Key Takeaways
- APC Chairman warns against a potential rise in poverty and halted development in Nigeria's North if President Tinubu is not re-elected in 2027.
- Key Tinubu administration interventions, including student loans, CNG initiatives, and road projects, are cited as significantly benefiting the Northern states.
- The opposition's proposal to restore fuel subsidies is criticized for potentially jeopardizing funding for crucial ongoing development programmes.
- The North's economic stability, particularly its agricultural sector, is directly linked to the continuity of current government policies on gas and fertilizer.
Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has issued a stark warning, asserting that 'the North risks a fresh rise in poverty and a reversal of ongoing development projects' if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not granted a second term in the 2027 general elections. This pronouncement came during a significant political event in Abuja, where Yilwatda officially welcomed a group of former members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by Princess Aslam Aliyu, who defected to the ruling party.
Safeguarding Northern Progress
Yilwatda emphasized that numerous interventions spearheaded by the Tinubu administration have particularly benefited the northern states. He highlighted critical initiatives such as extensive road construction, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) providing student loans, the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) programme aimed at affordable transportation, and various fertilizer-related measures crucial for agricultural productivity. According to the APC chairman, these programmes are pivotal for the region's socio-economic stability and growth.
He further argued that the North cannot afford a return to the challenging economic conditions that he claimed prevailed before Tinubu assumed office. Yilwatda specifically recalled a period marked by the inability of state governments to consistently meet salary and pension obligations, painting a grim picture of potential economic regression should the current trajectory be disrupted.
The Fuel Subsidy Debate: A Critical Juncture
A significant portion of Yilwatda's address was dedicated to critiquing the opposition's stance on economic policy, particularly the proposal by the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to restore fuel subsidies. The APC chairman questioned the feasibility and funding mechanism for such a policy, asking, 'how are they going to return the subsidy?' He contended that the removal of the fuel subsidy, though initially challenging, had liberated substantial federal government resources, enabling the pursuit of vital projects and interventions across the country, including those specifically targeted at the North.
Yilwatda expressed concern that restoring the subsidy would inevitably have severe implications for infrastructure spending, particularly road construction, which is a cornerstone of development in many northern communities. He also raised doubts about the continuation of programmes designed to reduce transportation costs and improve access to energy, asking rhetorically, 'You mean they will stop all these road constructions because they want to return the subsidy? Because there will be no money for this construction, all this road again.'
Economic Reforms and Regional Impact
The APC chairman intricately linked the administration’s energy policies to agricultural production, a lifeline for many in the North. He stressed the region's dire need for the gas and fertilizer interventions currently being promoted by the federal government, stating, 'That gas will go with fertiliser And we in the north, we need those fertilisers. You mean they should stop it?' He also championed the CNG initiative as a key measure that has already begun to alleviate the burden of transportation costs on vulnerable Nigerians, questioning if such a beneficial programme should be halted.
Furthermore, Yilwatwa underscored the significant impact of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), noting that 'The beneficiaries of the student loan, most of them are from the north We have more and more of them in this part of the country.' He warned that abandoning this programme would have dire consequences for countless students who rely on it to afford their education.
Why This Matters
Professor Yilwatda's strong assertions highlight the high stakes of the upcoming 2027 general elections, framing it as a critical choice between policy continuity and potential economic instability, particularly for Nigeria's northern region. The debate over fuel subsidy and the future of key development projects underscores the profound impact of political decisions on the daily lives and long-term prospects of millions of Nigerians.