The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has urged Northerners to appreciate President Bola Tinubu’s administration, insisting that the President has done more for the region through infrastructure development than previous governments.
Yilwatda, who reeled out several infrastructure projects being undertaken by the Federal Government in the North, said Nigerians should acknowledge the administration’s efforts rather than allow political sentiments to undermine its achievements.
He said his decision to support Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 was driven by his desire to secure a better future for his children and younger generations of Nigerians.
The APC chairman, who spoke when the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) defectors visited the party’s National Secretariat, also defended the President’s economic reforms.
He argued that the administration had inherited enormous financial liabilities from previous governments but was making efforts to settle outstanding obligations and reposition the economy for sustainable growth.
According to him, the country cannot afford to return to what he described as the era of economic mismanagement, poor capital investment and the disposal of national assets at prices far below their actual value.
Yilwatda urged Northerners to recognise the benefits of the Federal Government’s infrastructure investments and support Tinubu’s administration as the 2027 general election approaches.
Citing railway projects, gas infrastructure, inland dry ports and other investments, he argued that the North was positioned to benefit significantly from the administration’s development agenda.
The APC chairman specifically mentioned the railway project linking Kaduna to Kano, the proposed metro rail system in Kano and other railway investments designed to improve transportation and facilitate commercial activities in the region.
He said the railway connection between Kaduna and Kano, alongside other planned rail infrastructure, would strengthen economic activities, improve the movement of goods and create opportunities for businesses across the North.
Yilwatda also highlighted the potential benefits of the Federal Government’s plans to develop inland dry ports and improve rail connections to seaports, saying the initiatives would enable northern businesses to participate more actively in international trade.
According to him, the projects would also benefit landlocked countries that depend on regional transportation networks and seaports to import and export goods.
The APC chairman said the administration’s infrastructure development was not limited to roads and railways but also included gas transportation and the expansion of energy infrastructure.
He explained that the transportation of gas from the southern part of the country to the North would support electricity generation, fertiliser production and the development of gas-powered industries.
Yilwatda further noted that the expansion of gas infrastructure would create opportunities for businesses to generate and distribute electricity, while encouraging the adoption of compressed natural gas for vehicles.
He maintained that these investments would help stimulate industrialisation, create employment and strengthen the economic prospects of the northern region.
The APC chairman also defended the administration’s economic management, arguing that the government had inherited substantial unpaid obligations in several sectors of the economy.
He cited outstanding liabilities associated with the aviation, power and gas sectors, as well as obligations to investors, which he said previous administrations had failed to resolve.
According to him, the Tinubu administration has been addressing these liabilities while attempting to redirect government spending towards capital projects.
Yilwatda argued that the administration’s approach to budgeting had improved the balance between recurrent expenditure and capital investment, allowing more resources to be devoted to infrastructure development.
He warned against proposals that could reverse the gains, arguing that policies involving extensive government spending without adequate revenue backing could undermine the country’s economic progress.
The APC chairman also criticised the sale of some national assets by previous administrations, citing the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, and the Delta Steel Company as examples of what he described as the undervaluation of public assets.
He claimed that the aluminium company, which he said cost about $3.5 billion to build, was sold for less than $130 million, while the Delta steel facility, reportedly built for more than $1.5 billion, was sold for about $30 million.
Yilwatda questioned the rationale behind the transactions, arguing that the country had lost valuable economic assets through such disposals.
He said the Tinubu administration was working to address the consequences of past economic decisions and place the country on a path of growth.
Using a personal experience to illustrate his argument, the APC chairman compared the inherited national liabilities to buying a house without knowing that the previous owner had accumulated unpaid bills for electricity, water, land rent and security services.
He said the new owner would have to settle the outstanding bills despite having paid for the property.
According to him, that was the situation confronting the Tinubu administration, which he said had been making efforts to settle inherited obligations while pursuing new development projects.
Explaining his support for the President’s re-election, Yilwatda said his political commitment was motivated by the need to secure a better future for his children and the younger generation.
He said: “The day I’m going to campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I know I’m campaigning for my children, a better tomorrow.”
The APC chairman urged Nigerians to look beyond immediate political considerations and assess the long-term implications of their electoral choices.
He maintained that the country needed continuity in its development efforts rather than a return to policies that, in his assessment, had contributed to economic difficulties and the loss of national assets.
Yilwatda also called for national unity, saying the country’s development depended on the ability of Nigerians to work together irrespective of their ethnic, religious and regional differences.
He assured supporters that the APC remained open to Nigerians willing to contribute to the party’s objectives and support Tinubu’s administration.
“This is a very big tent, accommodating party. We have a space for everybody. If you are progressive, there is a place for you to build the party. You work for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
He urged Nigerians, particularly those in the North, to support the administration’s development agenda, expressing optimism that continued investment in infrastructure and the economy would create a better future for the country.
