Northern leaders are gathering at Arewa House in Kaduna State to assess President Bola Tinubu’s two-year performance. The meeting, convened by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, brings together prominent northern political, traditional, and business leaders to evaluate Tinubu’s administration. The theme of the meeting is “Assessing electoral promises: fostering government-citizens engagement for national unity.”
The meeting aims to assess the progress made on Tinubu’s electoral promises, particularly those targeted at the northern region. Undercurrents of dissatisfaction have been reported, especially regarding perceived marginalization in key appointments, project execution, and federal allocations. The region is grappling with insecurity, food inflation, and deepening poverty, which have been met with criticism from northern stakeholders.
Some northern leaders have expressed disappointment with the administration, citing neglect and disillusionment in the North. For instance, Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has declared the Tinubu administration a failure. However, others have praised Tinubu’s efforts, particularly in infrastructure development and appointments.
The federal government is taking the event seriously, with ministers and top officials set to appear and give accounts of their performance. Government sources say the event will showcase Tinubu’s commitment to equitable development across regions. The meeting is expected to provide a platform for constructive engagement and a critical evaluation of the administration’s policies and programs.
The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation’s Director-General, Abubakar Gambo Umar, has stated that the meeting is a continuation of the region’s tradition of engaging constructively with successive administrations. He emphasized that the review would serve as a “critical litmus test” to measure the federal government’s responsiveness to the socio-economic and security challenges facing the region.
The meeting will bring together a cross-section of the North’s crème de la crème, including former governors, ex-ministers, traditional rulers, technocrats, civil society actors, and religious leaders. The outcome of the meeting is expected to provide valuable insights into the administration’s performance and identify areas for improvement.
