The Association of Yoruba Obas and Leaders in the 19 Northern States and the FCT has urged President Bola Tinubu to intensify efforts at tackling poverty across the country.
The group’s chairman, Alhaji Murtala Adeleke, made the call while briefing journalists after its quarterly meeting held in Abuja on Saturday.
Adeleke acknowledged that economic reforms require patience, but appealed to the Federal Government to ensure the benefits of democracy reach citizens at the grassroots.
“We wish to encourage the government to do more, particularly in the area of poverty alleviation. We understand that economic reforms require endurance, but we plead that the government do more to bring the dividends of democracy closer to people at the grassroots,” he said.
He also noted that local government administrations were yet to fulfil their statutory responsibilities despite the recent approval of their financial autonomy.
Despite these concerns, the association declared its support for the Tinubu administration, citing improvements in security, education, fuel supply and the economy over the past three years.
Adeleke said the group had reviewed the state of the nation and resolved to back the administration based on its performance in key sectors.
On security, he described it as a major concern for Nigerians, especially in the North, but said there had been notable improvement under Tinubu.
He cited recent rescue operations involving bandit-attack victims in Kwara, Niger and Borno states, and commended the government for improving the welfare of security personnel and establishing new military formations nationwide.
“We want to appreciate the President for his leadership role in making this thing happen quietly. We, the Yorubas in the North, are fully in support of the President on this issue of security,” he said.
On education, the group praised the administration’s student financing initiatives, saying they had opened access to university education for students who previously could not afford it.
Adeleke also credited the government with curbing prolonged strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
On the economy, the group’s President claimed the capital market had grown from about N33tn in 2023 to between N160tn and N170tn currently.
He added that the removal of fuel scarcity had eased the burden on northern residents who previously relied on black-market supplies at inflated prices.
“Before the coming of this government, we didn’t have fuel in petrol stations. We bought fuel at the black market and at exorbitant rates. In some states, you buy up to N2,500 per litre, and you won’t even get it at the petrol station.
“But since the coming of this government, we in the North have been enjoying steady fuel supply in all our fuel stations. You just drive in, buy and go,” he said.