Paragraph 1: Kwankwaso’s Accusations and the Northern Groups’ Support
Former Kano State Governor and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has ignited a controversy by accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of marginalizing the North in developmental projects and appointments. Kwankwaso alleges that the administration is disproportionately channeling national resources towards the South, Tinubu’s home region, leading to rising poverty, insecurity, and deteriorating infrastructure in the North. Several prominent Northern socio-political groups, including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, the League of Northern Democrats (LND), and the Arewa Youth Consultative Council, have rallied behind Kwankwaso, echoing his concerns about perceived lopsidedness in the government’s policies and actions.
Paragraph 2: The Government’s Response and the ACF’s Position
The Tinubu administration, through its spokesperson Sunday Dare, has vehemently denied Kwankwaso’s allegations, asserting that the North is benefiting significantly from ongoing federal investments in key sectors, including major road infrastructure projects. However, ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, while clarifying that his views are personal, supports Kwankwaso’s claims. He alleges that allocations, appointments, and developmental projects under Tinubu have heavily favored the South-West, despite the North playing a crucial role in Tinubu’s electoral victory. This alleged bias, according to Muhammad-Baba, has eroded public trust in the government.
Paragraph 3: The CNG’s Perspective and Concerns about Neglect
The CNG, through its National Coordinator, Jamilu Charanchi, also backs Kwankwaso, stating that his allegations reflect the widespread sentiment of marginalization felt by many in the North. Charanchi argues that the North, having delivered a significant portion of the votes that brought Tinubu to power, deserves a fair share of national resources. He cites the prolonged delay in completing the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, a critical project that has lingered for over a decade, as evidence of the government’s neglect of the region. Other CNG members, such as Mohammed Deba, the Gombe State Coordinator, echo these concerns, highlighting the worsening insecurity and poverty in the North under Tinubu’s administration.
Paragraph 4: A Call for Patience and Balanced Development
While acknowledging Kwankwaso’s concerns, other voices within the North have adopted a more cautious approach. Auwal Maharazu, Secretary of the Youth Enlightenment and Development Initiative, Batagarawa branch, believes it is premature to fully judge Tinubu’s administration, given the relatively short time it has been in office. He emphasizes the need for patience and advocates for constructive engagement between Northern leaders and the federal government to ensure balanced development across all regions. Maharazu suggests that greater transparency and inclusivity in project planning and implementation would foster trust and a stronger sense of national unity.
Paragraph 5: The LND’s Accusations of Economic Disparity
The LND has joined the chorus of voices criticizing the Tinubu administration, accusing it of prioritizing industrial development in the South at the expense of the North. LND Convener, Umar Ardo, alleges that key ministries and financial institutions are headed by Southerners, while citing examples of significant industrial projects, like a cotton industry in Ogun State and the construction of seven agricultural dams, predominantly located in the South-West, despite the North being the primary producer of cotton. This perceived prioritization, according to the LND, is exacerbating economic disparity and underdevelopment in the North.
Paragraph 6: The Arewa Youth Consultative Council’s Discontent and Afenifere’s Defense of Tinubu
Zaid Ayuba, National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Council, expresses the growing concern of Northern youths over the perceived bias in government policies and appointments. He notes that despite the North’s significant contribution to Tinubu’s electoral victory (over 74% of the votes), the region feels neglected. Ayuba urges the President to address these concerns, reminding him of the importance of Northern support for his future political aspirations. In contrast, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has defended Tinubu, dismissing Kwankwaso’s accusations as misleading and unpatriotic. Afenifere argues that the North benefited significantly under the Buhari administration and that Tinubu has initiated several crucial infrastructure projects in the North during his short tenure. They call for patience and denounce what they perceive as divisive rhetoric that fuels regional tensions. Afenifere maintains that development is a gradual process and that the impact of Tinubu’s administration will be felt across all regions in due course.
