Waiya Unveils Nigeria Forward in Abuja to Mobilise Support for Tinubu’s Reforms

Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has unveiled a new socio-political movement, Nigeria Forward (NF), to promote national unity and support the consolidation of reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

The movement was unveiled on Friday in Abuja alongside the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, with its promoters saying it would mobilise Nigerians towards greater citizen participation and continuity in governance.

Speaking at the event, Udeh said Nigeria Forward was established on the principle of collective responsibility to sustain the gains of the Renewed Hope reform initiatives.

He said the platform would serve as a bridge between government and citizens by helping Nigerians understand government policies, participate in them and connect them with opportunities in their communities.

Udeh said the movement would focus on innovation, digital transformation, youth development, skills acquisition and enterprise development, particularly in discussions around development in Northern Nigeria.

He urged members to base their advocacy on evidence and assess government projects according to their impact on citizens, rather than reducing development issues to political propaganda.

Waiya, in his remarks, said the movement had two major objectives: promoting national unity and consolidating development gains.

“This platform is national. The aim is just two simple things: national unity and consolidation of the development that we have already seen,” he said.

The commissioner cited local government autonomy, increased allocations to states and the Federal Government’s move towards state police as some of the reforms that should be discussed constructively by Nigerians.

Waiya also called on politicians in Northern Nigeria to avoid divisive narratives and embrace dialogue and constructive engagement.

“Democracy is about demanding. It is only when you demand that you can get a response. We talk more than what we do. Nigeria Forward is trying to make talk become action,” he said.

He stressed that moving Nigeria forward was not solely the responsibility of the President, but a collective responsibility requiring the participation of all Nigerians.