Northern political and traditional leaders recently convened in Kaduna under the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation to rigorously evaluate President Bola Tinubu’s performance as his second year in office concludes. The forum, themed “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity,” sought to determine whether Tinubu has upheld commitments made to the region, especially given that the North delivered approximately 60% of the votes that secured his victory in 2023.
Some attendees, including the Northern Governors’ Forum chair, highlighted tangible progress—such as completion of the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano expressway, steps to revive the Kaduna refinery, development of the Kano–Katsina–Maradi rail corridor, and oil drilling at Kolmani fields. Enhanced security efforts include elimination of over 300 bandit and terrorist commanders, and the establishment of a Ministry of Livestock Development targeting long-standing pastoral crises. While acknowledging hardship from fuel subsidy removal and naira reforms, participants described these policies as necessary steps toward fiscal stabilization.
Nevertheless, discontent remains widespread. Critics argue Tinubu has disproportionately allocated appointments, projects, and policy support to the South West, his geopolitical base, undermining the federal character principle. Senator Ali Ndume and lawmakers from the North East have publicly complained about exclusion from agricultural initiatives and ministerial positions—charging that this imbalance betrays the North’s electoral support and stifles regional advancement.
The debate over a 2027 power shift has further intensified. Simon Lalong and other northern APC governors in 2022 supported rotation before Tinubu’s ascension, emphasizing national stability rather than personal loyalty. But now, as 2027 approaches, northern elites appear deeply divided: some favor a return of power to the North, while others advocate performance-based decision-making over regional entitlement.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) reflects this split. While it officially remains nonpartisan, some voices within—such as its spokesman—have openly criticized Tinubu’s record as “abysmal” and “disastrous,” questioning whether the momentum of delivering a second term should hinge on geography rather than competence. He insisted: “Governance should be about delivery, not geography.” Others, including the Northern Elders Forum, advise transcending regional politics in favor of merit-based leadership.
In response, supporters within the region—such as Arewa Think Tank and segments of the Northern Governors’ Forum—have reaffirmed backing for Tinubu, celebrating his efforts on security, infrastructure, and economic reforms. They argue that his administration merits continued trust, even amid policy backlash on tax reforms and fiscal hardship.
The contentious VAT reform bill exemplifies the regional friction: proposed changes favor tax-contributing southern states at the expense of scheduling based on population—damaging to more populous but economically weaker northern regions. Northern lawmakers have delayed the bill in protest, framing it as evidence of policy bias and poor consultation.
Amid escalating rural violence—particularly the killing of more than 150 people in north-central Nigeria and large-scale displacement—the region remains deeply frustrated. While Tinubu has pledged action and convened security task forces, critics blame lack of implementation and slow response for the crisis’s persistence.
Credit: Punch news
