Former Senator for Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has declared that President Bola Tinubu should not be held responsible for the persistent backwardness of northern Nigeria.
Speaking to members of the Tijjaniyya Grassroots Mobilisation and Empowerment Initiative of Nigeria (TIGMEIN) at his Kaduna residence, Sani insisted that the region’s problems are a result of decades of misgovernance by its own past leaders.
Sani highlighted that despite the North’s long history of leadership dominance in Nigeria, its people remain mired in poverty, insecurity, and underdevelopment.
He pointed to past administrations led by Northerners, lamenting that “the North remained backward and impoverished.”
He cited the abandonment of major industries like KTL, UNTL, and Arewa Textiles, and accused past leaders of lacking vision and prioritizing personal gain over regional development.
“The North’s problems didn’t start with Tinubu,” Sani stated.
“They are the results of selfish power struggles, looted resources, and abandoned responsibilities by past leaders. These leaders had every chance to fix education, healthcare, and security—but they failed.”
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He criticised some northern leaders for enriching themselves while neglecting the region’s interests and failing to represent them effectively in national development.
Sani listed several abandoned and uncompleted projects, including the Kaduna–Abuja Road, the Ajaokuta Steel Company, and the Mambilla Power Project, as evidence of this leadership failure.
Sani warned against being deceived into blaming Tinubu, who has been in office for only two years, for problems that have festered for decades.
“Today, they want to deceive you that Tinubu is your problem. But ask yourself, did these bad hospitals, failed roads, insecurity, and poverty start just 24 months ago?” he questioned.
He urged the public to be wary of failed leaders seeking to return to power, cautioning that “if they return to power, nothing will change.”
Sani concluded by commending TIGMEIN for their efforts in empowering women and youths through vocational skills training, which he believes is crucial for promoting self-reliance and reducing poverty.
