The North West Caucus in the House of Representatives has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for signing the North West Development Commission Bill into law.
The Caucus said during a thank-you press conference. At the National Assembly on Friday that President Tinubu has demonstrated good leadership and proved to be a man of his words by assenting the bill.
This is even as the North West Caucus appealed to the people of the region and other Nigerians not to join the planned “destructive national strike,” which they said could disrupt the very delicate balance of Nigeria at this time.
The leader of the Caucus, Hon. Sada Soli, addressed the press on behalf of the Caucus. He was flanked by the Leader of the Northern Caucus, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, and the Deputy North West Caucus Leader, Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, as well as representatives of other states from the region.
In the address, titled ‘President Tinubu Has Justified Our Trust’, Hon. Sada Soli said, “We wish to respectfully commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for signing the North-West Development Commission Bill into law as this has profoundly renewed the hopes of the people of the North West geopolitical zone in a better Nigeria.
“The signing of this Bill comes on the heels of the recent policy decisions that underline President Tinubu’s fervent patriotism, and his determination to ensure that growth and development permeate every region of the country. One recalls the recent Supreme Court ruling supporting local government autonomy which has been hailed by the Northern Governors Forum for its potential to energize development at the grassroots.
“We, the House of Representatives North West Caucus, are particularly gratified with the signing of the North-West Development Commission Bill, which was sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Jibrin Barau, in the effort to ginger the economic and social development of the geopolitical zone and restore parity to a people who for years were forced to watch as their lands were ravaged by the gratuitous violence of bandits and other miscreants.”
Hopefully, the North West Caucus said, the Commission would cause the rebuilding of the ruined infrastructure, from roads, schools, health facilities and markets, to homes and places of worship, business premises and other social amenities in the region.
“Perhaps even more importantly, this Commission brings renewed hope to a geopolitical zone whose social fabric and mental well-being have been brutalized by senseless violence that has been unabating and intractable.
“The sporadic attacks have since escalated into a multidimensional crisis that has hampered agricultural activities and trade, and turned some of the most industrious and thriving communities in the North West geopolitical zone into ghost towns as people flee their homes and become refugees.
“This has manifestly impacted on the famous cross-border trade and flourishing agribusiness between the geopolitical zone and neighboring countries. Most of our border constituencies, which were historically vibrant commercial centres, with massive large-scale farmers exporting produce to various parts of Africa, including Niger Republic, Mali, and Benin Republic, have since been abandoned by farmers, importers and exporters, due to this wanton violence. As a result, Internally Generated Revenues in these states have been negatively affected.”
He noted that the Northwest zone voted for President Tinubu “overwhelmingly” in 2023 with the hope “that the famous Asiwaju, who had shown himself to be a patriot of the first order and a man who believed in fairness and equity, would make policy decisions that will bring development to our states by rescuing them from the evils of banditry and cross border terrorism.
“This Commission is, therefore, a tremendous boost to the valiant efforts of the governors of the North West geopolitical zone, and it has further justified our trust in President Tinubu’s commitment to help revamp this geopolitical zone and place it on a sound pedestal.”
The North West lawmakers appealed to the President to intensify efforts in addressing the security challenges still prevalent in the geopolitical zone particularly, and other parts of the country at large.
“A broader security sector reform will enable our people to return to their normal lives, leading to positive changes in economic development and social order.
“On behalf of the members of the entire members of the North West Caucus in the House of Representatives and the millions of people we represent, we wish to thank President Tinubu for his abiding efforts in leading this country through difficult times and to appeal to Nigerians to continue to give this government their unalloyed support.
They said it was in line with their support for the Tinubu-led administration that they alongside “other political, traditional and religious leaders in the North West geopolitical zone, do not support the scheduled nationwide protest planned by some elements to further disrupt the very delicate balance of the country right now.
“We appeal to the peaceful and law-abiding people of the North West geopolitical zone, who have suffered enough disruption of their peace, not to join in this potentially destructive exercise, but rather to give governments at both the Federal and State levels more chance to look at the issues concerned.”
They thanked the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Jibrin Barau for sponsoring the Bill, while also acknowledging the good leadership of Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D.
“We join our voices with so many others in calling for similar commitment for those who would be saddled with managing this Commission to ensure that they worked diligently to realize the goals of this bill and the promise it holds for the development of the North West geopolitical zone.”