NNPP leader says national resources are being hoarded in the South, decries abandonment of major Northern infrastructure projects
Byline: IDNN Political News
KANO — Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of marginalising the North through lopsided infrastructure allocation and neglect of critical Northern projects.
Speaking during the Kano State Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the 2025 Constitutional Amendment, Kwankwaso slammed the government for what he called the “unequal concentration of resources” in Southern Nigeria while key Northern corridors suffer decay.
“This government is taking our resources and dumping them in one part of the country. The North is being ignored, and our people are suffering,” he said bluntly.
🔻 Abuja–Kano road symbolises neglect
Kwankwaso cited his personal ordeal travelling from Abuja to Kano by road due to repeated flight delays. He described the journey as “hell,” pointing to the still-unfinished Abuja–Kaduna–Kano expressway which has remained in limbo since the Buhari administration.
“This road was started under APC’s first tenure. Ten years later, it’s worse. Meanwhile, new mega projects are springing up in the South,” he noted.
The former defence minister acknowledged that infrastructure everywhere is important but insisted equity must guide national development.
🔺 “Let us resist another round of injustice” — Kwankwaso to lawmakers
The NNPP chieftain warned Northern legislators against being bought off during the ongoing constitutional amendment process. He urged Kano lawmakers to “defend Northern interests” and resist elite manipulation.
“In the past, members from the North compromised. They betrayed their people. This time, we must not let that happen again.”
He accused wealthy elites and Southern lobbyists of using bribery to distort national fiscal frameworks and rig constitutional amendments in their favour.
“The rich are already working to take from the poor again. This time, we must stand firm,” he charged.
🔻 Ethnic minorities and constitutional reform
Kwankwaso’s comments also reignite the debate around resource control, federalism, and ethnic representation. He emphasized the role of Northern ethnic minorities and urged constitutional equity, especially regarding revenue allocation and political appointments.
“We must not let the false narrative stand — that only certain groups make presidents or deliver votes. The North has voices. They matter.”
He accused the Tinubu administration of failing to address the imbalance created by decades of distorted political power-sharing and demanded corrective action.
🔺 Kano State backs call for unified North
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who also spoke at the dialogue, echoed Kwankwaso’s concerns, stressing that the forum aimed to define a common position for the North.
The gathering included lawmakers, traditional rulers, and civic leaders, including representatives from the Emirs of Kano, Gaya, and Karaye. They pledged to present a united front in constitutional negotiations.
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