Former senator and civil rights activist, Shehu Sani, has criticised past Northern leaders for the current state of underdevelopment in the region, urging the North to support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking to journalists at his Kaduna residence on Monday, Sani said the North had benefited from power in recent years but failed to translate that political control into meaningful development. He argued that those now excluded from the current administration are stirring public sentiment against President Tinubu for their personal interests.
“For those of us from this part (North) of the country, we appreciate the progress made so far by this present government,” he said. “And for those of them who had the opportunity to do better and they failed, we tell them that it is better they apologize for the wrong they have done to the people of the North.”
Sani warned the Northern masses against being used by such politicians. “They should not be incited against the President who had supported our own for eight years in power,” he said. “I have heard a lot of comments and remarks that are linked to tribal sentiments.”
Referencing recent political history, the former lawmaker pointed out that the North-West had produced two presidents since 1999—Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari. He noted that the South-West had consistently supported Northern presidential candidates and should be allowed to complete a full term in office.
“So it is only logical that we allow the South to complete their eight years in power for the peace, unity, and for the survival of our democracy,” Sani said. “And even if there should be another presidential candidate from the opposition, that candidate should be from the Southwest because that is equity, justice, and that is fairness.”
Sani criticised unnamed Northern politicians who, despite holding power in the past, failed to address the region’s pressing issues. “Such elements are crying foul for no reason other than that they have been excluded from government,” he said. “Their grievances are about their own personal interests and not about the people, not about the North, not about the masses, not about insecurity and governance.”
He also reflected on the security challenges during the last administration, pointing out that even though most of the country’s security architecture was headed by Northerners, there was little progress in tackling terrorism and banditry.
“Under the last administration, all the security apparatuses are of Northern extraction,” he said. “They never stopped terrorism in the North, they never stopped banditry in Northwest, they never stopped killings in Benue State, in Plateau, and most parts of North Central states. We need to be very factual about it.”
Sani listed several key government positions currently occupied by Northerners, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Health, Minister of Defense, Minister of State for Defense, Minister of Transport, Minister of Environment, and the newly created Ministry of Livestock. He also noted that both the Minister of Agriculture and Minister of State for Agriculture are Northerners, as is the Minister of State for Works and the Chief of Defense Staff.
“For us in the Northern part of the country, we are very much glad, particularly the people from Kaduna State,” he said.
While acknowledging that insecurity remains an issue in the North, he stated that the current administration has made relative progress, particularly in Southern Kaduna.
“Bandits are still killing people, they are kidnapping people in Katsina State, they are still doing that in Zamfara State,” he said. “But if we are going to compare it to where we are coming from, I think things are better.”
He cited the improved security on the Birnin Gwari road, which he said was previously inaccessible due to frequent attacks. “Banditry happened every hour, not every day for eight years along Birnin Gwari road. Now people can travel day and night,” he said. “When last did you hear an attack since the attack on Kuriga school? When last did you hear an attack on any school in the state?”
Sani also mentioned new federal projects in Kaduna State, including a medical centre and a federal university in Southern Kaduna, as well as increased funding for the Kaduna–Abuja road.
“We have seen many things that were brought in, and we only demand more,” he said. “But my message is also to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that more should be done in terms of addressing challenges in the Northern part of Nigeria, and critics should be listened to, and where there is lies, it should be responded to. And this country will be great if there is development in all parts of Nigeria.”
