Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, has commended President Bola Tinubu for keeping the promises he made during the 2023 election campaign, adding, “he is still keeping them.”
Governor Yahaya made this statement on Tuesday at a two-day Interactive Session on Government-Citizens’ Engagement, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) at Arewa House, Kaduna.
The event, themed “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity”, focused on strengthening democratic accountability and transparency.
“True democracy and good governance are not a one-way street, but a continuous dialogue between leaders and citizens,” Yahaya said.
He emphasised that forums like the SABMF session are critical to building public trust and increasing citizen participation in governance.
“They are not just meant to showcase achievements, but to create spaces where citizens can question, suggest, and hold power accountable,” he said.
“As leaders, we must have the humility to accept our mistakes where we err and adjust based on the needs and feedback of the people.”
Northern Partnership with Tinubu: Tangible Results
Yahaya stated that the North’s partnership with Tinubu’s administration has yielded concrete gains across several sectors—from infrastructure and security to economic governance.
“In 2027, we must reward performance and hard work, and by that measure, President Tinubu has earned our continued support,” he declared.
Recalling the 2023 campaign, Yahaya said the North gave Tinubu overwhelming support, contributing over 60% of his total votes, based on belief in his vision.
“Today, we gather not for empty rhetoric, but to assess those promises. What we find is an administration that has delivered meaningful results for our region, despite national challenges.”
He pointed to ongoing projects such as:
Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway
Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line
Rehabilitation of Kaduna Refinery
Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline
Kolmani Oilfield drilling activities
Yahaya described these as “transformational,” promising industrial growth and energy security for Northern Nigeria.
He also cited new inter-state road projects like the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, designed to link northern producers to southern markets, alongside agricultural value chain initiatives and expanded healthcare infrastructure.
Security, Youth Empowerment and Livestock Reforms
On security, Yahaya noted significant improvements due to enhanced military operations and intelligence gathering:
“Over 300 bandit kingpins and terrorist commanders have been eliminated. While challenges remain, the siege on our people is being lifted.”
He praised the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development, which he said addresses a long-standing challenge by offering a framework to modernise the pastoral economy.
The governor also highlighted renewed federal attention to youth and vulnerable populations through:
Targeted grants
Tackling the Almajiri and out-of-school children crisis
Partnerships with state governments, traditional institutions, and international partners
Economic Reforms and Sacrifice
Yahaya acknowledged the economic strain caused by reforms such as fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate liberalisation.
“Yes, the pain is real. But so is the progress. These tough choices were necessary to stabilise our economy for long-term growth.”
He called on all Northern stakeholders—state governments, traditional and religious leaders, business elites, and civil society—to complement federal efforts through local investments and community engagement.
“Our region’s support for this administration is not just political arithmetic. It reflects a deeper belief that the North-Southwest alliance is a stabilising force for Nigeria’s unity.”
High-Level Participation
In attendance at the event were serving and former governors, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), National Security Adviser (NSA), Service Chiefs, ministers, and top aides.
Also present were heads of government agencies, captains of industry from Northern Nigeria, and the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali M. Ali, among other dignitaries.
