By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Forum of Federal Government appointees from Kano State under the leadership of Senator Bashir Garba Lado, has challenged opposition Leaders to showcase what they have in stock for Nigerians and demonstrate that they will perform better than President Bola Tinubu in terms of execution of development projects,and not “baseless opposition.”
The Forum said in a statement signed and issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson,Dr Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, that the opposition figures should do such rather than embarking on “unfounded criticisms.”
“Overtime, the opposition leaders such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and others have not clearly spelled out their mission, instead,they keep criticizing President Tinubu whose projects can be clearly seen and touched across the North and the country.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is executing a massive portfolio of infrastructure and development projects across Kano and Northern Nigeria, valued at trillions of Naira, including highways, railways, electricity and agriculture, which can be touched and seen, “and not mere baseless opposition,” the spokesperson said.
Dr.Kwankwaso, who is also the Executive Director Finance Hadejia Jamaare River Basin Development Authority(HJRBDA), said the projects were executed under the president’s Renewed Hope agenda,and that there are more than 30 of them in Kano State, alone.
He listed the projects to include the Kano–Kongolom Road, a major 132-kilometre executed at N334 billion, and a dualization and construction project aimed at connecting Kano with Jigawa and Katsina states.
Others, he said, include the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway, a massive ongoing reconstruction utilizing durable continuous reinforced concrete pavement technology with added security enhancements,the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, a colossal 1,068-kilometre, six-lane economic corridor that will integrate a rail line in the median, greatly connecting Northern region.
Kwankwaso also cited the A 37.8-kilometre dual carriageway designed with multiple bridges to divert heavy industrial traffic away from the Kano metropolis, that is the Kano Eastern Bypass, an ongoing project that will soon be completed.
Another giant project, according to him, is the Kano–Maradi Rail Line, a flagship 284-kilometre rail project cutting through Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states, designed to ease the transportation of goods and connect Nigeria with the Niger Republic.
“On Economic growth, the President is working on AKK Gas Pipeline, the 614-kilometre Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline aimed at boosting domestic gas supply, industrialization, and power generation in Northern states.This project is nearing completion.
“On Ecological and Agricultural intervention the President Tinubu ensures the execution of Jakara-Gogau-Zungeru Project, for he approved N47 billion for this massive urban sewage and ecological drainage system in Kano metropolis to control flooding and improve sanitation.
“He also created Dams & Irrigation and multi-billion Naira federal interventions have been released for 16 dams in Kano State, including the Challawa Gorge and Tiga Dams, alongside the broader River Kano project to support agriculture.
“On Healthcare Revitalization, the federal government has continuously upgraded Federal Teaching Hospitals across Northern zones and revitalized thousands of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) under the IMPACT programme.
“And the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has recently launched the Energize Commercialize Nigeria (ECoN) initiative in Kano, converting research and creative ideas into commercially viable products to create jobs across the Northwest.
“While for Northwest Development Commission, the federal government has finalized development and inspection operations for the commission’s projects and its permanent headquarters in Kano.”
“President Tinubu should sleep with his two eyes closed because his re-election is a done deal, and the North and Kano in particular, will give him massive votes that will enable him to smoothly secure his victory in 2027,” the APC bigwig.
On the Peter Obi/Kwankwaso NDC Presidential ticket, Musa Illiyasu described the bid as a joke, as neither Obi nor Kwankwaso has any recognition to win election in the North and Nigeria.
The statement further said that the Chairman of the Forum,Senator Bashir Garba Lado, who is also the Adviser on National Assembly Senate to the President, Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso and all other members, expressed their determination and commitment to securing victory for President Tinubu, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Senators Barau Jibrin, Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, and all the 24 House of Representatives seat and the 40 Kano Assembly seats.
“We are determined to ensure the victory of President Bola Tinubu,Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Senators Barau Jibrin, Kawu Sumaila, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and all the Reps Seats and the Kano State House of Assembly members in 2027 general elections,and by the Grace of God, our mission will be actualized,” Kwankwaso added