…vows not to be distracted
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, accused the opposition parties of drawing the ruling All Progressives Congress into early political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He however insisted that he will not be distracted from providing good leadership for Nigerians.
Tinubu spoke during his meeting with Governors from the North East region led by Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Zulum, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said the Governors have resolved to partner with President Tinubu in providing good governance for Nigeria with a view to leaving behind lasting legacies and landmarks for the country.
They also used the opportunity to present their demands, including tackling insecurity and some important infrastructure development to the President for consideration.
The President in his address to his visitors, noted the challenges facing the region and how the governors have tried their best, especially using the civilian JTF in collaboration with the security agencies and hinted about approaching the National Assembly on the issue of State Police.
Tinubu said he had been looking at the security situation more carefully, and how civilian JTF reacts to the security challenges, adding, “Politics apart, we can discuss with the National Assembly leadership to really look at critical part. To see how we can eliminate political issues from state police that will be indigenous to the community and provide the additional safety buffer and effectiveness in the area. We have to look at it collectively together.”
On the political situation in the country, President Tinubu said, ”In the political environment, we are being drawn into early political activities from our rival political parties but whichever way it is, I am not distracted I am solidly focused, focused on what is ahead. Politics will happen at a given time. It is maturity but what we have seen come from the North East is being a great dedication that is yielding results .
“I think working together the way we have been is the way to go to build Nigeria of our dreams. There’s no way politics will not interfere once in a while. It is for us to embrace the heart of winning and from that heart we know the superior thinkers and doers. Our political party will prove itself eventually.”
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the Governors, Zulum thanked President Tinubu for fostering peace and stability within the sub-region and continuing with the initiative of sustaining the fight against insurgency.
He told the President that the North East has a peculiarity of managing large states with “unmanned forest, gorges, deserts, mountains and rivers which make them inaccessible, often hard to reach and almost becoming ungoverned spaces and thereby exacerbating the security challenges of the region.
“We are fully aligning with Mr. Presidents good initiative of training of manpower and providing technology with a view to reversing the ugly trend in the forest, thereby reducing the insurgency and promoting agricultural development in alignment with the renewed hope agenda on food security.”
The Borno Governor also commended the President for his intervention in mitigating the menace of flood, desertification and other natural disasters, adding that the region having suffered so much environmental and developmental setbacks.
He prayed the President for continued military operations in the shores of the Lake Chad, Dajin Madama, Mandara Hills, Sambisa Game Reserve, Mansur, Yelwa, Futuk, Kolmani areas, Karin Lamido Forest, amongst others.
Other demands of the region were for the Provision of funding to MNJTF for Military operation in the Tumbus of the Lake Chad, Completion of ongoing road projects and building of critical roads connecting the State; including, Kano – Maiduguri Road, Port Harcourt – Jos – Bauchi – Maiduguri Railway line, Bama – Mubi – Yola Road, Wukari – jalingo – Yola Road, Duguri – Mansur Road (NNPC Project Ongoing).
Other demands, includes, Bauchi – Gombe – Biu – Damaturu Road, Damaturu- Geidam Road, Bauchi – Ningi – Nasaru – Babaldo Road and Gombe – Potiskum, Damaturu – Biu Roads, among others.
The Governors also called for the resumption of oil exploration in the frontier wells, in particular Kolmani and Lake Chad wells.
