Uba Sani, faulted critics for what he called a “blame game,”… “The real question is, have we kept faith with our people as northern leaders?” he asked.
A major divide has emerged among northern leaders over the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with some alleging neglect of the region while others defended the government’s record.
At a two-day interactive session organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) accused the Tinubu administration of sidelining the North despite its decisive role in the 2023 election.
ACF Chairman, Bashir Dalhatu, lamented rising insecurity, poor infrastructure, and inadequate agricultural funding. “Over the last two years, the North has largely been sidelined,” he said, warning that marginalisation could deepen insecurity.
NEF’s Prof. Ango Abdullahi described the exclusion of northern interests in budgetary allocation as a “threat to national unity,” noting that the region accounts for 80 per cent of Nigeria’s 20 million out-of-school children.
But Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, faulted critics for what he called a “blame game,” stressing that Tinubu had delivered on security, education, and infrastructure. “The real question is, have we kept faith with our people as northern leaders?” he asked.
Northern Governors’ Forum Chairman, Inuwa Yahaya, also defended Tinubu, listing major projects in the region, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway and the rehabilitation of Kaduna Refinery.
Vice President Kashim Shettima added that Tinubu’s governance model prioritised empathy and inclusiveness. Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, urged northern politicians to “wait till 2031,” noting that Tinubu had “positively touched all parts of the country.”
Meanwhile, APC chieftain Yekini Nabena accused ex-Kano governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of inciting northerners against the southern presidency, insisting the South must complete its eight years in power.