A former senator representing the Kaduna Central zone in the 8th National Assembly, Shehu Sani, has lamented that Northern leaders who controlled the country’s affairs failed to transform the region into a socio-economic paradise.
Speaking at a press conference in his Kaduna residence on Monday, Sani urged Northerners to support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections, citing the need for equity, justice, and fairness.
“For those of us from this part (North) of the country, we appreciate the progress made so far by this present government,” Sani said.
“And for those of them who had the opportunity to do better and they failed, we tell them that it is better they apologise for the wrong they have done to the people of the North.”
Sani noted that the Northwest had produced two presidents since 1999, namely President Umar Musa Yar’Adua and President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the Southwest had supported them without significant challenge, and it was time for the North to reciprocate.
“The southwest part of Nigeria had supported the north and never gave any serious challenge as long as the smooth running of President Buhari was concerned,” Sani said.
“So it is only logical that we allow the South to complete their eight years in power for the peace, unity, and survival of our democracy.”
The former senator criticised Northern leaders who were excluded from the current government for inciting the masses against the administration.
Although Sani never mentioned names, he said their grievances were personal and not about the people or the region.
“Elements who had the opportunity to turn the North into a paradise but left it as a hell are crying foul for no reason other than that they have been excluded from the government.
“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 said.
Sani highlighted the progress made under President Tinubu’s administration, saying that despite having Northerners in key positions, the previous administration failed to address insecurity in the region.
“Under the last administration, all the security apparatuses are of Northern extraction; they never stopped terrorism in the North, they never stopped banditry in the Northwest, and they never stopped killings in Benue State, in Plateau, and in most parts of the North Central States,” he said.
The former lawmaker acknowledged that insecurity still persists in the North but noted that things are relatively better compared to the past, citing the example of Kaduna State, where the Chief of Defence Staff had brought relative peace to the southern part of the state.
“The insecurity in the North is not yet over. But if we are going to compare it to where we are coming from, I think things are better.
“The Chief of Defence has relatively been able to bring peace to the southern part of Kaduna, which was neglected and abandoned when Governor Nasir El-Rufai was in power,” he said.
Sani concluded by urging President Tinubu to do more to address the challenges in the northern part of Nigeria and to listen to critics, saying, “This country will be great if there is development in all parts of Nigeria.”
