May 03, (THEWILL) – President Bola Tinubu has urged governors across the country to remain focused on delivering meaningful results and ignore “armchair critics” who may seek to distract them.
Speaking on Friday during a two-day working visit to Katsina State, the President said leadership should be measured by visible impact on the lives of the people.
“Let the people be at the heart of your programmes. Your hard work and concrete achievements will answer any criticism. Ignore distractions—your results will speak for you,” he said.
While in the state, the President commissioned a 24-kilometre Eastern Bypass Road that connects Dutsin-Ma Road to Yandaki in Kaita Local Government Area through Kano and Daura roads. He also inaugurated the Katsina Agricultural Mechanisation Centre, a major step in the state’s efforts to achieve food security.
“We have chosen the path of peace and stability. I know you face terrorism and banditry in this state, but you have shown determination and courage to move forward. You will not walk alone; the Federal Government will support you,” Tinubu said.
The President noted that hunger and poverty remain major threats to national peace, assuring that the Bank of Agriculture will be revitalised and repositioned to meet farmers’ needs and boost productivity.
“The economy is moving in the right direction. We are committed to ending hunger and securing food for all. Small and large-scale farming will be encouraged. Once we eliminate hunger, peace and harmony will follow.
“We have dedicated ourselves to food security. Agriculture is the heartbeat of our economic progress. We must invest in mechanisation and water management—the old ways are gone,” Tinubu added.
He commended Governor Dikko Radda for his strides in agriculture, healthcare, education, and infrastructure within less than two years in office.
“I listened to your report card, and it is impressive. In just half of your tenure, you have made remarkable progress. You are a patriot and a progressive leader committed to honest governance,” he said.
Tinubu also acknowledged the roles of former governors Ibrahim Shema, Aminu Bello Masari, and Ibrahim Masari during the last election, describing them as bridge-builders who contributed to Katsina’s stability and growth.
Encouraging governors to prioritise agriculture, Tinubu said: “You’ve introduced a great movement in Katsina by putting the land to use. Farming must be our path to prosperity. We must shift from relying on oil to embracing agriculture.”
He praised the 24-km road project and the mechanisation drive as examples of impactful governance, adding that other states could learn from Katsina’s model.
The President also lauded past governors for their purposeful leadership and thanked the Katsina and Daura Emirates for their continued support for peace and unity.
“Thank you for the warm welcome. I am your son, and this is homecoming for me. Katsina is home—home to progress, development, and freedom for good,” he added.
Earlier, Governor Radda said the Katsina Agricultural Mechanisation Centre would serve all 34 local councils in the state. He revealed that 400 tractors had been procured under the Federal Government’s N25 billion intervention fund.
He noted that 160 kilometres of roads had been constructed or rehabilitated, while improvements had been recorded in power, water supply, and healthcare. He also said the Ministry of Agriculture had delivered 4,000 water pumping machines to boost irrigation farming, and that 448,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser were distributed last year, with 400,000 tonnes planned for this year.
Governors of Borno, Benue, Kaduna, Kwara, and Jigawa states attended the commissioning, alongside former Governors Masari and Shema, and ministers of culture, solid minerals, and agriculture.
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