Tinubu and the Audacious Northern Trajectory — Part 1

The attention of the Progressive Alliance for Justice, Unity and Democracy International Movement (PAJUD-IM) has been drawn to a growing campaign of misinformation and political propaganda in certain quarters seeking to portray President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a leader who harbours bias against Northern Nigeria and its people.

These allegations are not only unfounded but also constitute a deliberate attempt to distort facts, mislead the public and create unnecessary divisions among Nigerians. Such narratives deserve to be examined against the backdrop of reality rather than political sentiment.

It is indeed remarkable that President Tinubu, who was once criticised in some sections of the South-West for allegedly maintaining close political relationships with Northern leaders and stakeholders, is now being accused by some Northern political actors of favouring the South-West at the expense of the North. This contradiction exposes the weakness and inconsistency of the arguments being advanced by those determined to politicise every action and policy of the government.

Before his emergence as President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was repeatedly accused by certain ethnic and regional groups of placing national interests above sectional considerations. Some critics within his own region questioned his political alliances and engagements across the country, arguing that he was too accommodating of interests outside the South-West. Today, the same individual is being portrayed by another group as anti-North. Such conflicting accusations should encourage fair-minded Nigerians to separate political rhetoric from objective reality.

Nigeria is a diverse nation with more than 250 ethnic groups and multiple religious identities. Governing such a country requires balance, courage, wisdom and an unwavering commitment to national unity. No President can successfully govern Nigeria if every appointment, project, policy or decision is viewed exclusively through ethnic, religious or regional lenses.

Since assuming office, President Tinubu has consistently emphasised the principle that every Nigerian deserves equal treatment under the law and equal access to opportunities provided by the government. His administration has pursued policies designed to stabilise the economy, improve infrastructure, strengthen security, enhance investment opportunities and create a more sustainable future for all Nigerians, irrespective of where they come from.

While no administration is perfect and constructive criticism remains an essential component of democracy, it is important that such criticism be based on facts rather than emotions, propaganda or political calculations. The tendency to label every policy decision as either pro-North or pro-South undermines the spirit of nation-building and weakens the foundations of national unity.

Particularly noteworthy are the efforts of the Tinubu administration to address security challenges that have affected various parts of the country for many years. For nearly two decades, insecurity in the form of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts and other criminal activities has posed serious threats to lives and livelihoods, especially in Northern Nigeria.

Although addressing the security challenge remains a work in progress, the Federal Government has made efforts to strengthen the operational capacity of security agencies, improve intelligence gathering, enhance collaboration among security institutions and support ongoing military operations aimed at restoring peace and stability to affected communities.

These efforts have not gone unnoticed. Security experts, members of the international community, traditional rulers, community leaders and concerned citizens have acknowledged the commitment of the present administration to tackling insecurity and creating conditions for sustainable peace and development.

In recent times, a narrative has gained traction in some political circles suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu harbours ill feelings towards Northern Nigeria or has deliberately neglected the region in governance and development. Such claims, when subjected to objective scrutiny, reveal themselves as products of political mischief, selective reasoning and deliberate attempts to sow division among Nigerians.

One cannot help but note the contradictory accusations that have followed President Tinubu throughout his political journey. At one point, he was accused by some Southern critics of being too close to the North, so much so that they labelled him a political ally and beneficiary of Northern interests. Today, however, some voices in the North accuse the same man of favouring the South-West and abandoning the North. The contradiction itself exposes the weakness of these allegations and demonstrates how political narratives are often shaped more by expediency than by facts.

President Tinubu’s political philosophy has, over the decades, reflected a commitment to national integration rather than regional supremacy. His political alliances, appointments and engagements have consistently cut across ethnic, religious and regional lines. Long before becoming President, Tinubu built relationships and political structures that transcended geographical boundaries, earning him allies and supporters across the federation.

It is important to note that governance should not be assessed through the narrow prism of ethnicity or regional sentiment. The true measure of leadership lies in policies, programmes and initiatives designed to improve the lives of citizens, irrespective of where they come from.

Since assuming office, President Tinubu has had to contend with daunting economic challenges, security concerns, infrastructure deficits and fiscal constraints affecting every region of the country. The administration’s efforts have therefore been directed towards stabilising the economy, attracting investment, creating jobs, improving security and laying a sustainable foundation for long-term national growth.

The North remains a major beneficiary of federal interventions in agriculture, transportation, road infrastructure, security operations and social investment programmes. Major infrastructure projects traversing Northern states continue to receive attention and funding. Security operations against banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other criminal activities have equally been intensified in many parts of Northern Nigeria. These are not the actions of a government hostile to a particular region.

Furthermore, appointments to strategic positions within the current administration have reflected Nigeria’s federal character principle. Distinguished sons and daughters of the North continue to occupy important positions in government, contributing significantly to policy formulation and national development. While no administration can satisfy every interest group, it would be unfair and misleading to suggest that any region has been deliberately sidelined.

The challenge facing Nigeria today is not simply a North-South divide but the collective responsibility of rebuilding a nation confronted by complex socio-economic realities. Attempts to ethnicise governance or regionalise every policy decision only distract from meaningful conversations about development, accountability and national progress.

History teaches us that nations prosper when their citizens embrace unity, mutual respect and shared aspirations. Conversely, societies become weakened when political actors exploit ethnic and regional sentiments for personal or partisan gain. Nigerians must, therefore, resist efforts to create unnecessary divisions where none exist.

President Tinubu, like every leader, is not beyond criticism. Constructive criticism is an essential component of democracy and good governance. However, criticism should be based on facts, policy outcomes and measurable performance rather than unfounded allegations rooted in ethnic or regional prejudice.

It is on record that the present Tinubu administration maintains relationships with Northern political leaders and stakeholders that date back several years. The President has also built longstanding bridges with Northern traditional rulers, institutions, religious leaders and local community leaders.

Since assuming the mantle of leadership, the administration has undertaken and continued several infrastructure projects across the region. Our organisation, PAJUD-IM, believes that the Tinubu administration has continued to build on the legacies of Northern founding fathers and leaders such as Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Muhammadu Ribadu, Sir Kashim Ibrahim, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gashua, HRH Usman Nagogo and Mallam Aminu Kano.

The President has also maintained relationships with the political class, traditional institutions and ordinary citizens, including the talakawa, despite the activities of those seeking to undermine his administration.

Military institutions, installations, security architecture and supporting infrastructure in the region have also received attention under the administration. PAJUD-IM maintains that the scale of the Federal Government’s interventions and development initiatives in the North provides a basis for Nigerians to objectively assess claims that the region has been neglected.

At this critical stage of our national development, Nigerians must rise above sectional considerations and evaluate leadership based on competence, vision and commitment to the collective good. The task before the nation is too important to be reduced to divisive narratives that serve neither the North, the South nor the country as a whole.

The question, therefore, remains: Does President Tinubu really hate the North? PAJUD-IM’s assessment of his political history, governance approach, appointments and policy initiatives suggests otherwise. What is evident is a President confronted with enormous national challenges and striving, within the limits of available resources, to address them for the benefit of Nigerians.

Rather than amplifying narratives of division, Nigerians should engage constructively with policies and initiatives aimed at promoting peace, economic prosperity, security and national cohesion. Our strength as a nation lies not in our differences but in our ability to work together towards a common destiny.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Signed:
Comrade Yakubu Dan Abba
Country Representative
Progressive Alliance for Justice, Unity and Democracy International Movement (PAJUD-IM)