The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has urged politicians from Northern Nigeria to wait until 2031 before seeking the presidency, citing President Tinubu’s performance and national inclusivity.
Akume made the call in Kaduna during a two-day interactive session on government-citizens’ engagement, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation.
“Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizens’ Engagement for National Unity” was the theme of the forum, which convened Northern appointees in the President Tinubu administration and citizens for a dialogue on governance and development.
The SGF commended the foundation for creating a platform to explore solutions that enhance governance, democracy, and national development.
He said the Tinubu administration, after two years and two months in office, had delivered fundamental and remarkable achievements across various sectors.
“Tinubu promised impartiality in governance and he has done that without breaking the promise. There is need to encourage someone who is doing well, so that he can do more,” he said.
Akume decried widespread misinformation in some sections of the media and maintained that the administration had revitalised agriculture, improved security, and taken steps that positively impacted food security and infrastructure development.
He added that President Tinubu remained committed to uniting and advancing the country.
“Tinubu is on course to take Nigeria to the promised land. I will urge politicians from the Northern Region to wait till 2031. Do not join a group that will stagnate the various developments achieved by President Tinubu,” he stated.
The SGF said every part of Nigeria had felt the impact of the administration’s policies and projects, particularly through the removal of fuel subsidy which, he noted, had boosted sub-national finances.
“The removal of fuel subsidy has now provided more funds to the government at the sub-national levels to carry out huge projects and deliver quality dividends of democracy,” he explained.
According to him, the Renewed Hope Agenda is not a slogan but a determined national development agenda to restore dignity, inclusion, and equity across all regions.
He listed Tinubu’s achievements in diplomacy, transportation, job creation, education, tax reform, local government autonomy, security, sports, anti-corruption, and peace-building efforts.
“Tinubu has laid a foundation stone for New Nigeria through visionary leadership and commitment to bring dividends of democracy to all citizens and regions of the country without bias,” Akume declared.
He also defended the President’s appointments and regional development focus, describing claims that the North had been marginalised as false.
“Tinubu has appointed so many people from the Northern Region to work with him, and they are doing well. The narrative that the North is not carried along is not true,” he said.
Akume noted that the proposed Super Highway from Sokoto to Bagary is longer than the Lagos-Calabar coastal road, and revealed that road projects connecting Akwanga, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, and other Northern states would soon be awarded.
He reiterated his appeal to Northern politicians to shelve presidential ambitions until 2031, stressing that the President’s performance warrants full support for his re-election.
“Patriotic politicians should jettison their ambition for presidency till 2031. 2027 should not be in their minds because Tinubu has done so well and will continue in that line to better the lot of the citizens and the country,” he said.
The event was attended by all federal appointees from the North in the President Tinubu administration.
NAN/PIAK