitating side effects. However, these were necessary measures in order to stabilise our economy for long-term growth. The pain is real, but so is the progress.”
Meanwhile, the Northern Governors Forum chairman stressed that “to sustain and build on these gains, all Northern stakeholders must play their part”, adding, “Our state governments must complement federal initiatives with local investments in infrastructure and human capital development.”
“Traditional rulers and religious leaders should continue their vital role in community mobilisation and conflict resolution. Business leaders and civil society must maintain their constructive engagement”, Yahaya stated.
However, the Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, in his speech, said that the Tinubu administration has not done enough to address the problems of the north.
He said, “I recall that it was on the 17th of October, 2022, that this same group in this same hall held an interactive session with the then presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, among other candidates. In that meeting, we presented to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu a written address containing details of the issues of urgent concern to the people of Northern Nigeria.
“In turn, he gave us his own written document containing details of the issues he believed were of concern to the North and how he intended to address them.
“But we did not stop there. The ACF, as is its tradition, prepared an extended memorandum giving further details of the critical issues of concern to Northern Nigeria. We then sought and obtained an appointment to visit with the President. At the meeting, which was held on the 30th of May, 2024, the ACF submitted the memorandum in the presence of many of the leaders who are with us here today,” he added.
He further stressed, “Whether or not they are succeeding, we do not know. But we cannot pretend not to observe that President Tinubu’s budget priorities, his infrastructural projects, his appointments and other executive actions, have, over the last two years, largely sidelined Northern Nigeria.”
