Goronyo Inaugurates BMG Association North-West Structure for Tinubu/Shettima 2027, Urges Grassroots Engagement

The Honourable Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., has inaugurated the National and State Executive members of Bello Muhammad Goronyo (BMG) Associates for Asiwaju/Shettima 2027, a support organisation established to promote grassroots engagement, strengthen stakeholder participation and coordinate political activities across the seven North-West states ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The inauguration and reception of the newly constituted National and State Executive members took place on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Syde Resort, Raba Road, Kaduna.

Speaking at the occasion, the Honourable Minister commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for prioritising infrastructure development as a key driver of economic growth, national integration and development.
He highlighted some of the major infrastructure projects being undertaken by the Federal Government, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, Trans-Saharan Corridor and the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe corridor, as well as other strategic road projects such as the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano and Zaria–Gusau–Sokoto corridors.
The Minister noted that the projects form part of the Federal Government’s broader infrastructure development programme aimed at improving connectivity, facilitating trade, opening up economic opportunities and strengthening national integration. He identify the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, Calabar–Abuja/Trans-Saharan corridor and Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe corridor among the administration’s major infrastructure projects.

Goronyo also highlighted developments in the rail sector and other government programmes, including the Kaduna–Kano rail project, the Kano City Rail Service and the student loan scheme, as part of the administration’s broader efforts to improve transportation, education and economic opportunities.

On the political environment ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Minister called for unity, peaceful coexistence and responsible political engagement. He expressed the view that, in the interest of continuity and stability, President Tinubu should be allowed to complete his constitutional tenure and seek a second term, noting that the North had its turn during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

As part of his support for the activities of the newly inaugurated State Executive structures, the Honourable Minister presented eight Toyota vehicles to the organisation—one each for the seven North-West state structures and one for the National Executive—to facilitate their operational activities, grassroots engagement, coordination and other organisational responsibilities.
The vehicles are expected to enhance mobility and coordination across the respective states as the organisation continues to develop its structures and engage with stakeholders at various levels.

Tinubu, Shettima

The occasion was attended by prominent political leaders, government officials, community leaders, women and youth representatives, as well as other stakeholders from across the North-West.

The Honourable Minister also paid tribute to the former Governor of Sokoto State and Senator representing Sokoto North Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, whom he described as a father, leader and mentor. He acknowledged Senator Wamakko’s contributions to political leadership and public service.

In his opening remarks, the Secretary-General and Director of Strategy and Communication of BMG Associates, Engr. Harisu H. M. Jibrila, PhD, provided an insight into the origin and development of the organisation.
He explained that the promoters of the organisation had worked with Minister Goronyo during the 2023 presidential campaign of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and had, in the process, observed his leadership qualities, commitment and organisational capacity.

According to him, the experience strengthened their resolve to work with the Minister in building a coordinated platform capable of engaging stakeholders and communities across the North-West ahead of the 2027 political season.

A renowned Islamic scholar, member of the Kaduna State Special Hajj Committee and Adviser/Commentator on Hajj Matters and Pilgrimage Affairs, Sheikh Haliru Maraya, commended Minister Goronyo’s leadership qualities, describing him as reliable, sincere and dependable.
Sheikh Maraya shared his personal experience of working with the Minister and emphasised the importance of good character, trust and responsible leadership. He also highlighted infrastructure and other development interventions as areas that should be effectively communicated to citizens.

In her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Kaduna State, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, welcomed the Minister and other participants and emphasised the importance of strengthening engagement with women and youths.
She spoke on issues relating to security, economic reforms, infrastructure development and empowerment, stressing the need for stakeholders to remain connected with communities and ensure meaningful inclusion of women and young people in development and political engagement.

A youth representative and Regional Youth Leader, Abdullahi Abubakar Yola, called on young people to remain united, peaceful and responsible, urging them to reject violence and avoid allowing themselves to be used for activities capable of creating conflict or division.
He stressed the importance of education, skills acquisition, employment opportunities and youth empowerment, while calling for greater participation of young people in constructive community and political activities.

Similarly, the Director-General of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), Dr. Umar Tanko Yakasai, emphasised the importance of unity, respect, grassroots organisation and collective effort in strengthening the structures of BMG Associates across communities.
He also commended the Honourable Minister for his dedication and commitment to public service and encouraged continued engagement with stakeholders.

