North splits over Tinubu marginalisation claim

Tinubu

The political and civic leadership of Northern Nigeria converged in Kaduna on Tuesday for a landmark assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, an event that laid bare deep divisions within the region over claims of marginalisation and the performance of the Federal Government.

While some stakeholders lauded Tinubu’s developmental strides and appointments in the North, others voiced strong concerns over what they described as growing neglect, insecurity, and economic exclusion under his watch.

Held at the historic Arewa House and convened by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, the two-day engagement brought together a powerful mix of former governors, traditional rulers, ministers, civil society leaders, and technocrats from across the 19 northern states.

Themed “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity,” the forum, on Tuesday, became a platform for both praise and protest.

Among attendees on Tuesday were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, Ministers of Information, Mohammed Idris, Defence, Mohammed Badaru, Defence (State), Bello Matawalle, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, all appointees of President Tinubu from the North.

There has been growing dissent in the North over claims of marginalisation of the region in the scheme of things by the present administration.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, renewed the call last week at the constitution review public hearing, where he accused Tinubu’s administration of sidelining the northern region.

He alleged that national resources were being disproportionately channelled towards developing the South, the President’s home region.

He was swiftly rebutted by the Presidency and the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who listed ongoing projects in the North.