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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
A northern group, Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has tackled the former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of sidelining the North in national infrastructural development.
At a recent event, Kwankwaso alleged that President Tinubu was investing more national resources in the South, to the detriment of the northern region.
But in a statement at the weekend, the Convener of Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said Kwankwaso’s outburst against Tinubu was an ethnic division and a campaign strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Arewa Think Tank will not support any divisive statement along ethnic, religious and regional lines. Why didn’t a person like Kwankwaso speak out during the previous government’s infrastructural deficit in the North?
“We want to advise Kwankwaso not to introduce dirty regional politicking into our national discourse because it will do nobody any good. Introducing dirty regional politicking and attitude will not allow Kwankwaso to win election at the national level. He should stop this attitude.
“We have a president that is already doing very well along with a northern vice president that is also doing very well.
“We are all living witnesses to the Kano River Project (irrigation scheme) – large-scale integrated irrigation development in Kano State, commissioned in 2023 and operational under the current administration
“There is no need for a North vs South infrastructure debate because the list of infrastructure in the North by Tinubu’s administration is inexhaustible.
“It is unfortunate that whenever a president occupies the seat of power, some politicians take pleasure in manipulating figures related to infrastructure, appointments, and employment, not for clarity or accountability, but to stir resentment and pit one region against the other in order to discredit the sitting government.
“From our checks, we want to believe that Kwankwaso’s claim is grounded in fiction rather than fact and figure because a closer look at official data paints a strikingly different picture from his claims.
“According to the Federal Ministry of Works, as of late 2024, 52.48% of ongoing “legacy” road projects under Tinubu, 1,414 km out of 2,735 km, is located in the North, while 48% is in the South.
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“Out of the 82 Sukuk-funded road projects, 45 are in the North. For 260 emergency road interventions, the breakdown is 108 in the North and 98 in the South.
“The Minister of Works, Sen David Umahi, has made it clear that projects are awarded based on technical submissions and existing commitment, not on regional bias.
“At a recent FEC meeting, he disclosed that ₦507 billion was allocated for the Abuja–Kano road, while just ₦24 billion went to a Southeast project, a stark contrast to the allegations of southern favoritism.
“Major northern infrastructure projects currently underway include: Sokoto–Badagry superhighway, starting from Kebbi (₦958 million awarded)
“Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway, with multi-phase funding exceeding ₦777 billion. Other active corridors are Sokoto–Illela, Mararaba–Keffi, Kaduna–Jos, Zaria–Sokoto, and Abuja–Lokoja
“Rail infrastructure also tells a similar story. The Kano–Kaduna Standard-Gauge Railway is backed by China’s Development Bank, injecting $255 million into a previously secured $973 million loan to connect the North to Abuja and improve regional mobility.
“Therefore we want to say without fear or favour that Kwankwaso’s allegations are a dangerous distraction, knowing full-well that Nigerians don’t bother about fact-checking; we are quick to ride on emotions and blackmail especially the one that appeals to us. Kwankwaso’s allegation further risks inflaming regional tensions unnecessarily.
“There is no doubt the North enjoys a slight edge in ongoing infrastructure projects both by number and geographical spread. So for anyone to say otherwise without facts, is not only a disservice to the government of the day, but deeply irresponsible, especially from someone aspiring to lead the nation.
“Kwankwaso’s statements are capable of exploiting public emotions, especially among citizens who may not have access to the real data. Worse still, they perpetuate a harmful “North vs South” narrative that Nigeria desperately needs to move beyond.
“It appears annoying for the fact that the North has held power longer than any other region since independence. Yet, widespread issues like low literacy, poor infrastructure, and youth unemployment remain largely unaddressed, without the people blaming their sons who were at the helm of affairs in the country.
“The people from the region did not protest when northern-led administrations failed to close these gaps. We advise that it is time to shift focus from ethnic grievance to developmental accountability regardless of whoever is in power to lead our dear country.
“If we must speak of equity, let’s do so with evidence not emotion. Playing the regional card without data only deepens division and discord among citizenry,” the statement concluded.
