Alhaji Bello Goronyo, the Minister of State for Works, has said that President Bola Tinubu’s achievements in just two years in office have surpassed those of an entire decade.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday in Sokoto, Goronyo emphasised that Tinubu was committed to the serious task of repositioning Nigeria to meet the needs and aspirations of all its citizens.

“President Tinubu has cautioned all his cabinet members that their appointments are not for enjoyment, but for dedicated service to safeguard Nigeria’s future.

“Today, we are proud of his passion and commitment to the development of Nigeria across all sectors.

“His dedication has already made a positive impact that feels like more than a decade’s worth of progress, even though he has been in office for only two years,” he said.

The minister further stated that the country was currently undergoing extensive rehabilitation across all sectors.

“Though we inherited numerous incomplete and abandoned projects, many of which are still ongoing, we have surpassed expectations.

“Under the Ministry of Works alone, we had completed no fewer than 260 projects across the six geopolitical zones of the country,” he said.

Goronyo also reaffirmed that the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda was being implemented smoothly and continues to receive top priority from all the members of the federal cabinet.

He congratulated Tinubu and assured Nigerians that more democratic dividends were on the way.

Commenting on the achievements of Gov. Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State, the Minister praised the Governor for his transparency and commitment to inclusive governance.

He stated that the governor’s nine-point Smart Agenda was being effectively implemented and it was delivering tangible results.

“We will continue to pray for and support him, so that after he is re-elected in 2027, it will be an opportunity to consolidate on the progress already made,” Goronyo added. (NAN) 

 A former Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, says majority of the governors have failed woefully in the discharge of their duties since the advent of the current democratic dispensation.

Okechukwu, a founding member of All Progressives Congress (APC), said this on Tuesday in Enugu while reacting to the 26 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria.

He said that many of the governors had failed Nigerians in spite of the huge federal allocations and increased internally-generated revenue (IGR) accruing to their respective states.

The APC chieftain also accused some of governors of conducting themselves like emperors, saying that this had affected the delivery of democratic dividends to Nigerians.

“In distilling the performance of our dear governors, it is safer to say that few in the last two decades had done exceptionally well; whereas majority of them have woefully failed the people.

“Most of the governors act as emperors and do not make a distinction between their interests and those of their states.

“They do not abide by the constitution or respect the balance of power with the other two arms of government – the legislature and the judiciary.

“The social contract between them and the people is always in the breach,” he said.

Okechukw said that it was regrettable that Nigerians, out of what he termed ‘long fatigue’, oftentimes transferred their aggression and hauled their blames on the president.

“They blame the president even for repair of local roads and primary health care centres in villages and communities in their states,” he said.

Okechukwu commended President Bola Tinubu’s vision to checkmate under-development in the states and, particularly in the geo-political zones, by setting up and funding regional development commissions.

“Yes, I’m of the considered view that the North-West, South-West, North-Central, South-South, North-East and South-East Development Commissions will not only propel regional development, definitely they are catalyst for grassroots development.

“In fact, some pundits have dubbed the development commissions as restructuring by other means.

“This is because members of the commission know better what each geo-political zone needs and the geo-political zone’s comparative advantage more than the minister whose landscape is the whole country.

“For instance, the South-East Development Commission, which one has more details about, if well-funded, will do well because the chairman, managing director and the executive directors were chosen from among our first 11,” he said.

On security, Okechukwu said that the Tinubu-led administration had done a lot to contain insecurity in the country.

He, however, said that more should be done, especially in the areas of food security and social services, such as education and health. (NAN)

 Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Executive Director Commercial and Environmental Development, South-West Development Commission (SWDC), has expressed  confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Ibikunle in an interview with newsmen, on Tuesday in Ibadan, described the president  as a master political strategist whose popularity had  continued  to soar across the country.

He dismissed claims of political unrest in the North as mere outcries from individuals whose personal expectations were unmet.

“The real northerners who determine election outcomes are not among those expressing grievances.

“Those making agitating are only doing so because they didn’t get what they expected,” he said.

Ibikunle further dismissed the political relevance of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai in the current political landscape.

“Atiku is no threat to President Tinubu. He has defected several times and failed in his presidential ambitions.

“As for El-Rufai, he’s more of a technocrat than a politician and holding a former governorship position doesn’t necessarily make one a political heavyweight.”

Ibikunle said that President Tinubu was firmly in control and deeply strategic in his leadership style.

“When he assigns a political task, four other people you don’t know are working with you, observing and reporting. That’s how deep his political playbook runs,” he said.

The executive director said that President Tinubu’s political base has expanded since assuming office.

“Before he became president, the South-West was 70-30 politically. Now, he controls the entire region,” he said.

Ibikunle allayed fears of possible imposition of one-party system in Nigeria, saying the president won’t impose such as a democrat.

“President Tinubu is a democrat who will never impose a one-party system, but the majority naturally supports him.

“Tinubu is God-ordained and came fully prepared for leadership,” Ibikunle said.(NAN)