2027: Northern stakeholders meet May 20 to assess Tinubu’s performance

The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation has announced a two-day interactive session scheduled for May 20 and 21, 2025, in Kaduna, aimed at evaluating the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to a statement released on Monday by the foundation’s Director-General, Abubakar Umar, the session will focus on tracking progress on the administration’s electoral promises, enhancing government-citizen engagement, and promoting transparency and accountability.

Umar stated that the event is designed to bridge the gap between policy implementation and public perception, dispel misinformation, and clarify misconceptions surrounding federal initiatives.

The session will feature high-level presentations and discussions with key representatives from the Federal Government, covering critical sectors such as national security, agriculture and food security, infrastructure and social services, as well as governance and the economy.

“This landmark event builds on the foundation’s previous engagement held on October 17, 2022, during which leading presidential candidates—including then-candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR—presented their manifestos and made commitments to the development of Northern Nigeria,” Umar said.

He noted that the 2025 session will assess the administration’s efforts in enhancing national security, boosting agricultural productivity and food sufficiency, improving infrastructure, healthcare, and education, and implementing policies that promote economic growth, transparency, and good governance.

Umar emphasised the importance of such engagements in strengthening public trust, fostering unity, and promoting informed public discourse.

“We believe that such interactions are vital for sustaining trust between the government and its citizens,” he said. “They help promote unity and ensure that the public remains actively involved in the democratic process.”

He reiterated the foundation’s commitment to advancing the legacy of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, by promoting good governance, socio-economic development, and national unity.

“This event underscores our dedication to creating platforms that empower citizens to engage constructively with their leaders and hold them accountable,” Umar added.

He described the upcoming session as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey, offering an opportunity for stakeholders and citizens alike to evaluate government performance and shape future policy directions.

“As the country continues to navigate complex development challenges, forums like this are crucial in promoting transparency, accountability, and responsive governance,” he stated.

The foundation’s moves comes on the heels of a similar announcement by the Arewa Consultative Forum to set up a special committee to evaluate the impact of President Tinubu’s policies, projects, and programmes on northern Nigeria, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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The Chairman of the ACF Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, disclosed this at the Forum’s meeting held in Kaduna last Wednesday, warning that the region would not support politicians or parties that fail to protect its interests.

He said, “As a matter of fact, we have received a number of proposals from some of our elders that this body appoint a special committee that will conduct a detailed study and a review of the policies, projects and programs embarked upon by the current government and determine how they have impacted the various parts of the country, particularly northern Nigeria.

“This is perhaps the best way to determine whether or not our interests are being sufficiently accommodated. For the avoidance of doubt, we must reiterate our faith in the principle that says all politics is local. In other words, northern Nigeria will remain faithful not to particular politicians or political parties but to those who care about our regional interests and are willing to promote and protect them,” the ACF stated.