Does President Tinubu Hate the North?

By Mohammed Bello Doka

Northern Nigeria is currently grappling with one of the most challenging periods in its history. Since Nigeria's independence, the region has faced escalating poverty, hunger, disease, and insecurity. As the saying goes, "a hungry man is an angry man," and this sentiment is particularly relevant today in Arewa, where the youth are both hungry and furious.

The recent nationwide protests have underscored the severity of the situation in the North. These protests were notably intense in the region, where frustration is compounded by widespread illiteracy and ignorance. Many are either unaware of the full scope of the problem or choose to ignore it for reasons of security or political expediency.

Amidst the chaos, looting, and bloodshed, a persistent narrative has emerged: accusations that President Tinubu harbors animosity toward the North and is primarily focused on the South, particularly Lagos. While I am not here to defend the President, it is crucial to address this claim with transparency and fairness.

It is essential to clarify that the President is not directly responsible for formulating and executing federal projects. This responsibility falls to his cabinet members, including Ministers and heads of various agencies, parastatals, and commissions.

So, why have Ministers from Northern Nigeria not initiated and executed projects that benefit their region, despite having access to substantial funds? The narrative that President Tinubu exclusively appoints his kinsmen to lucrative positions does not hold up under scrutiny.

Consider the five most influential ministries in Nigeria, which are currently led by Northerners: the Ministry of Defence, with a budget exceeding 1.6 trillion Naira; the Ministry of Education, with a budget of over 1.5 trillion Naira; the Ministry of Health, with a budget surpassing 1.3 trillion Naira; and the Ministry of Agriculture, with close to a trillion Naira allocated. These ministries collectively manage over six trillion Naira. Given this significant financial power, why have these Ministers not undertaken projects that would improve the lives of ordinary Northerners?

Furthermore, each state in the North has at least one minister, meaning that the region potentially has 19 ministers. What are these ministers collectively doing to advance the interests of the North? This question also extends to members of the Senate and House of Representatives from the region.

It is important to recognize that those who propagate the narrative that President Tinubu hates the North are, in many ways, contributing to the region's problems. These individuals often use this narrative to deflect attention from their own shortcomings and deceive the gullible. 

There is also a growing cry for power to return to the North by 2027, with warnings that otherwise, Tinubu will destroy the region. However, this argument begs the question: during the eight years of President Buhari’s tenure, when 60-64% of cabinet members were Northerners, what tangible achievements did the North realize beyond exacerbated hunger, poverty, illiteracy, and insecurity?

The North will remain backward unless its youth take a hard look inward, recognize that many of the region's problems are internal, and use democratic means to effect change in its leadership. Without this critical self-assessment and reform, meaningful progress will remain elusive. In the next installment, I will focus on how our governors, who by many measures are significant obstacles to the North's progress, have contributed to this ongoing crisis.