Kwankwaso has slammed President Tinubu Government over alleged marginalisation of North in resource allocation.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused the Federal Government of disproportionately focusing infrastructure development in the southern part of Nigeria while neglecting the North.
Kwankwaso made the remarks during a stakeholders’ dialogue on the proposed 2025 constitutional amendment held in Kano. He criticized the Federal Government for what he described as a glaring imbalance in the distribution and execution of road projects across the country.
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Recounting his recent experience, Kwankwaso lamented the deplorable state of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway, which he described as “hellish” and in stark contrast to what he termed improved roads in the South.
“Just yesterday, I had planned to fly to Kano, but my flight was delayed from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., so I had no choice but to travel by road,” he said. “The Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road was horrible. It’s a disgrace. That road has been under construction since the early days of the APC administration. Meanwhile, we are hearing about new roads being completed in the South-East.”
He stressed that while he supports development anywhere in Nigeria, the government’s approach must be equitable.
“We are not against roads or infrastructure in any part of Nigeria. In fact, I would have loved to use those roads during my 2023 campaign, as I was the only candidate who visited every part of this country,” he said. “But what we oppose is taking resources from all parts of the country and spending them only in one region. That is unacceptable and must change.”
On the issue of constitutional reform, Kwankwaso called on federal lawmakers from Kano State to unite and defend the interests of the region. He cautioned against the repeated failures of past legislators who, he alleged, had been compromised.
“We have seen how lawmakers from this region failed in the past—especially between 1999 and 2003, and even recently—due to being influenced by wealthy elites who use money to sway their votes,” he said. “This manipulation has led to a skewed distribution of national resources.”
Kwankwaso blamed the mismanagement of resources at all levels of government; federal, state, and local for the socio-economic challenges currently facing the North, urging leaders to be accountable and proactive.
Also speaking at the event, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said the stakeholders’ dialogue was organized to ensure that Kano’s position in the constitutional review process truly reflects the aspirations, values, and realities of its people.
“This dialogue is both timely and essential,” the governor said. “It’s about giving our people a voice and ensuring that the changes we seek in the constitution align with our collective vision as a state.”
The event was attended by members of the National and State Assemblies, traditional rulers including the Emirs of Kano, Gaya, and Karaye, top government officials, opinion leaders, and other key stakeholders from across the state.
