…Warns against return of failed politicians in 2027
Former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has attributed the deepening underdevelopment in Northern Nigeria to decades of misrule by leaders from the region, distancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the worsening socio-economic conditions.
During a meeting on Tuesday with officials of the Tijjaniyya Grassroots Mobilisation and Empowerment Initiative of Nigeria (TIGMEIN) at his Kaduna residence, Sani criticised the narrative being pushed by some northern elites who attempt to pin the region’s failures on Tinubu’s two-year administration.
“It is dishonest for anyone to blame President Tinubu for the North’s stagnation,” Sani said. “We had Buhari for eight years, and the region remained deprived and impoverished. Key industries like Kaduna Textile Limited, United Nigerian Textiles Limited, Nortex, and Arewa Textiles were allowed to die. Those in charge pursued their own interests while the masses were neglected.”
He cited abandoned infrastructure projects such as the Kaduna–Abuja road, Minna–Abuja road, Lokoja–Abuja expressway, Ajaokuta Steel Company, and the Mambilla Power Project as symbols of longstanding neglect under previous northern-led administrations.
“The roots of these challenges are not recent. They lie in years of selfish leadership and squandered opportunities,” he remarked.
Sani also levelled accusations of widespread embezzlement against past northern leaders, accusing them of diverting public funds to enrich their families while ignoring the broader developmental needs of the region.
He cautioned Northern citizens to remain wary of political manipulation ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that many of the same figures responsible for past failures were now seeking a return to power.
“No matter how difficult the present moment may be, remember this: it was your own people who let you down. Bringing them back will not yield a different result,” he said.
Calling for a period of honest reflection, Sani encouraged the North to break free from entrenched political cycles and resist the re-emergence of discredited leaders.
He urged residents of the region to take a firm stance against the recycling of failed politicians and support a new generation of leadership capable of driving meaningful change.
