NEWS
2027 Not For The North, Back Tinubu Till 2031 – SGF Tells Northern Politicians
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has appealed to political leaders from Northern Nigeria to exercise patience and allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete his administration’s agenda before considering another presidential bid from the region.
Speaking in Kaduna on Tuesday at a two-day interactive forum titled “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizens’ Engagement for National Unity,” organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Akume emphasized the importance of continuity in leadership for the sake of national progress.
Akume praised the platform for encouraging dialogue between the people and government, noting that such engagement is crucial to deepening democracy and ensuring transparency in governance.
READ MORE: Presidency Refutes Kwankwaso’s Claims, Says Tinubu Not Neglecting The North
While reflecting on the achievements of President Tinubu’s government, the SGF said, “Tinubu promised impartiality in governance and he has done that without breaking the promise.”
According to him, the administration has made significant progress in various sectors over the past two years and two months. He cited improvements in security, agricultural revitalization, and infrastructure as examples of the government’s performance.
“We have witnessed intervention that led to a reduction in prices of food produce, improved food security and infrastructure across the country,” he stated.
Akume called on Northern politicians to resist any pressure to contest in the 2027 presidential election, stressing the need for unity and patience.
“I will urge politicians from the Northern Region to wait till 2031. Do not join a group that will stagnate the various developments achieved by President Tinubu,” he cautioned.
He added that Tinubu’s efforts were not regionally biased, pointing out that several projects and appointments have favoured the North.
“Tinubu has appointed so many people from the Northern Region to work with him, and they are doing well. The narrative that the North is not carried along is not true,” he said.
The SGF highlighted the ongoing and proposed infrastructure projects in the region, including the Sokoto–Bagary Super Highway, which he said is longer than the Lagos–Calabar route, and the planned construction of the Akwanga–Gombe road network.
He also addressed concerns about the removal of fuel subsidy, describing it as a necessary step that has now enabled state governments to execute major projects with increased funding.
“The removal of fuel subsidy has now provided more funds to the government at the sub-national levels to carry out huge projects and deliver quality dividends of democracy,” Akume explained.
He reiterated that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration is a practical commitment aimed at rebuilding the nation.
“Tinubu has laid a foundation stone for New Nigeria through visionary leadership and commitment to bring dividends of democracy to all citizens and regions of the country without bias,” he stated.
As he concluded, the SGF reaffirmed that Nigeria’s current trajectory under Tinubu was promising and should not be interrupted.
“This is because Tinubu has done so well and will continue in that line to better the lot of the citizens and the country,” he said, urging politicians to shelve ambitions for 2027 in favour of national interest.
The event brought together key northern appointees in the Tinubu administration, including the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali M. Ali, among others.
Kenyan President William Ruto on Friday toured the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex in Lekki, Lagos, where he was hosted by Dangote Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Aliko Dangote.
The visit comes ahead of the planned September 30 groundbreaking of a proposed 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lamu, Kenya, being developed with Dangote.
ALSO READ: Dangote to Support Two Million Women with Refinery IPO Share Ownership
The Dangote Group had earlier confirmed that Dangote would host Ruto during his visit to the Lagos refinery.
The planned Kenyan refinery is expected to expand refining capacity in East Africa and strengthen petroleum supply in the region.
Ruto had earlier said discussions with Dangote and Africa Finance Corporation CEO Samaila Zubairu focused on financing and final preparations for the project.
Dangote is targeting a combined refining capacity of 2.1 million barrels per day through the planned expansion of the Lekki refinery and the proposed Kenyan facility.
The Anambra State Government has released documents showing the payment of ₦363.381 million as the second tranche of salary arrears owed to former staff, pensioners and next-of-kin of workers of the defunct Anambra State Water Corporation (ANSWC) and Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency (ANSEPA).
The development has intensified the ongoing dispute between Governor Charles Soludo’s administration and former Governor Peter Obi over outstanding workers’ entitlements and the financial obligations allegedly inherited by successive administrations in the state.
Presenting the documents as “Part 3: Evidence that lying is in Peter Obi’s DNA,” the Soludo camp accused the former governor of misleading Nigerians over his record on workers’ entitlements.
ALSO READ: I Won’t Seek Governorship Again, Even If Constitution Is Amended -Peter Obi
“Peter Obi knows we know he’s lying,” the statement said, alleging that the arrears were among workers’ entitlements left unpaid during Obi’s eight years as governor.
