You’re Neglecting Northern Nigeria in Development Agenda, Kwankwaso Accuses Tinubu 

The strongman of Kano politics, senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of marginalising Northern Nigeria in the allocation of federal resources and developmental projects.

Speaking on Thursday during the Kano State Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the 2025 Constitutional Amendment, Kwankwaso expressed strong disapproval over what he described as a “lopsided” distribution of the national budget, allegedly favouring the southern part of the country.

“Let me advise the Federal Government on the distribution of federal resources,” he said. “From the information available to us, it’s like most of the national budget is now tilting in one direction in this country.”

Kwankwaso, who was the NNPP presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, lamented what he called growing regional imbalance under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the administration has failed to pursue a fair and inclusive national development strategy.

According to him, the current trend poses a threat to national unity and risks deepening the divide between Nigeria’s North and South.

“This is not the Nigeria we envisioned,” he added. “Every part of this country deserves equal attention, and it is unacceptable that the northern region which contributes significantly to national development is being sidelined in critical areas such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.”

The former Defence Minister urged President Tinubu and the APC-led government to retrace their steps and adopt a more balanced approach to governance that reflects Nigeria’s diversity and promotes equity across regions.

He also called on northern stakeholders to be more vigilant and united in defending the interests of the region, especially in ongoing constitutional and fiscal policy debates.

Kwankwaso’s remarks are the latest in a series of criticisms aimed at the Tinubu administration’s handling of national development and resource allocation. While the presidency has yet to respond to the allegations, analysts say the comments could reignite regional tensions and add to growing public scrutiny of the government’s performance.

The dialogue session, held in Kano, drew stakeholders from across the state, including lawmakers, traditional leaders, youth groups, and civil society organisations.

Discussions focused on proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution, federalism, and resource control with a recurring theme being the need for equity and balanced governance.