President Bola Tinubu has reportedly initiated several measures to regain the support of northern political leaders who have expressed dissatisfaction with his administration.
According to a source close to the President who spoke with Punch, multiple initiatives are being implemented to address concerns raised by northern leaders and politicians, including issues related to alleged nepotism and perceived marginalization.
The efforts come amid increasing discontent among northern leaders, who have accused the President of filling key government positions with individuals from Lagos, as well as implementing policies they deem unfair.
These leaders have voiced concerns that the administration is not adequately addressing the needs of the northern region.
A former Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, previously criticized Tinubu for being inaccessible to lawmakers and party leaders.
Although Ndume later apologized, he was removed from his position and replaced by Senator Tahir Monguno, further highlighting tensions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a similar vein, Salihu Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman of the APC in the North-West, criticized northern politicians within the Tinubu administration for their lack of assertiveness in defending northern interests.
Lukman also expressed disappointment with Vice President, Kashim Shettima, accusing him of failing to rally northern leaders.
Prominent voices in the North, including the Borno Elders Forum, have also raised concerns about Tinubu’s policies and appointments.
Professor Khalifa Dikwa, Dean of the forum, criticized the administration for appointing what he called “misfit and weak appointees” and implementing “anti-people policies.”
Moreover, the relocation of key departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria from Abuja to Lagos sparked further discontent in the North.
The Northern Elders Forum, through its spokesperson, Abdulaziz Suleiman, expressed regret over supporting Tinubu in the 2023 election and vowed to prioritize unity and careful selection in the future presidential elections.
Despite the growing criticism, sources within the presidency revealed that Tinubu’s administration is working on addressing these concerns through a two-pronged approach aimed at countering the dissatisfaction expressed by northern leaders.
The source said, “The first is to increase patronage to the north in terms of appointment. With this, we can silence the noise and complaints on the lopsided appointments, which has no basis.
“The second is to address the prominent problem of poverty and illiteracy, which is a serious issue. This was part of the reason for the creation of the North-East Development Commission.”
The senior official expressed sadness that northern governors were not acknowledging the contributions of the Federal Government to their states.
He pointed out that palliatives being distributed by the central government for the welfare of citizens were not getting to them, noting that bags of rice were being rebranded and shared by some governors.
According to the source, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had been tasked with taking up causes of the north and fighting for them.
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