The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has called on politicians from the Northern region to set aside presidential ambitions until 2031 and allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete his tenure and consolidate on ongoing national development.

Akume made the call on Tuesday while speaking in Kaduna at a two-day interactive session on government-citizen engagement. The event, themed “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity,” was organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation.

In his remarks, Akume said the Tinubu-led administration has spent just two years and two months in office but has already delivered what he described as “fundamental and remarkable” achievements. He urged Nigerians especially from the North not to disrupt the current trajectory of development.

“I will urge politicians from the Northern region to wait till 2031,” he said. “Do not join a group that will stagnate the various developments achieved by President Tinubu.”

The SGF emphasized that President Tinubu has lived up to his campaign promise of impartial governance and has positively impacted every region of the country. He argued that the administration’s decisions, including the removal of fuel subsidy, have freed up resources for development at sub-national levels, enabling state governments to undertake significant infrastructure projects.

Akume also pointed to improved security, interventions in agriculture, and a reduction in food prices as evidence of the administration’s performance.

“Tinubu has strengthened the security architecture in the country, revitalized agriculture with progressive initiatives, and laid the foundation for a new Nigeria,” he added. “The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a slogan it is a roadmap for inclusive governance and national development.”

He dismissed claims that the North is being marginalized in Tinubu’s government, noting that several key appointments have gone to Northern professionals who, according to him, are performing well in their roles.

Akume also highlighted ongoing and proposed infrastructure projects across the North, including the Super Highway from Sokoto to Bagary which he said is longer than the Lagos-Calabar coastal road and the soon-to-be-awarded Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Taraba highway.

He further praised Tinubu’s achievements in areas such as diplomacy, foreign policy, job creation, transportation, education, tax reform, local government autonomy, sports, anti-corruption efforts, and national stability.

“The President has laid a solid foundation for progress through visionary leadership,” Akume said. “Anyone who truly believes in Nigeria should not be thinking about 2027. The president deserves full support to complete what he has started.”

The SGF commended the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation for facilitating the platform for engagement between government officials and citizens, noting that such forums were essential for strengthening democracy and national unity.

Also present at the event were appointees from the Northern region serving in the current administration, including Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Malam Ali M. Ali, among others.