Wednesday July 30, 2025
By TheNewsDESK |
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has called on political actors from Nigeria’s Northern region to hold off their presidential ambitions until 2031 in support of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Akume made this appeal during a two-day interactive session on government-citizens engagement, held in Kaduna. The event, themed “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizens’ Engagement for National Unity,” was organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation and brought together key political stakeholders and citizens from across the region.
The SGF commended the Foundation for creating a vital platform for dialogue between the government and the governed, describing it as crucial for enhancing democracy and national development.
While reflecting on the performance of the current administration, Akume stated that President Tinubu had spent two years and two months in office, during which he had demonstrated remarkable achievements across key sectors.
“Tinubu promised impartiality in governance and he has kept that promise. There is a need to encourage someone who is doing well so that he can do more,” Akume remarked.
He highlighted significant progress in national security, agricultural revitalization, food security, infrastructure, and foreign policy, noting that misinformation in some quarters had failed to recognize these strides. He also cited the positive impact of the fuel subsidy removal, which he said had empowered sub-national governments to execute more development projects.
Akume argued that Tinubu’s administration has touched all parts of the country and debunked claims of marginalization of the North.
“The narrative that the North is not carried along is not true. Tinubu has appointed many Northerners into key positions and initiated major infrastructure projects in the region,” he said, referencing the Super Highway from Sokoto to Bagary and the ongoing contract for road projects passing through Akwanga, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba.
He emphasized that the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda is not a mere slogan but a clear roadmap aimed at restoring hope and unity across the nation.
“In view of the progress recorded so far, I urge politicians from the Northern region to shelve their 2027 presidential ambitions and wait until 2031. Joining any group that seeks to derail the developmental gains made so far would be unpatriotic,” Akume stated firmly.
He concluded by urging continued support for Tinubu’s leadership, which he described as visionary and inclusive, adding that the foundations for a new and better Nigeria were already being laid.
The event also featured participation from several Northern appointees in the Tinubu administration, including the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Malam Ali M. Ali, who engaged directly with citizens in a bid to deepen transparency and accountability in governance.
