Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has strongly criticised northern leaders for failing to uplift the region despite dominating Nigeria’s political scene for over four decades.
Dogara, who spoke during a town hall meeting for Christian leaders in northern Nigeria on Friday, said the North remains impoverished due to its leaders’ negligence and lack of investment in meaningful projects.
The event, themed “Church and Society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising,” was held to discuss governance, tax reforms, and their impact on development in the country.
Dogara’s comments come amid ongoing debates about the state of governance in northern Nigeria and the perceived marginalisation of the region by successive administrations.
In his speech, Dogara dismissed the notion that President Bola Tinubu or southern Nigerians are responsible for the North’s woes.
“We are all northerners, and it should be made clear that President Tinubu or the South is not our problem,” he said.
He added, “They have not come to cheat the North. That is out of the question. Some are claiming that Yoruba people are getting appointments, but let’s reflect. We ruled this country for over 40 years when northerners were in power. What did we achieve? The North remains the same, impoverished by our own leaders.”
Dogara’s blunt remarks have sparked widespread discussions on social media, with many questioning the legacy of northern political elites.
Despite producing numerous heads of state, military leaders, and other top government officials, northern Nigeria remains one of the most underdeveloped regions in the country.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), northern states consistently report the highest poverty and illiteracy rates in Nigeria. States like Zamfara, Sokoto, and Yobe often top the list of regions with poor infrastructure, high unemployment, and insecurity.
For decades, critics have accused northern leaders of focusing on consolidating political power without addressing the dire socio-economic challenges plaguing the region.
The North has held power in Nigeria for a cumulative 40 years since independence in 1960, with leaders such as Yakubu Gowon, Shehu Shagari, Ibrahim Babangida, and Muhammadu Buhari emerging from the region.
However, little evidence suggests that these years of political dominance translated into significant development for the northern masses.
Many analysts believe the failure lies in the prioritisation of personal wealth and political influence over public service.
According to Aminu Abdullahi, a political analyst based in Kaduna, “The North’s leaders have controlled federal resources for decades, but they have not used it to transform the lives of the people. Instead, we see wealth concentrated in the hands of a few while the masses remain in poverty.”
Dogara’s comments come at a time when northern Nigeria is grappling with an unprecedented level of insecurity.
The region has faced a surge in banditry, kidnappings, and insurgency in recent years, forcing many to question the role of leadership in addressing these challenges.
At the town hall meeting, Dogara urged northern elites to focus on governance that prioritises the welfare of the people.
“Leadership is not about holding power; it is about using it to serve the people,” Dogara said.
He called on leaders across the region to take responsibility for the current state of affairs and invest in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Dogara also sought to dispel growing sentiments in the North that President Tinubu’s administration is favouring the South at the expense of northern interests.
“There is no reason to blame the South for our problems,” he said.
Dogara’s reference to recent appointments in Tinubu’s administration highlights the tension in some quarters over perceived regional imbalance in government positions.
However, the former Speaker insisted that such criticisms were misplaced, emphasising the need for introspection within the North.
“We cannot keep blaming others for our failures. It is time we hold our own leaders accountable,” Dogara said.
Dogara’s comments have ignited calls for greater transparency and accountability among northern leaders.
In response to Dogara’s remarks, Ahmed Sani, a resident of Kano, said, “Dogara has said the truth. We cannot continue to blame others when our leaders have done little to improve our situation. We need action, not excuses.”
Many northern citizens share similar frustrations, pointing to decades of neglect in key sectors like education and infrastructure as evidence of leadership failure.