Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has taken a swipe at an unnamed northern presidential aspirant seeking to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, declaring that the candidate has no credible record of achievements to justify his ambition.
The governor said northern Nigerians would not be persuaded to vote for a presidential candidate merely because he comes from the region, insisting that leadership must be judged by performance, demonstrable achievements and commitment to the development of the people.
Speaking on Saturday at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Kaduna, Sani challenged the unnamed northern politician to present evidence of what he accomplished while occupying public office, particularly in infrastructure development.
He argued that President Tinubu had demonstrated greater commitment to the development of northern Nigeria through massive investments in roads, security, education, agriculture, transportation and human capital development than those seeking to replace him on the basis of regional sentiments.
The governor said the people of the North had resolved to support Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 because of his administration’s developmental interventions across the region, stressing that political considerations should go beyond ethnicity and geographical affiliation.
“When someone came to us and said we should vote for him simply because he’s a northerner, we asked him, can you show us a track record?” Sani said.
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👉 JOIN GISTSMATE WHATSAPP CHANNELHe added: “And we keep asking. And I dare say that even Mr Vice President sitting there, I was talking to him at the airport. And I told him history will remember him and will be kind to him that as a Vice President under you, more than 1,000 kilometres of roads have already been constructed in the north-east part of Nigeria.”
The governor further challenged the unnamed presidential hopeful to demonstrate what he had done for the region when he had the opportunity to serve.
“Can you show us 200 kilometres of road like he himself was able to at least help the people of north-east when he was the Vice President? To this moment we have not seen one,” he declared.
Sani maintained that the achievements of the Tinubu administration in northern Nigeria had provided sufficient justification for the region to support the President’s second-term ambition, adding that the people would reciprocate his commitment with their votes.
He recalled that during the 2022 presidential campaign, Tinubu demonstrated uncommon courage by insisting on visiting Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State despite security warnings against the journey.
According to him, the area was then regarded as the epicentre of insecurity in the North-west, with security authorities advising the APC presidential candidate against travelling there because of the activities of bandits.
“Mr President, recall precisely on 27 December 2022, you came to Kaduna for campaign as a candidate of our great party. You dared to go to Birnin Gwari Local Government. At that time, Birnin Gwari Local Government was the epicentre of insecurity in the whole of north-west,” he recalled.
He said the then General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army advised Tinubu against the journey, but the President rejected the advice and proceeded to the troubled community.
Sani disclosed that the journey from Kaduna to Birnin Gwari took approximately four hours, with Tinubu, the Vice President and other party leaders accompanied by 27 armoured vehicles because of the prevailing security situation.
He said Tinubu made two major promises during the visit, including the reconstruction of the 123-kilometre Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road, which he said had been abandoned for more than 40 years, and the restoration of security along the corridor.
“Mr President, today I can assure you the two promises you made, I’m happy to say that you have fulfilled the promises. Number one, you promised you were going to reconstruct Kaduna to Birnin Gwari Road, the 123 kilometres that was abandoned for over 40 years.
“As we are speaking, Mr President, N100 billion has been released to the contractor and the project is ongoing. The people of Birnin Gwari and Kaduna State will remain forever grateful to you for this intervention,” he said.
On security, the governor claimed that the situation along the Birnin Gwari corridor had improved considerably, making it possible for travellers to move without the heavy security escorts previously required.
“Again, Mr President, you assured us that you would address the issue of insecurity along the corridor of Birnin Gwari. Today you can travel to Birnin Gwari with your eyes closed without a single police escort, Mr President. That is progress,” he declared.
Sani also disclosed that insecurity had forced the closure of more than 300 schools and over 150 primary healthcare centres across Kaduna State in 2023, but said the facilities had since reopened following improvements in security.
“Today I’m happy to inform you all the schools and primary healthcare centres are reopened, Mr President,” he said.
The governor equally commended Tinubu for the ongoing reconstruction of the Zaria-Soba-Funtua Road, describing the project as another fulfilment of a longstanding promise to the people of Kaduna State and neighbouring communities.
He noted that the road had remained a major concern for political leaders and residents for several years, adding that contractors had now been mobilised to execute the project.
Turning to transportation, Sani thanked the President for selecting Kaduna State as the pilot state for the proposed metropolitan rail project, revealing that $865 million had been approved for the development of a 50-kilometre rail corridor.
