The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, has said President Bola Tinubu has kept the promises made in 2023.
Yahaya made this known at a two-day Interactive Session on Government-citizens’ Engagement Organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) at the Arewa House, on Tuesday in Kaduna.
He said the theme of the programme, ‘Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-citizens’ Engagement for National Unity’, speaks to the very heart of what makes democracy meaningful.
He said true democracy and good governance are not a one-way street, but a continuous dialogue between leaders and citizens, adding that “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 review engagements with representatives of the Federal Government, let us do so with fairness and wisdom.”
The governor said the North’s partnership with Tinubu’s administration had yielded concrete results, from infrastructure to security to governance.
Yahaya said “In 2027, we must reward performance and hard work, and by that measure, President Tinubu has earned our continued support.”
He recalled that when Tinubu stood before them during the 2023 campaign, he made specific commitments to Northern Nigeria.
Yahaya said, “The North, believing in President’s Tinubu’s vision, voted strongly for him, contributing to over 60 per cent 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.”
According to him, this shows that democracy can only work when leaders deliver on their promises.
He continued, “And leaders can only deliver when citizens are engaged, and policies and programmes 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.”