According to the documents, the ₦363.381 million payment represents the second tranche provided for under an out-of-court settlement reached between the Anambra State Government and representatives of the affected workers on February 6, 2024.
A memo dated May 22, 2025, and signed by the then Head of Service, Dame Theodora Okwy Igwegbe, mni, requested the release of the second tranche, citing Article 7 of the Terms of Settlement.
The memo stated that ₦363.381 million was due for payment in 2025 under the agreement.
A subsequent Ministry of Finance document dated June 24, 2025, confirmed the release of the funds through Capital Expenditure Release Warrant (CERW) No. 67/2025.
The Soludo administration had earlier paid the first tranche under the settlement, with the government saying the payments were aimed at resolving long-standing salary claims involving workers of the two defunct agencies.
Dispute Over When the Arrears Originated
The latest documents have become central to the political disagreement over whether the outstanding entitlements can properly be attributed to Obi’s administration.
The Soludo camp argues that the continued settlement payments demonstrate that unresolved workers’ liabilities remained after Obi left office in 2014.
Obi’s camp, however, has disputed the characterization. His supporters maintain that his administration inherited substantial salary, pension and gratuity arrears from earlier administrations and cleared billions of naira in outstanding obligations during his tenure.
They have also argued that some of the liabilities involving workers of the defunct agencies originated before Obi became governor in 2006.
The settlement documents establish that the Anambra Government entered into an agreement in 2024 to resolve the outstanding claims and that a second payment of ₦363.381 million was subsequently released.
However, the documents themselves do not conclusively establish that all the underlying arrears were incurred during Obi’s tenure.
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support towards the realisation of the Gateway Deep Seaport and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone in the state.
Abiodun described the deep seaport project as a long-standing vision that had been proposed and documented for nearly 30 years but remained unrealised until the intervention of the Tinubu administration.
ALSO READ: FG Preaches Support for Dangote Industrial City, Deep Seaport in Ogun, Ondo States
The governor, in a statement on Friday, acknowledged Tinubu as the “Facilitator-in-Chief” of the transformational project, crediting the President’s leadership and provision of strategic direction for helping to revive the initiative.
According to Abiodun, the vision of establishing a deep seaport along Ogun State’s coastline had been discussed and captured in official documents for decades, but had remained on the drawing board.
“Today, through the foresight, courage and determined leadership of President Tinubu, that long-standing aspiration is finally being transformed into reality,” the governor said.
Abiodun said the Gateway Deep Seaport and the Blue Marine Special Economic Zone would open a new chapter for Ogun State while strengthening Nigeria’s position in global trade, maritime commerce, industrialisation and economic development.
He added that major national projects require political will and leadership capable of turning long-standing plans into tangible development.
The governor also commended the Federal Government for what he described as its unwavering support and commitment towards making the project a reality.
“Posterity will indeed be kind to you, Mr. President,” Abiodun said.
The Gateway Deep Seaport project is expected to form part of Ogun State’s broader strategy to expand maritime infrastructure, attract investment and strengthen industrial and commercial activities along its coastline.
Warri School Gets Support from NCDMB, Techico
Man City Verdict Puts Trophy-Laden Era Under Fresh Scrutiny As Sanctions Loom
NGX Market Cap Falls to ₦163.65trn As All-Share Index Drops
Dangote Hosts Kenya’s President Ruto At Refinery
‘You Can’t Support APC And Other Parties At The Same Time’- Gov Lawal To Wike
2027 Presidency: Otti Backs Labour Party Candidate, Says He Won’t Oppose Tinubu
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart
I have been surfing on-line more than 3 hours nowadays, but I by no means found any fascinating article like yours. It¦s lovely worth enough for me. Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content material as you did, the internet shall be a lot more useful than ever before.
Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this write-up to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
I couldn’t resist commenting
great points altogether, you simply gained a brand new reader. What would you recommend in regards to your post that you made some days ago? Any positive?
I am delighted that I detected this weblog, exactly the right info that I was looking for! .
I conceive this internet site has some very fantastic information for everyone : D.
so much great information on here, : D.
Wonderful items from you, man. I have take into accout your stuff prior to and you are just extremely excellent. I really like what you have obtained here, really like what you are stating and the way through which you say it. You make it entertaining and you continue to care for to keep it wise. I can not wait to read far more from you. That is really a great web site.