Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has called out northern critics of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, asserting that they lack the moral right to vote him out in 2027 after their prolonged silence during Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year presidency.
Speaking in an interview with The Sun, Sani, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and a vocal human rights advocate, accused northern leaders of hypocrisy for opposing Tinubu’s controversial tax reform bills. He argued that the same leaders failed to hold Buhari accountable for what he described as monumental failures in governance.
President Tinubu’s tax reform bills, introduced to the National Assembly last year, sparked widespread criticism, particularly in northern Nigeria. Key northern stakeholders, including governors, traditional rulers, and civil society organizations, have rejected the reforms, claiming they unfairly centralize revenue collection at the federal level to the detriment of states.
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, voiced his opposition, stating, “The current tax reform is not only hasty but unfair in its design. It risks concentrating revenue streams at the centre while depriving states like Bauchi of the funds needed to cater to our people. If this continues, we will have no choice but to show our true colours.”
Despite such strong opposition, Sani insisted that the North must reflect on its own actions and inactions, particularly during Buhari’s tenure.
Sani did not hold back in criticizing the northern elite for what he perceived as their failure to demand accountability during Buhari’s administration.
“Let us tell ourselves the home truth,” he began. “When our own was in power for 96 months, what did he do? For all the failures, people kept quiet. They refused to hold him to account. They refused to criticize him. They refused to say, ‘We voted for you, and you failed.’”
Sani highlighted several unfulfilled promises under Buhari, including:
- The failure to construct major roads in Northern Nigeria.
- The inability to activate the long-awaited Mambila Power Plant.
- The unfulfilled pledge to dredge the River Niger.
- The stalled dualization of key highways like the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Kano-Lagos express routes.
“He spent billions of naira in the name of agriculture for which there is nothing to show,” Sani added. “He appointed northerners into offices, and they have not served the interests of the North. So, if you cannot hold your son to account, if you kept quiet, if you remained silent, what conscience do you have now to threaten someone else with re-election?”
The debate over Tinubu’s administration has also drawn responses from the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF). In November last year, the ACF’s Secretary-General, Murtala Aliyu, dismissed claims that the group’s criticisms of Tinubu were influenced by regional bias.
“We criticized the administration of former President Buhari with the same vigour,” Aliyu said, insisting that their objections were based solely on governance issues and not on Tinubu’s southern origins.
This statement, however, has done little to quell the rising tensions within northern political circles.
Sani’s comments come at a critical time when regional sentiments are shaping discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections. With Tinubu’s administration facing mounting opposition in the North, questions about unity within Nigeria’s political landscape remain prominent.
Analysts believe the controversy surrounding the tax reforms could have far-reaching implications for Tinubu’s re-election bid. Some argue that the president’s ability to navigate these challenges will be crucial to his political survival.
Sani’s fiery critique is a reminder of the complex dynamics at play within Nigerian politics. By calling out the North for its silence under Buhari, he is challenging regional leaders to rise above tribalism and hold their representatives accountable, irrespective of their origins.
“Our focus should not be on who is in power, but on what they deliver,” Sani concluded. “The North must reorganize itself and see how northerners in Tinubu’s government can contribute to the region’s development.”
