Tinubu: The pain is real, but so is the Progress – Gov. Inuwa

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, who also chairs the Northern States Governors Forum, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fulfilled and is still fulfilling the promises he made to Northern Nigeria during the 2023 elections.

He made this statement during a two-day interactive session on government-citizen engagement, organised by the Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation at Arewa House in Kaduna.

The summit, themed “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity”, aimed to evaluate the federal government’s performance and promote participatory governance.

Speaking at the event, Governor Yahaya stated that the summit offered more than just a platform for praise.

Instead, he described it as an avenue for reflection, accountability, and meaningful dialogue between citizens and leaders.

“True democracy and good governance are not a one-way street but a continuous dialogue between leaders and citizens,” he said.

Highlighting the essence of engagement, the governor said citizens must be allowed to question, make suggestions, and hold leaders accountable, while leaders must be humble enough to acknowledge errors and make adjustments.

Yahaya stressed that President Tinubu has delivered significant gains in infrastructure, security, and governance, especially for the northern region.

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

According to him, the Tinubu administration has lived up to expectations despite Nigeria’s numerous challenges.

He listed key infrastructure projects as evidence, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, the Kano-Katsina-Maradi Rail Line, the rehabilitation of the Kaduna Refinery, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline, and the continuation of drilling in the Kolmani Oilfields.

“These projects promise to bring industrial growth and energy security to Northern Nigeria,” he noted.

The Gombe governor also mentioned new road networks and the proposed Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, as well as agricultural value chain initiatives and healthcare upgrades, as signs of deliberate policy direction aimed at uplifting the North.

On security, Governor Yahaya said over 300 bandit and terrorist commanders have been neutralised through improved military coordination and intelligence gathering.

“While challenges remain, the trajectory is clear, the siege on our people is being lifted,” he declared.

He commended the federal government’s creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development, saying it offers a long-term solution to herder-farmer conflicts.

He also acknowledged efforts to address youth-related challenges, including grants and renewed strategies to reduce the number of out-of-school children and tackle the Almajiri problem through collaboration with state governments, traditional leaders, and international partners.

While recognising the pains caused by recent economic reforms, especially the fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, Yahaya said the decisions were necessary for long-term economic recovery.

“The pain is real, but so is the progress,” he added.

He called on all northern stakeholders, including governors, traditional rulers, religious leaders, the business community, and civil society, to support federal efforts through grassroots initiatives.

“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,” he said.

Also Read: PDP’s Fayose attends APC rally, endorses Tinubu, Oyebanji for second term

The interactive session was attended by serving and former governors, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, National Security Adviser, Service Chiefs, ministers, presidential aides, heads of MDAs, and northern business leaders.