President Bola Tinubu has urged governors in the six North-East states to intensify efforts to tackle terrorism and banditry, stressing the need for greater collaboration to address the region’s security challenges.
Tinubu made the call on Thursday when he received a delegation of political leaders and senior government officials from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The visit was led by Borno State Governor and Chairman of the North-East Governors Forum, Babagana Zulum, who said the delegation had come to thank the President for retaining Vice-President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
Addressing the delegation, Tinubu said the region’s leadership had been challenged by the persistence of terrorism and banditry, urging the governors and other stakeholders to work together to confront the threats.
He said, “I could see the leadership of the Northeast challenged because of terrorism and banditry. I could see our collaboration. We work together.
“Only when we stick together, think together, and face the challenges the best way possible as a united country do we prevail.”
The President also declared that Nigeria had entered what he described as a “golden age”, following what he said was the stabilisation of the economy.
“The golden age is here now. If you can stabilise the economy, Nigerians are not asking for too much: simple stability and social welfare,” Tinubu said.
He added that his administration would remain focused on steering the country towards democratic stability, unity and prosperity.
“We have our hands on the plough. We are never going to look back. I promise you, through the twists and turns of this democracy, Nigeria will survive,” he said.
Tinubu also highlighted his administration’s infrastructure projects in the North-East, particularly the Akwanga-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri Superhighway, saying he had fulfilled his earlier commitments to improve road infrastructure in the region.
He further said his administration was addressing pension backlogs inherited from previous governments, assuring pensioners that efforts were ongoing to clear outstanding obligations.
The President also acknowledged former Vice-President Babagana Kingibe, recalling their shared political history dating back to the Social Democratic Party era of the Third Republic.
Earlier, Zulum said the delegation was in Abuja primarily to express its appreciation to Tinubu for renominating Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
He described the Vice-President as an “accomplished son” of the region who had demonstrated loyalty, competence and commitment during his time in office.
Zulum also commended the President for infrastructure projects in the North-East, including the superhighway, as well as investments in education, agriculture, job creation and the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons.
The Borno governor assured Tinubu that the North-East remained firmly behind his administration and would support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
“Come 2027, by God’s will, the North-East will massively deliver your ticket and all other APC candidates at all levels,” Zulum said.
He added that the region’s support was based not only on the administration’s projects but also on its belief in Tinubu’s leadership and vision for Nigeria.
Kingibe, who was the running mate to MKO Abiola in the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, also pledged his support for the Tinubu administration.
He said political leaders who were not always visible in the media continued to play important roles in their communities by explaining government policies and providing guidance to the people.
“Mr President, we are with you. We are with your administration, and by the grace of God, you will continue where we stopped in 1993, and bring hope to our great fatherland,” Kingibe said.
The delegation included former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai; former governors and senators from the six North-East states; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia; former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff; former FCT Minister, Musa Bello; state APC chairmen, traditional rulers, including the Shehu of Borno and Emir of Gombe, as well as former ambassadors and other political leaders.
