By Abdulkarim Ibrahim
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has urged northern leaders to stop blaming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the region’s problems.
According to Sani, the challenges facing the north are as result of long-standing issues, including elite complacency, institutional neglect, and poor policy choices that predate the current administration.
Speaking at a citizen engagement session in Kaduna, Sani emphasized that the era of “blame games” must come to an end. Instead, he called on northern leaders to take ownership of the region’s crisis and work collaboratively with the Tinubu government to find solutions.
Sani’s plea highlights the need for a shift in approach, from finger-pointing to collective problem-solving.
By working together, northern leaders and the federal government can address the region’s challenges and work towards a more prosperous future.
“This engagement must go beyond ceremonial speeches. It is a moment for deep reflection,” Sani declared at the event, attended by ministers, federal officials, traditional rulers and members of civil society.
According to him, the gathering was not a political jamboree but a chance to assess promises made by President Tinubu — and more importantly, evaluate the contributions or failings of northern stakeholders themselves.
“Yes, President Tinubu made promises. But let us be honest with ourselves: he has kept faith with the North in many critical areas — security, agriculture, education, economic inclusion. The real question is, have we kept faith with our people as northern leaders?” He asked.
Governor Sani, urged the North to introspect and take responsibility for its problems rather than blaming external factors.
He criticized some northern politicians for having selective memory, arguing that they remained silent while the region’s socio-economic conditions deteriorated over time, but now blame President Tinubu for the issues after just two years in office.
“For over 20 years, insecurity grew, education declined, and poverty deepened. Where were the loud voices now blaming Tinubu when these things took root? It is hypocrisy to now shift responsibility to a government that inherited decades of rot,” the governor said.
Governor Uba Sani, acknowledged that president, regardless of their vision, can single-handedly solve the North’s problems without the active collaboration of state governments and traditional institutions.