The Chairman of the Northern States Governor’s Forum who is also the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya have stated that President Bola Tinubu has kept promises made in 2023 and still keeping them.
Governor Yahaya stated this at the ongoing 2-Day Interactive Session on Government-Citizens Engagement Organised by the Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) at Arewa House, Kaduna.
Speaking on the theme of the summit, “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity”, Governor Yahaya said it speaks to the very heart of what makes democracy meaningful.
“True democracy and good governance are not a one-way street, but a continuous dialogue between leaders and citizens.
“Forums like this are crucial to building public trust and strengthening citizens participation in governance. They are not just meant to showcase achievements, but to create spaces where citizens can question, suggest, and hold power accountable. As leaders, we must have the humility to accept our mistakes where we err, and make adjustments where possible, based on the needs and feedback of the people.
“As we engage with representatives of the Federal Government, let us do so with fairness and wisdom. The North’s partnership with President Tinubu’s administration has yielded concrete results, from infrastructure to security to governance.
“In 2027, we must reward performance and hard work, and by that measure, President Tinubu has earned our continued support,” he said.
The Gombe State governor recalled, “When candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu stood before us during the 2023 campaign, he made specific commitments to Northern Nigeria. The north, believing in President’s Tinubu’s vision, voted strongly for him, contributing to over 60% of Tinubu’s winning votes.
“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. 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.
“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.”
He identified such projects to include the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi Rail Line, 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,” he said.
Governor Yahaya added that new infrastructure projects are also coming up, including various inter-state road networks like and the ambitious Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway that will connect Northern producers to Southern markets as well as agriculture value chain initiative targeting northern states.
He listed others to include expansion and upgrade of healthcare facilities which he said all point to a deliberate policy towards uplifting the wellbeing of the people of the region.
“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.
“The creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development addresses a generations-old challenge, providing a framework to modernise our pastoral economy.
“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.
The Forum’s chairman stressed that there is no doubt that the economic reforms undertaken by the Tinubu’s 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,” he added.
As part of the measures to sustain and build on these gains, he urged all Northern stakeholders to play their part, “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.
“Our region’s decisive support for this administration was rooted in the understanding that the North-South-West alliance is not merely political arithmetic, but a stabilising force for national unity,” Governor Yahaya noted.
In attendance at the forum were serving and former governors, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), National Security Adviser (NSA), Service Chiefs, all appointed ministers, aides, heads of government parastatals, MDAs and Captains of industries of northern extraction.