According to him, the contractor handling the project informed him that $300 million had already been mobilised towards its implementation.
“Mr President, I want on behalf of the people of Kaduna State again to thank you for choosing Kaduna State to be the pilot state for metropolitan red line project in Nigeria.
“As we are speaking, Mr President, $865 million has been approved and the contractor informed me last week that they have been mobilised with $300 million for Kaduna metropolitan red line, which is about 50-kilometre corridor,” he said.
The governor further praised Tinubu for his intervention in the reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, which he described as one of Nigeria’s most strategic highways because of its importance to transportation and economic activities across the country.
He recalled drawing the President’s attention to the deteriorating condition of the road about three years ago, stressing that Tinubu subsequently committed N140 billion towards its reconstruction.
“As we are speaking, Mr President, 95 per cent of that road has been completed. We want to thank you, Mr President, because Abuja-Kaduna Expressway connects 12 states, North-west, North Central and North-east, as well as connecting northern Nigeria to the southern part of Nigeria,” he said.
Sani explained that insecurity and inadequate funding had previously hindered the reconstruction of the highway, but maintained that both challenges had been substantially addressed under the present administration.
He claimed that more than 90 per cent of those attending the Kaduna rally travelled through the Abuja-Kaduna corridor by road without experiencing kidnapping or other security threats, describing the development as evidence of progress.
On education, the governor disclosed that the North-west had benefited from N84 billion in interventions under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), with approximately 414,000 students receiving support.
He said the initiative had particularly benefited children from poor and underserved families who might otherwise have been unable to pursue higher education.
“Today, Mr President, the North-west alone benefited to the tune of N84 billion of the NELFUND, supporting about 414,000 students from North-west of Nigeria.
“Most of the students that have benefited from this intervention are children of the poor, underprivileged and underserved. You have given them future. You have given them life. And we believe education is the greatest leveller we can give to anyone,” he said.
Sani also commended the administration’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, describing it as particularly important to northern Nigeria because of the large number of young people requiring practical skills and employment opportunities.
He disclosed that thousands of beneficiaries from the North-west had received support through the programme, including artisans undergoing training with provisions for upkeep and institutional allowances.
The governor maintained that the initiative would help equip young people with employable skills, improve livelihoods and reduce dependence on government employment.
On agriculture, Sani described Tinubu’s interventions as unprecedented, claiming that no previous Nigerian leader had demonstrated a comparable commitment to supporting farmers and transforming agricultural production.
He noted that agriculture remained the backbone of the northern economy and that the President’s policies had provided significant support to farmers across the region.
“Today I’m speaking on behalf of all the farmers here, particularly those from northern Nigeria. No leader in the history of Nigeria has supported farmers in agricultural transformation as you have done, Mr President. And that is on record.
“We are talking based on statistics and data, Mr President. And no leader in the history of Nigeria has supported us farmers as you have done,” he declared.
Sani said the President’s interventions in transportation, education, healthcare, agriculture, security and human capital development had rekindled hope among northern Nigerians and strengthened their confidence in his leadership.
He assured Tinubu that the people of Kaduna State and the wider North would demonstrate their appreciation through massive electoral support in the 2027 presidential election.
“That is why today we are affirming our resolve as a people to massively come out in January 2027 to vote for continuity. We are voting for a promise keeper to continue with the good work he is already doing in Kaduna State and in the North in general,” he said.
The governor also took a swipe at opposition political parties, accusing them of relying on social media and artificial intelligence rather than engaging Nigerians through genuine political mobilisation.
“The opposition have now upgraded their campaign from Facebook and Twitter to AI. So I want to call the attention of our supporters to prepare, to be vigilant. The opposition have only been campaigning with AI. No real campaign,” he said.
Earlier, Sani welcomed President Tinubu, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other APC leaders to Kaduna, which he described as the political and spiritual capital of northern Nigeria.
He commended the President and the First Lady for their affection towards Kaduna State and northern Nigeria, particularly their attention to the welfare of women, children and vulnerable families.
The governor said the administration’s developmental interventions had strengthened cooperation between the federal and state governments, while creating opportunities for improved living standards across the region.
He assured the President that northern Nigerians would not forget his contributions to their development, insisting that the massive turnout at the Kaduna rally reflected the region’s determination to support his re-election.
“Mr President, I want to assure you that the people of northern Nigeria will repay you with their votes. You have shown love, Mr President,” Sani declared.
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