The North-east region of the country contributed massively to the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC, administration both in the first and second terms. All the states including the volatile Borno state gave 90% of their votes to APC in 2015 and 2019 elections, respectively.
Despite this, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba and Borno states have not benefitted anything from the administration. So far, only seven months left for the party’s tenure to be exhausted but nothing has been achieved yet in the listed states.
Though there is a high probability of winning by the 2023 general elections by APC, other parties have a chance of winning also and luckily if that happens, the region will lose many dividends. This is because most of the projects said to be awarded by the administration are yet to commence.
Multiple gigantic projects have been awarded to the region. They include the Mambilla hydropower station, extraction of hydrocarbon oil and gas in Kolmani Alkaleri Bauchi state, Akwanga/ Gombe express way through Plateau state and many more, yet there is no success recorded in any of the projects awarded.
However, each of the projects has a very significant role in the nation. Manila, oil and gas exploration commenced around 2018, the defunct NNPC in 2020 announced that it has achieved 6700 feet out of the 14000 feet from the drilling exercise. So far, nothing tangible on the ground to present as a success from the oil and gas drilling by NNPC as the Buhari administration is coming to an end.
Similarly, to end the problem of inadequate electricity bedevilling the nation, the government awarded the Mambilla hydropower station in Taraba state in 2020, and when completed, it is said to be the biggest power station in Nigeria and Africa. The station can generate 3050 megawatts in addition to what the nation is currently consuming.
However, the North-east is one of the regions suffering insufficient electricity as there is a full senatorial district with no electricity in Taraba state right from its creation to date. Therefore, the region needs urgent intervention from the government.
Most of the roads awarded by the administration are yet to be completed while others have been outrightly abandoned – Gombe-Adamawa, Akwanga Gombe through Plateau state, dualization of Damaturu-Maiduguri, Kano-Azare and many more.
Therefore, as many are saying if the present administration fails to fulfil its promise through the completion of the abandoned and yet-to-be-started projects, there is a likelihood that the people might withdraw their support for the party in the coming elections, which could lead to the party’s failure, if care is not taken.
As such, l am drawing the attention of the APC administration to do the needful for the people of the North-east. The party should as a matter of urgency mount pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to complete all the abandoned and yet-to-be-stated projects in the region before the election period. Doing so would leave the people with no choice than to vote for APC again.
Abdullahi Usman,
Department of Mass Communication,
Borno State University.
