The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, has urged Nigerians to vote for political parties and their candidates in the 2027 general elections based on their actions and past records, not rhetoric.
Speaker Abbas noted that members of the opposition who have declared themselves as alternatives to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, had been in power before, and Nigerians can see what they did when they held various public offices.
A statement signed by Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, said the Speaker stated this in his goodwill message at the maiden graduation ceremony for 4,050 youths at the Kaduna State Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development, Balarabe Musa Institute, Rigachikun, Kaduna, on Thursday.
He said, “Let me speak briefly about politics. I am a politician, and this season demands honesty. In 2027, the people of Kaduna will face a clear choice: to keep moving forward or to return to the past. Before then, the political noise will grow louder. Parties will adopt new logos, politicians will wear new colours, and familiar faces will return with fresh promises. But a change of costume does not create a change of character.
“So, when they come to you with new stories and promises, listen to what they say, but look closely at what they have done. Anyone asking for your trust must first answer for their record. How did they manage public funds? What did they achieve in office? Did they remain true to their principles, or did their principles change whenever power changed hands? As our elders say, no matter how long a lie travels, the truth will eventually catch up with it.”
He added, “Some of those presenting themselves as the alternative have been in power before. So, judge them by their record, not their rhetoric. What did they inherit? What did they spend? What did they build? What did they leave behind? Public office is not a magic show. The people have a right to know where their money went.
“Apply the same standard at the national level. Those who criticise current reforms should explain what they did when they had the authority to act.
“When any politician comes to your ward, do not be distracted by slogans and symbols. Ask for evidence. Ask what they built, whom they trained and which lives they improved. Promises sound good, but only action builds classrooms, clinics, and workshops.”
While noting that the graduation ceremony is “a clear proof that public investment can change lives,” the Speaker said the 4,050 graduands “are not promises for tomorrow or figures hidden in a budget,” adding that “they are young men and women equipped today with recognised qualifications, practical skills, and the confidence to build better lives.”
Speaker Abbas stressed, “People of Kaduna must, therefore, judge every candidate by what they have done, not only by what they promise. Look at their character, examine their record, and ask whose lives they have improved. Good leadership does not need a long explanation. The results will speak for themselves.
“From Zaria to Zangon Kataf, from Birnin Gwari to Jaba, and from Kafanchan to Kudan, let one message travel across our state: Kaduna is making progress under APC and under Governor Uba Sani. Nigeria is making progress under the APC and under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“It is our solemn duty and responsibility to sustain this progress. The darkest hour comes just before dawn. Do not abandon the journey when the destination is already in sight. A farmer who abandons the field at harvest time leaves the reward of his labour for others.”
Speaker Abbas emphasised that the ceremony “is the practical expression and realisation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” stating that reform earns public confidence when its benefits reach the daily lives of ordinary people. He noted that for 4,050 families across Kaduna, that promise has become a reality they can see and feel.
While noting that the National Assembly has helped create the conditions for achievements such as this, the Speaker said the federal parliament has approved budgets that give young people the priority they deserve. “We have enacted laws that broaden access to student funding, including for those pursuing technical and vocational education. We have reduced the tax burden on small businesses and strengthened oversight to ensure that public funds produce visible results,” he said.
In the House of Representatives, Speaker Abbas said the lawmakers placed human capital, jobs, and security at the centre of their Legislative Agenda, “and we have remained focused on those priorities.”
He added, “In my capacity as Speaker of the House of Representatives and member representing Zaria Federal Constituency, I have made the development of our young people a personal priority. Through constituency interventions, we have expanded access to education, improved learning environments, supported students, and strengthened technical and vocational training. We have promoted digital skills, entrepreneurship and practical learning, while helping young people gain the tools and confidence to create opportunities for themselves and others.
“This commitment extends beyond Zaria, across the North West and throughout Nigeria. Our goal is clear: to convert population into productivity, potential into proficiency and ambition into achievement.”
In his address, Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, CON, appreciated President Tinubu for “his extraordinary affection for Kaduna State and his steadfast support for our administration.”
He said, “Mr. President’s commissioning of these institutes in June 2025 was more than the inauguration of physical facilities. It was an affirmation of the Federal Government’s belief in Kaduna’s young people and our determination to transform their potential into productive power. His administration has consistently supported Kaduna in critical areas, including security, agriculture and agribusiness, transportation, health, education, and infrastructure.
“The Federal Government’s support for the Kaduna Light Rail project, our agricultural and agro-industrial initiatives, investments in healthcare and education, and broader infrastructure development all testify to a partnership that has strengthened our capacity to deliver for our people.
“I must say this without equivocation: under President Tinubu, the sub-nationals have been given wings to fly. The policy support, institutional collaboration, and partnership available to the states have enabled us to pursue our development agenda with greater confidence and ambition. To a very significant degree, the achievements of our administration are attributable to the unwavering backing and support of Mr. President. We remain profoundly grateful.”
Governor Sani also announced the approval of a grant of ₦200,000 for each of the 4,050 graduates, representing a total commitment of ₦810 million, to be administered through the Kaduna State Enterprise Development Agency.
“This support is intended to ease the transition from training to productive work; through the purchase of essential tools, initial working capital, shared workspace, professional registration or transportation to employment opportunities,” he said.
The governor, however, stated that the grant does not replace his administration’s job-placement drive, saying, “We are engaging companies and industries to create opportunities for direct employment, apprenticeships, internships, mentorship, subcontracting, and other structured engagements.”
He added, “We are also developing a digital platform to connect graduates with employers and track employment outcomes. Our measure of success will ultimately go beyond enrollment and graduation figures; it will be the number of graduates employed, enterprises created, incomes improved, contracts secured, and communities transformed.”
