By Emma Elelbeke

As Nigeria marks Democracy Day, prominent political figure and member of the 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, Alhaji Ahmed Dankabo, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as bold and visionary leadership that has set Nigeria on a path of sustainable development and national renewal.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Dankabo described President Tinubu’s emergence in 2023 as a “watershed moment” that has delivered visible dividends across the country, especially in Northern Nigeria.

“The choice Nigerians made at the ballot box in 2023 has proven to be a game changer. We are witnessing transformative leadership that is laying a solid foundation for future prosperity,” Dankabo said.

Reflecting on his own role in mobilizing support during the 2023 campaign, Dankabo noted that his confidence in Tinubu’s capacity to reform Nigeria has been validated.

“I knew then that Nigeria needed a bold reformer. I’m proud to have invested my time and energy in a cause that is now bearing fruit for all Nigerians,” he added.

Dankabo praised the administration’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange rate through the floating of the naira. While acknowledging the hardship these policies initially caused, he emphasized their necessity in avoiding economic collapse.

“But for President Tinubu’s decisive leadership, Nigeria could have been on the brink of bankruptcy,” he stated.

Dankabo highlighted that Northern Nigeria has been a primary beneficiary of President Tinubu’s reform agenda. He cited the push for local government autonomy as a critical step toward strengthening grassroots governance and enhancing democratic participation.

He also spotlighted key infrastructure projects aimed at revitalizing the region, including:

Sokoto–Badagry and Calabar–Abuja Superhighways

Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Highway

Kaduna–Kano Standard Gauge Railway

Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline

“These are legacy projects that will unlock trade, drive industrial growth, and boost regional connectivity,” Dankabo noted.

Education and Agriculture

On education, Dankabo praised the establishment of new federal institutions in the North, such as:

University of Applied Sciences, Kachia

University of Agriculture, Mubi

University of Health Sciences, Katsina

He also commended the upgrading of polytechnics and colleges of education, describing it as a major stride toward expanding access to quality education in the region.

Dankabo further applauded the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, calling it a strategic move to empower herders, create jobs, and improve food security. He also cited the administration’s dry-season farming initiative as a success already boosting agricultural output and employment across northern states.

According to Dankabo, the establishment of the North West and North Central Development Commissions is a landmark initiative that demonstrates the administration’s commitment to inclusive growth and the correction of historical imbalances.

“These commissions reflect President Tinubu’s responsiveness to the North’s unique developmental challenges,” he said.

Dankabo concluded by urging Northern Nigerians to sustain their support for President Tinubu in the years ahead.

“President Tinubu has already outpaced his critics—defeating them even before the contest begins. In 2027, the North must once again rise in overwhelming support and vote massively to continue this path of transformation,” he declared.