Dr. A. A. Mai Agogo commended the Minister for his vision and initiative, urging the newly inaugurated National and State Executive members to remain trustworthy, disciplined and committed to the objectives of the organisation.

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Nasiru Shehu Bodinga (BOBO), commended Goronyo for providing a platform for wider stakeholder engagement and called for sustained coordination among the National, State, Local Government and Ward structures.
He also expressed his readiness to contribute to the activities of the organisation and efforts aimed at strengthening engagement at all levels.

Hajiya Sa’adatu Dogon Bauchi, Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission (NPC), representing Kaduna State, commended Minister Goronyo for his foresight, vision and commitment to public service.
She recalled their involvement in the 2023 presidential campaign and expressed her readiness to support continued engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Barr. Nasiru Regachikun also commended Rt. Hon. Goronyo for the initiative and called on members of the organisation to take their message to communities and engage citizens peacefully, respectfully and responsibly.

Other stakeholders who spoke at the event expressed support for stronger grassroots engagement, increased participation of youths and women, peaceful political activities and effective coordination across the various levels of the organisation.

Goronyo urged the newly inaugurated executives to discharge their responsibilities with dedication, discipline, accountability and commitment, while remaining responsive to the needs and concerns of the people.

He said the inauguration marked another important step in the development and expansion of the organisation’s structure and its engagement with communities across the North-West.

The Honourable Minister expressed appreciation to the organisers, executives, stakeholders, women and youths for their presence and commitment, and urged them to maintain peaceful, respectful, inclusive and responsible engagement as they carried out their various responsibilities.

Signed:
Abdullahi Mohammed
SA Media to the Honourable Minister of State for Works
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Umahi has Worked More than Obi for Southeast, Says Francis

Valentine Obienyem in his article titled “Dave Umahi and Incestuous Reasoning” praises Peter Obi as a model while offering no proof of what he delivered for Ebonyians or Ndigbo. That is the arithmetic of selective inclusion: Obi receives the credit for emptiness; Umahi receives the insults for the result delivered.
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Beneath the rhetoric is a simple question he has refused to answer: What did Obi do for Ebonyians and the wider Igbo community that makes him the standard by which Umahi must be judged, or the candidate they should be expected to support?

However, I agree with some of his comments, especially when he said that Obi happened by circumstances. I feel this is truly the finger of God speaking through him. If not, what else could anyone say the phenomenon around Obi was about, if not the accident of EndSARS?

There is a saying that if one does not know where to place his hand, he holds his knees. That is exactly what happened with Obi and Obidients.

Now, the masses have seen what they consider the emptiness in all the struggles, the fake life, the false, the emptiness of promises and the contradictions in many of his speeches. The anger is that the truth is now becoming visible to many, and the rejection of Obi by those who have seen the light of day is becoming clearer. I understand his pain.

Obienyem begins by protesting that the Obidients do not attack people merely for opposing Peter Obi. But why make that defence unless the charge has a basis? His own words confirm the very conduct he tries to excuse. Attacks happen, he says, when they decide who to attack.

In other words, Obi’s supporters decide which disagreement deserves punishment. What a distasteful confirmation. A group that cannot tolerate opposition without branding its critics enemies of reason is not above reproach; it is simply a political attack dog. We are pleased to get your confirmation.

For clarification, let me mention and confirm that what Umahi said was that Ebonyi State would not vote for Peter Obi because he would not win. This does not exclude Ebonyi State from the Southeast.

He was particular about Ebonyi State because he was addressing Ebonyians at the time of his visit to the state, especially concerning the treatment meted out to Ebonyians living in Anambra State and the discrimination against them during Obi’s tenure as Governor, as well as Obi’s silence when major issues and struggles, such as the renaming of Abakaliki Street, were being discussed.

On several occasions, Umahi has told the people of the Southeast to utilise their votes and not waste them on Obi’s political venture, which will eventually fail. That is his advice and those are the words of wisdom which I equally encourage Obienyem to consider by looking inward, being realistic and possibly towing the same line.

I took time to go through his poorly constructed write-up to see whether he was able to mention Obi’s inclusiveness of Ebonyians in his cabinet or leadership circle. I was disappointed when I discovered that he was only able to mention that some of Obi’s security details were from Ebonyi State. What a disappointment.

It only confirms Umahi’s argument that the people of Ebonyi State were taken for granted, except when it came to security personnel who were naturally posted to serve their country in Anambra State. He could have equally mentioned that they were his house helps, but I understand his pain.

