By Dr. Tukur Madu Yemi
Federal University of Kashere, Gombe
16th June 2025

The recent political drama at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Northeast stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe State offers a sobering but timely lesson one about unity, mutual respect, and the necessity of strategic inclusion in national politics.

The uproar was triggered when Comrade Mustapha Salihu, the APC National Vice Chairman (Northeast), failed to mention Vice President Kashim Shettima a leading figure from the region while publicly endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. For many, this was not a mere oversight. It was a symbolic and potentially calculated act that insulted the collective pride of the Northeast.

The Core of the Crisis: Recognition and Regional Dignity

Vice President Shettima is not just any politician he is the highest-ranking political figure from the Northeast. In a party meeting attended by ministers, governors, lawmakers, and even the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, such an omission carried a loud message: that the region’s most prominent voice in the federal executive could be sidelined without consequence.

To compound the issue, Salihu who hails from the same region as Shettima seemed to align himself with a Northwest-led national agenda by championing Tinubu’s second-term bid without referencing or acknowledging the role and stake of the Northeast in that vision. This raised deep concerns about loyalty, regional unity, and intra-party equity.

A Dangerous Signal: When Regional Champions Abandon Their Own

In a political landscape where zoning, regional balancing, and power-sharing are pivotal to stability, such an action by a supposed National Vice Chairman for the Northeast sends a dangerous signal. It portrays a scenario where a leader entrusted with defending regional interests instead becomes a pawn in broader national calculations even at the expense of his own constituency.

This is not just poor judgment; it is political betrayal.

When regional leaders abandon their own at crucial political moments, it sends a message to other zones that the Northeast lacks internal cohesion, and therefore, lacks bargaining strength. This perception, unfortunately, becomes reality and the region suffers the consequences in appointments, policy consideration, and federal presence.

The Real Lesson: Unity Is the Region’s Strength

The Northeast has long played the role of the political underdog. Yet, with Vice President Shettima in office, the region now stands on firmer ground. However, influence in Abuja is not sustained by titles alone it is sustained by regional cohesion and collective resolve.

When internal fractures begin to appear when sons of the soil become instruments of marginalization the region loses its bargaining power.

It is worth asking: would any leader from the Southwest or Northwest dare to exclude one of their own at such a critical political gathering? Certainly not. Those regions have mastered the politics of unity and strategic assertion. The Northeast must now do the same or risk remaining perpetually in the shadows of others.

Respect and Symbolism: Political Capital in Nigerian Politics

In Nigerian politics, symbolism is substance. Recognition is power. A name mentioned in a speech, a handshake, or a visible show of solidarity can mean the difference between marginalization and momentum.

That Vice President Shettima was ignored by his own party vice chairman from the Northeast was not just an affront to him personally, but to the entire region’s standing within the APC.

Leadership at this level requires emotional intelligence, political foresight, and strategic loyalty. To undermine one of our own at a time when the region should be consolidating power and building influence is a step backward.

What the Northeast Must Do: Strategic Recalibration

This incident must not be dismissed as a one-off embarrassment. It is a wake-up call.

The Northeast must urgently reassess its internal political coordination. Stakeholders must:

Close ranks and avoid internal sabotage.

Ensure that those in leadership roles act in alignment with the region’s collective interest.

Begin early consultations on the 2027 political trajectory not just as cheerleaders of others but as active participants in shaping national power.

Hold regional representatives accountable for missteps that weaken the Northeast’s position.

It is time for the Northeast to rise with one voice and demand its rightful place not through conflict, but through cohesion, strategy, and loyalty to its own.

National Loyalty vs. Regional Responsibility: Striking the Balance

The most disheartening aspect of the Gombe incident was not just the omission, but the perception that a Northeast leader would compromise his regional duty to please power blocs from other zones. The presence of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, APC National Chairman and a key figure from the Northwest, only amplified the tension. The optics were clear: while the Northwest is tactically advancing its interests, some in the Northeast appear too eager to play along — even when it means undermining their own.

