Inuwa Yahaya, the governor of Gombe and chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum says the north will back President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027 in recognition of the administration’s delivery on key electoral promises to the region.

 

Speaking at the opening of a two-day interactive session on government-citizen engagement organised by the Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation at Arewa House, Kaduna, Inuwa said the north’s overwhelming support for Tinubu in 2023 was a strategic decision that is already yielding tangible benefits across infrastructure, security, energy and agriculture.

 

“When candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu stood before us during the 2023 campaign, he made specific commitments to Northern Nigeria. The north, believing in President Tinubu’s vision, voted strongly for him, contributing to over 60% of Tinubu’s winning votes,” the governor said.

 

He noted that the event, themed ‘Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity,’ was not convened for “empty rhetoric” but to honestly evaluate the performance of the federal government against its stated objectives.

 

 

According to him, Tinubu’s administration has shown steady progress despite daunting economic and security challenges.

 

“Today, we gather not for empty rhetoric, but to examine those promises and assess the level of progress so far. What we find is an administration that has delivered meaningful results for our region despite facing significant national challenges. I make bold to say that the evidence of progress is visible across our region,” Inuwa said.

 

He cited a number of federal projects to show the president’s commitment to northern development.

 

 

These include the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail line, rehabilitation of the Kaduna refinery, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, and continuation of drilling activities in the Kolmani oilfields.

 

“These projects promise to bring industrial growth and energy security to Northern Nigeria,” the governor said, adding that the administration’s renewed hope agenda is gradually transforming long-standing ambitions into reality,” he said.

 

Beyond legacy projects, Inuwa pointed to emerging initiatives such as the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway, inter-state road networks, and agriculture value chain investments targeting northern states.

 

He said ongoing expansion and upgrade of healthcare infrastructure are also indications of deliberate policies to uplift the well-being of the northern population.

 

The governor further lauded the federal government’s efforts in tackling insecurity in the north, saying over “300 bandit kingpins and terrorist commanders” have been killed through coordinated operations and improved intelligence gathering.