Senator George Akume

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has advised politicians from Northern Nigeria to shelve their presidential ambitions until 2031, urging continued support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking at a two-day interactive session on government-citizens’ engagement in Kaduna on Tuesday, Akume stressed that Tinubu’s leadership had yielded significant national progress in the past two years and deserved continuity.

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 northern political appointees, government officials, and members of the public.

Akume, in his address, lauded the foundation for facilitating dialogue between citizens and government representatives, describing it as vital for democracy and development.

“President Tinubu has only spent two years and two months, and his achievements so far are both fundamental and remarkable,” Akume said. “He has kept his promise of impartiality in governance and has touched every region of the country positively.”

He added that under Tinubu’s leadership, security infrastructure had been strengthened, food prices reduced through targeted agricultural reforms, and critical infrastructure projects initiated across the federation.

Referring to political agitation ahead of the 2027 elections, Akume said:

“I urge politicians from the Northern Region to wait till 2031. Do not join groups that will derail the developmental progress achieved by this administration.”

Akume highlighted that the Renewed Hope Agenda is more than a slogan, describing it as a “deliberate blueprint” aimed at restoring hope and equity across all regions. He cited progress in sectors such as diplomacy, job creation, education, tax reform, and national unity.

On regional equity, the SGF dismissed claims that the North had been marginalised, noting that President Tinubu had appointed numerous Northerners to key positions.

“The narrative that the North is being left out is false,” he said. “Projects like the Super Highway from Sokoto to Bagary and the soon-to-be-awarded Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Taraba road corridor prove the president’s commitment to Northern development.”

He further praised Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidies, which, according to him, had boosted the fiscal capacity of state governments to deliver on their mandates.

Akume concluded by urging northern politicians to focus on consolidating Tinubu’s legacy rather than prematurely pursuing presidential ambitions.

“With what Tinubu has achieved in two years, patriotic politicians should support his re-election in 2027 and consider 2031 for future political plans.”

The event was attended by several political appointees from the North, including Ali M. Ali, managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), alongside other stakeholders engaged in an open dialogue with citizens on national progress and governance.