The Presidency has responded to claims by former Kano State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, dismissing his assertion that the North has been sidelined under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Kwankwaso had raised the alarm during a stakeholders’ dialogue on the 2025 constitutional amendment held in Kano on Thursday, accusing the federal government of skewing national resources in favour of the South, thereby worsening poverty and insecurity in the North.

He decried the poor state of federal roads in the region, recounting a recent ordeal where he was forced to travel from Abuja to Kano via Kaduna due to a cancelled flight. The trip, he said, was “hell” owing to the dilapidated road conditions.

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In a swift response on Friday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, refuted the allegations in a post on his X handle, insisting that the Tinubu administration has not neglected the region.

“SENATOR KWANKWOSO. YOU ARE WRONG. NORTH NOT NEGLECTED. PRESIDENT TINUBU HAS THE NORTH COVERED. NORTHERN NIGERIA NOT LEFT BEHIND.”

He cited a range of ongoing projects to support his position, including the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway, the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, and the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline. According to him, the government is actively pursuing development across key sectors in the region.

Dare also mentioned the $158.15 million Agriculture Value Chain programme being implemented in nine Northern states, as well as the Kolmani Integrated Development Project in Bauchi and Gombe. He added that the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) initiative is working to restore one million hectares of degraded land.

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The presidential aide highlighted ongoing health interventions, including the expansion of facilities at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria; University of Jos Teaching Hospital; and Federal Medical Centre, Nguru. He said about 1,000 primary healthcare centres across the North are being revitalised.

On infrastructure, Dare named several road projects such as the Kano–Kongolam Road, Kaduna–Jos Road, the Kano–Maiduguri Dual Carriageway, and key rehabilitation works in Borno and Adamawa states.

In the energy sector, he pointed to the 614-kilometre Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline, the Gwagwalada Power Plant, and planned solar projects in Kaduna. He further cited major railway projects, including the Kaduna–Kano and Kano–Maradi rail lines, as well as the Abuja Metro rehabilitation.

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, has vowed to set a new political order in Nigeria, stressing that the coalition that birthed the APC against the 2015 general elections was a mistake.

Oyegun spoke when he hosted stakeholders of the coalition opposition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in his Benin home.

According to him, the mistakes of the past notwithstanding, the imperative thing was to those who fell before to rise and ensure they did not fall again.

The first executive governor of Edo State added that he aligned with the apology tendered by the former governor of the state, Professor Osarhiemen Osunbor on the mistake of the 2013 APC coalition.

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Oyegun said that while he joined others to chase away “a government we called clueless”, the government that took over became indescribable.

“The story of success in life does not matter how much you fall. You heard the apology made by Professor Osunbor. We accept our failings. We removed a clueless government, and I don’t have a word for what we replaced it with. We are back to the struggle. We know what we are doing, and it will not fail,” Oyegun said

On the stakeholders’ meeting, he explained that the meeting was called to set up a committee for membership registration ans revalidation in the state.

The Committee, Chief Oyegun stated, was to work with the party’s state coalition in the state to ensure a rancour free process.

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He added that the membership registration and revalidation was to ensure the message of the coalition gets to every corner of this state in cooperation with the incumbent executive.

Oyegun also disclosed that the ADC had received other groups from the Social Democratic Party.

“I think the message has gotten home very largely. The entire state will convulse at the mentioning of the ADC. One of the Committee will work with the State Working Committee in a way that is effective and convenient to the ordinary citizen of Edo State.” Oyegun stated.

Also speaking with journalists after the meeting, Professor Osunbor said Nigerians were not happy with the way the country was being governed.

Osunbor noted that the coalition was formed by all concerned Nigerians across political parties “to ensure that multi-party democracy exist in the country.”, as the present situation tilted towards totalitarianism.

Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has welcomed thousands of defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into his party in Kano State.

Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, disclosed this on Friday via his official X handle, noting that the event was held at his residence in Kano.

He further stated that the NNPP’s growing political influence and distinguished leadership style in Kano continue to attract new members, encouraging others to join without hesitation.

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“Yesterday was a momentous occasion, as I received thousands of defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP),” he stated.

“Speaking during the event at my residence in Kano, I welcomed the new members into our party and I promised them equitable treatment and cooperation.

“The distinguished leadership style in Kano and our political leadership keep attracting more people into our fold, and I encourage those considering joining to do so without any hesitation.”

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