This misstep will not be forgotten quickly, and the consequences are political and psychological. At a time when the region should consolidate its gains and rally behind its highest office holder since 1999, internal betrayal only weakens the negotiating table. It emboldens other zones to disregard the Northeast when it comes to power-sharing, appointments, or national agenda-setting.

Conclusion: Never Again

Let this serve as a political baptism for the Northeast APC a moment to reset and recalibrate. The region must not allow personal ambition or external influence to dictate its internal alignment. Any stakeholder who cannot defend or even acknowledge a sitting Vice President from his own backyard has no business speaking for the region.

Political respect must be earned, but it must also be demanded. The Northeast has earned its place in national politics. Going forward, its leaders must learn to defend it, project it, and unify behind it. Anything less is not just unacceptable it’s a disservice to the millions who look to the region’s leaders for representation and progress.

History is watching. And so is 2027.

By Our Political Reporter

The Vice President (North East) of the National Association of Technicians and Automobile (NATA), Engineer Ahmad Waziri Usman Doma, alongside the Chairman of NATA Gombe State Chapter, Alhaji Yakubu Garba (popularly known as SARKI), has commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his visionary agro-industrial transformation agenda in Gombe State.

Speaking during a press briefing in Gombe, the NATA leaders described the ongoing agro-industrial project as a game changer for the state’s economy, praising the governor’s foresight and determination in implementing development initiatives that directly benefit the people.

They highlighted the key components of the project, which include a state-of-the-art abattoir, an international cattle market, a tannery, leather processing facilities, and a dry inland port. These projects, they noted, are designed to strengthen value chains in the livestock and agricultural sectors and position Gombe as a key commercial hub in Northern Nigeria.

Engineer Usman Doma stated, “Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to transforming Gombe into an agro-industrial powerhouse is highly commendable. These facilities will not only enhance food security and job creation but also connect Gombe’s agricultural outputs to both local and international markets. This is the kind of leadership we need in the North East.”

Alhaji Yakubu Garba (SARKI) added, “We are very, very proud of Dan Majen Gombe, Governor Inuwa Yahaya. Gombawas appreciate his developmental strides. The entire NATA family stands firmly behind this administration and we call on all citizens to continue supporting the governor for the sustained progress of our dear state.”

The leaders also called on artisans, traders, and other professional groups across Gombe to take advantage of the opportunities that the agro-industrial project presents, assuring them of NATA’s readiness to partner with the government in realizing its development goals.

As Gombe State continues to attract national attention for its infrastructure and economic initiatives, the call for unity and support for the current administration is gaining momentum among professional bodies and stakeholders in the state.

By Our Political Reporter

A prominent concern youth leader from Funakaye Local Government Area, Alhaji Umar Buba Magaji, popularly known as Falakin Funakaye, has lauded Dr. Ali Bappayo Maigoro for his outstanding humanitarian contributions across Gombe, Kwami, and Funakaye LGAs of Gombe State.

Speaking during an interaction with journalists, Falakin Funakaye praised Dr. Maigoro for his continued commitment to community development, especially in the areas of education, water supply, and youth empowerment — despite not currently holding any political office.

According to him, Dr. Maigoro has provided free JAMB registration forms to over 1,000 candidates across the three local governments. This intervention, he said, has brought hope to many less privileged students and families who might otherwise be unable to afford the registration fees.

In addition, Alhaji Umar Buba Magaji disclosed that numerous communities in the three LGAs have benefitted from borehole water projects sponsored by Dr. Maigoro, easing the burden of water scarcity, especially in rural areas.

The youth leader further highlighted Dr. Maigoro’s role in facilitating federal job placements for more than ten sons and daughters of the area a rare feat by someone outside government at the moment.

“These are the kind of people we need in leadership positions,” Alhaji Magaji said. “He has done all this without holding any political office. Imagine what he can do if we give him the mandate.”

He concluded by making a passionate appeal to Dr. Maigoro to heed the call of the people and contest in the 2027 general election to represent Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency, stating that the people are ready to support him.

Dr. Ali Bappayo Maigoro is a respected figure known for his grassroots engagements, and his rising popularity across the three LGAs suggests he could be a major contender should he decide to run in the next elections.