Danjuma Àttah, Gombe
The exclusion of the entire six States of Northeast Nigeria from the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) by the Federal Government has incurred the anger of the Forum of Northeast State Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The Forum, after a meeting in Gombe, described the Federal Government’s action as “deliberate, unjust and stands unacceptable to the region”.
In a communiqué read at the conclusion of a zonal meeting on Friday, by Comrade Adamu Abubakar Modibbo, the Gombe State SDP Chairman, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the the injustice meted on the region.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to urgently reconsider this exclusion and ensure that the region benefits equitably from national development projects,” Comrade Adamu pointed out.
It added also that “it is unacceptable that a region with vast agricultural resources and one of the largest land masses in the country is ignored in such a critical development initiative”.
The meeting, which brought together SDP Chairmen from Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, and Yobe States, was convened to strengthen party unity and strategies towards future electoral victories.
The Forum used the meeting to unanimously pass a vote of confidence on the Shehu Gabam led national leadership of the SDP. It commended his patriotic and inclusive leadership style and the commitment put in place to repositioning the party as the most credible political alternative in Nigeria.
The Forum urged Nigerians to support the SDP, which they described as a people-centred party driven by ideology, integrity, and a clear vision for national development.
While calling for strict adherence to the rule of law by all arms of Government and security agencies, it stressed that any attempt to undermine constitutional rights would be firmly resisted.
The Forum also pledged to continue working collaboratively to foster unity within the party and mobilise strategically ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The growing number of defectors and new members joining the SDP across the North-East is evidence of rising public trust in the party’s leadership and vision,” Modibbo maintained.
End.