The reality today is that such an arrangement is no longer enough for Ebonyi State. The state has moved forward in pursuit of its own development and is not waiting for him and their ill plots.

Can he confirm whether people from Ebonyi State occupied or held any serious positions in Anambra State during Obi’s tenure as Governor, just as was the case during Umahi’s tenure in Ebonyi State?

Umahi’s record is easier to name.
Anambra-born Charles Emeka Akpuenika served as Ebonyi Commissioner for Youths and Sports. Rose Ezeadikwa served with the State Universal Basic Education Board. Mr. Chinaco Nzeakor was Special Assistant to the Governor on Internal Security. Rev. Euphraim Ononye served as Chairman of the Ebonyi State Pilgrims Board, while Uchem Oka was a Technical Assistant to the Governor.

These were people from Anambra who served in Umahi’s administration during his time as Governor.

That is the contrast Obienyem avoids. He praises Obi’s with anecdotes but does not produce a comparable list of Ebonyians appointed to meaningful roles under Obi.

I also want to agree with him when he said:

“In a breathless rush to make Ebonyi outpace its peers, he (Umahi) engaged in ‘vanity’ projects…”

Those words are correct, but perhaps not in the way he intended them, though with a mix of his attack-dog mentality.

He understands that Umahi was in a hurry to develop Ebonyi State while serving as Governor. Obi, on the other hand, took the opposite approach in Anambra. He can make his own assessment of the consequences, including the argument that funds that could have been used for development were kept idle while the state incurred debts and contractors were issued postdated cheques. All thanks to the leaders who came after him, who have continued to do everything possible to move Anambra forward.

Ibadan-Ijebu Ode

Let me tell him a little about how Umahi transformed Ebonyi State and pursued his aim of moving the state ahead of its peers. Umahi embarked on the construction of 14 twin flyovers at strategic locations, each of which was valued at between ₦1.8 billion and ₦2.5 billion at the time. This is something you should verify for yourself. Today, those same flyovers, if reconstructed at current costs, would cost between N15 billion and N30 billion. Many were achieved through direct labour. This is part of Umahi’s record. This is how he saved money for Ebonyians. This is the development we are talking about.

When he built the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, the same philosophy was applied: achieving major projects with limited resources. Then there is the airport, which is at the stage of recommencing commercial flights. There is the Ebonyi State International Shopping Mall. There is the introduction of concrete roads across Ebonyi State, which has helped reduce the burden of road reconstruction on the current administration. These are just a few examples.

It does not appear that he did enough research before writing about Umahi. He need to go back and verify these things before attempting to speak about his record.

Yes, I remember that he earlier classified the Obidients as “attack dogs.” That was an interesting read.

In the Southeast, he should also acknowledge what Umahi has done through the instrumentality of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, particularly in the transformation of federal roads across the region. He is focused on deliberately connecting the Southeast to the Centre.

I am certain that it gives him some satisfaction when travelling from Enugu to Onitsha, both at night and during the day, and see the solar lights, the tree planting, the reinforced concrete pavement and the CCTV infrastructure underway. Yet he chose not to mention these in his write-up. Why?

The Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, the Eke-Obinagu Flyover, the access roads to the Second Niger Bridge, the repair and reconstruction of the First Niger Bridge and, very importantly, the Calabar-Ebonyi-Enugu-Benue-Nasarawa-Abuja Superhighway are all part of the infrastructure transformation currently taking place in Igboland courtesy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through Umahi. These are tangible projects. They are visible. They are projects people can see, feel and touch.

So, the question remains: What has Obi done for the people of the Southeast that should make them abandon what they are seeing and experiencing for something they have not seen? What has he done that is comparable to the visible and tangible infrastructure now being delivered in the region? That is the question he should answer.

David Umahi has served as Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Governor of Ebonyi State, Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Senator representing Ebonyi South and, today, Nigeria’s Minister of Works.

Peter Obi’s principal record in elected office is his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, he is not close to the breadth of Umahi’s political and public-service experience and result, particularly with Umahi now responsible for Nigeria’s works portfolio.

The references to Umahi’s family and to Mary Habila’s death do not provide the needed answers to the question asked.

Habila’s death has been publicly discussed, and her parents also spoke about her health condition while she was alive. It should not be turned into a political prop.

By using such words as “Judas,” “mad dog,” “crude” and “nonsense,” Obienyem has confirmed himself as an attack dog. Those are not arguments; they are personal attacks. What a distasteful confirmation.

