Tinubu Not Anti-North, Group Counters Critics
A socio-political organisation, Progressive Alliance for Justice, Unity and Democracy International Movement (PAJUD-IM), has rejected claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is biased against Northern Nigeria, describing the allegations as politically motivated and unsupported by facts.
The group, in a statement signed by its Country Representative, Comrade Yakubu Dan Abba, said the allegations were part of attempts by some political actors to create division between the North and the Federal Government.
PAJUD-IM argued that Tinubu’s political relationships and alliances had, over the years, cut across ethnic and regional boundaries, noting that he had at different times been criticised in the South-West for maintaining close relationships with Northern political leaders and stakeholders.
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The organisation said the contradictory nature of the criticisms against the president should encourage Nigerians to assess his administration based on policies, programmes and measurable interventions rather than ethnic or regional sentiments.
It said the Tinubu administration had continued to implement projects and policies across the North, particularly in infrastructure, security, transportation, education and energy.
The Federal Government, for instance, flagged off the rehabilitation of the Bama-Banki and Dikwa-Gamboru Ngala roads in the North-East in July, describing the projects as strategic for security, trade and regional integration.
The group also cited the administration’s security initiatives, including the development of a five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan and a National Threat Assessment aimed at improving coordination among defence, intelligence and security agencies.
According to PAJUD-IM, the administration has also maintained engagement with Northern traditional rulers and other stakeholders on security, peace and development. In June, the President, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to working with traditional institutions to promote peace and development in Northern Nigeria.
Federal Ministry of Information
The organisation acknowledged that insecurity remained a major challenge, particularly in parts of Northern Nigeria, but said the persistence of the problem should not be interpreted as evidence of deliberate neglect.
PAJUD-IM said the President had also outlined several Northern infrastructure initiatives, including major road, rail and power projects, while the Federal Government had continued investments in education and other sectors. In July, Tinubu highlighted ongoing projects including the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway, Kaduna-Kano railway and power projects in the region.
The group further maintained that appointments into strategic positions under the administration had reflected Nigeria’s federal character, with Northerners occupying important positions in government.
It urged Nigerians to move beyond the tendency to interpret every government policy through the North-South or ethnic prism, saying the country’s development challenges required collective action and constructive engagement.
“Governance should not be assessed through the narrow prism of ethnicity or regional sentiment,” the statement said, stressing that criticism of government should be based on facts, policy outcomes and measurable performance.
PAJUD-IM said President Tinubu was not beyond criticism but argued that allegations of anti-North disposition should be subjected to objective scrutiny.
The organisation consequently urged Nigerians to focus on issues of security, economic development, infrastructure, job creation and national cohesion rather than narratives capable of deepening regional divisions.
DemocracyNewslineNewspaper September 29, 2026
