The main bowl of the iconic Kaduna Stadium erupted in thunderous applause on Saturday as thousands of APC faithful gathered for the official national flag-off of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign.
Delivering a charged welcome address, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a promise keeper whose interventions have transformed Kaduna State and the entire Northern Nigeria.
Addressing a crowd that included Vice President Kashim Shettima, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senate President, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, APC leadership and fellow governors, Sani declared Kaduna the undisputed political and spiritual capital of Northern Nigeria.
You Dared To Go To Birnin Gwari – Sani
Taking the audience down memory lane, Governor Sani recalled December 22, 2022, when Tinubu as APC candidate defied security warnings to visit Birnin Gwari, then epicentre of banditry in the Northwest.
“Mr President, recall precisely 22nd December 2022, we came to Kaduna for campaign as a candidate of our great party. You dared to go to Birnin Gwari local government… Then the GOC 1 Mechanised Division advised you against going because of security concerns. At that moment, you instantly rejected the advice and travelled to Birnin Gwari… with twenty-seven armoured vehicles escorting you,” Sani said.
He said two promises made that day have now been fulfilled.
“First, you promised to reconstruct the Kaduna to Birnin Gwari road, 123 kilometres, which was abandoned for over 40 years. As we speak, Mr President, 117 billion naira 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,” he declared.
Today You Can Travel With Eyes Closed
On security, Sani said the change is dramatic.
“You assured us that you would address the issue of insecurity along the corridor to Birnin Gwari. Today you can travel to Birnin Gwari with your eyes closed without a single police escort, Mr President. That is progress.”
He said over 300 schools and 150 primary healthcare centres previously shut due to insecurity have now reopened.
He listed other federal interventions including $862 million approved for the 50-kilometre light rail project with $300 million already mobilised by contractor Mota-Engil, reconstruction of the Zaria-Sokoto Road, and massive education support with over 414,000 students benefiting from N84 billion in interventions.
More than 34,000 artisans across the Northwest have also received support under the TVEE programme.
“Leadership, of course, finds its deepest meaning when people feel seen, heard, and supported,” Sani said.
He urged voters to turn out en masse in January 2027.
“That is why today we are affirming our resolve as a people to massively turn out in January 2027 to vote for opportunity. We are voting for a promise keeper to continue with the good work he is already doing.”