The comparison remains clear. Umahi has demonstrated an approach to public service that has included people from different parts of the Southeast, infrastructure development in Ebonyi, regional leadership through the Southeast Governors’ Forum, representation in the Senate and, now, responsibility for a federal ministry whose projects reach across the Southeast and the country.

Obi offers a security detail, a palliative tour and private anecdotes, then asks the public to accept him as a champion. What a joke.

That is not enough. What has Obi done for the people of the Southeast to warrant support for him over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration’s projects are visible across the region and whose public record is open to examination? Where are the durable, region-wide results? Where are the institutions and projects that demonstrate his impact across Igboland?

Umahi’s advice to Ebonyians is a political judgment and a call to use their votes according to their own interests and for the benefit of the people of the Southeast.

Ebonyi people have risen and are committed to President Tinubu through Umahi.

Francis Nwaze, FIPMD
Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media)
Southeast Zonal Coordinator, New Media
2027 Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
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Obi Vows for Transparency, not to Spend Vacation Abroad if Elected in 2027

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has vowed not to spend his holidays outside Nigeria if elected President in the 2027 general elections.
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Obi made the pledge in his Independence Day address delivered in Abuja on Thursday, saying he would use his four-year tenure to travel across the country, interact with Nigerians and better understand their challenges.

He said, “As I have always done, I will lead by example. In four years as President of this great nation, I will not spend my holidays outside Nigeria. My holidays will be spent in Zamfara State; Borno State; Kwara State; Ebonyi State; Edo State; Ekiti State and other Nigerian States.

“I want to continue to see Nigeria. I want to know Nigeria. I want to spend time with Nigerians, listen to them, understand their challenges and celebrate their resilience.”

The former Anambra governor also promised that his administration would make governance measurable and accountable, with emphasis on the welfare and productivity of Nigerians.

“As President of Nigeria, I will make governance measurable, accountable and centred on the welfare and productivity of our people. Within the first year, Nigerians will begin to see the tangible impact of purposeful and effective leadership,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor pledged to tackle insecurity, saying farmers would be able to return to their farms while children would return to school and businesses would operate without fear.

He said, “We will confront insecurity decisively so that our farmers can return to their farms, our children can return to school, businesses can operate freely, and families can live without fear.

“No Nigerian should be forced to live in an IDP camp because his or her government has failed to provide security.”

Obi, who said Independence anniversaries should provide opportunities for national reflection, criticised the APC-led administration, arguing that the country had continued to face serious challenges despite the promises made in 2023.

He said Nigeria was grappling with widespread poverty, a large population of out-of-school children and persistent insecurity caused by terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

“Despite the enormous promises made by the APC-led government in 2023, our nation continues to face deepening challenges across virtually every critical sector of national life,” he said.

The NDC presidential candidate also recounted his recent visit to Sokoto State with his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, where they held consultations on insecurity, poverty, unemployment, drug abuse and out-of-school children.

He said their visit to an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Ramin Kura, within Sokoto metropolis, exposed the hardship faced by thousands of displaced women and children.

“Instead, they live as displaced persons in their own country. What we saw in Ramin Kura is not an isolated story. It is a reflection of the suffering experienced, in different forms, across many parts of Nigeria.

“And yet, while ordinary Nigerians struggle with these realities, this present government often behaves as though these problems belong to another country.

“The political leaders have failed our country and, most importantly, we have failed our children. This must change,” Obi said.

The pledge comes one month after Obi criticised the practice of past and current presidents spending their holidays abroad, saying an elected president should remain in the country and use such periods to engage directly with citizens.

The former Anambra governor said he would mandate domestic vacations for the President if elected, arguing that the country’s leader should use the opportunity to visit areas facing serious security and developmental challenges.

“Nigeria’s President must spend his vacation in Nigeria. We cannot continue with this nonsense. Where do other countries’ own send their vacation?” Obi questioned.

Peter Obip

“The President should go to Zamfara, to Borno, to Anambra, to anywhere. As President of Nigeria, I will visit other countries, but I will not take my holidays there”.

When asked about the security implications of spending vacation time in states affected by insurgency and banditry, particularly Borno, Obi maintained that the President should not use security concerns as a reason to leave Nigeria during holidays.

He also drew a comparison with political leaders in other countries, arguing that the conduct of a Nigerian president should similarly reflect a strong connection with the country and its people.
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