April 19, 2025
In a fiery rebuttal to mounting criticism, Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle has dismissed claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a political liability to Northern Nigeria, asserting that the President is steadfastly addressing the region’s deep-seated challenges. Speaking through his Senior Aide on Politics, Ibrahim Danmaliki Gidan Goga, on April 18, 2025, Matawalle accused detractors of peddling “baseless propaganda” to regain political relevance after failing to secure influence in Tinubu’s administration. However, voices from the North, including prominent leaders and grassroots advocates, counter that Tinubu’s policies have exacerbated economic hardship and insecurity, fueling perceptions of disconnect. As Nigeria navigates a polarized political landscape, the debate over Tinubu’s legacy in the North underscores the region’s pivotal role ahead of the 2027 elections.
Matawalle’s Defense: A Record of Commitment
Matawalle’s defense of Tinubu is rooted in tangible policy actions, which he argues demonstrate the President’s dedication to Northern Nigeria. He highlighted Operation Fansan Yamma, a military campaign that has neutralized over 65 bandit leaders and dismantled 200 terrorist camps, according to the Ministry of Defence. The establishment of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell with the United Kingdom in December 2024 further underscores efforts to curb kidnapping, a persistent scourge in the North. Beyond security, Matawalle pointed to infrastructure projects like the ongoing Zaria-Gusau-Talata Mafara-Sokoto expressway and the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway, both prioritized under Tinubu’s administration.
Economically, the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development aims to boost agriculture, a lifeline for Northern communities, while Matawalle credited Tinubu’s policies for recent declines in grain prices. He also emphasized local government autonomy, signed into law by Tinubu, as a game-changer for grassroots governance. “These are not the actions of a leader indifferent to the North,” Matawalle declared, framing critics as opportunistic elites frustrated by their exclusion from Tinubu’s inner circle.
The Counterclaim: A Region Under Strain
Yet, for many in the North, these achievements are overshadowed by the harsh realities of daily life. The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, and other critics argue that Tinubu’s economic reforms—particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and electricity tariff hikes—have plunged millions into deeper poverty. A 2024 analysis by Daily Trust noted that subsidy removal tripled fuel prices, driving up transportation and food costs, with ripple effects felt acutely in low-income Northern households. “The North is suffering,” Lawal stated in February 2025, warning of a “refugee camp” scenario and mobilizing opposition for 2027.
Security remains a flashpoint. Despite military gains, banditry and kidnapping persist, with communities in Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna reporting ongoing attacks. The NEF, in April 2024, publicly regretted supporting Tinubu in 2023, citing unmet expectations on security and economic relief. Former Senator Shehu Sani has echoed these concerns, arguing that the North’s patience is wearing thin amid rising unemployment and inflation. These voices reject Matawalle’s portrayal of critics as mere propagandists, insisting their grievances reflect genuine suffering.
Honest Analysis: A Polarized Reality
Matawalle’s claims are grounded in verifiable initiatives. Operation Fansan Yamma has yielded results, with over 8,000 terrorists neutralized in 2024, per official reports. Infrastructure projects are underway, and the Livestock Ministry signals intent to address agricultural challenges. However, the impact of these efforts is debated. Security gains are incremental, not transformative, as banditry continues to disrupt lives. Infrastructure projects, while promising, remain incomplete, and their benefits are not yet fully felt. The decline in grain prices, while notable, may owe more to seasonal harvests than policy alone, and broader economic indicators—such as persistent inflation—undermine claims of widespread relief.
Conversely, critics’ portrayal of Tinubu as a liability is not without merit but risks exaggeration. The economic fallout from subsidy removal is undeniable, with Northern families bearing the brunt of higher costs. Yet, Tinubu inherited a structurally weak economy, and reforms, however painful, were advocated by experts to curb fiscal hemorrhage. Critics like Lawal and the NEF, while highlighting real issues, are not impartial observers; their rhetoric aligns with political ambitions to challenge Tinubu in 2027. The NEF’s flip-flop from supporting Tinubu in 2023 to opposing him suggests strategic posturing, as does Lawal’s mobilization narrative.
Matawalle’s accusation of propaganda is partially valid. Misinformation, like the 2024 Samoa Agreement controversy amplified by some Northern media, has fueled anti-Tinubu sentiment. However, dismissing all criticism as falsehood ignores legitimate concerns about policy outcomes. Both sides cherry-pick facts: Matawalle emphasizes achievements to project unity, while critics amplify hardships to galvanize opposition. The truth lies in a messy middle—Tinubu’s administration has taken steps to address Northern challenges, but these have yet to translate into transformative change for a region grappling with systemic issues.
A Region at a Crossroads
The debate over Tinubu’s impact on Northern Nigeria reflects deeper tensions in a nation divided by region, politics, and economic realities. The North, a decisive voting bloc in 2023, remains a battleground for narratives as 2027 looms. Matawalle’s defense seeks to shore up Tinubu’s support, but it must contend with a populace frustrated by slow progress. Critics, meanwhile, face the challenge of offering solutions rather than rhetoric. For Northern Nigerians, the question is not just whether Tinubu is a liability or an asset, but whether his policies will deliver the stability and prosperity they urgently need.
As the administration pushes forward, the North watches closely. Projects like the Zaria-Gusau road and anti-banditry operations could yet shift perceptions, but only if they yield visible results. For now, the region remains a microcosm of Nigeria’s broader struggle: a nation striving for progress amid the weight of its challenges.
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