Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has urged Northern Nigerian leaders to stop blaming President Bola Tinubu for the region’s longstanding socio-economic challenges. Speaking at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation Government-Citizens Engagement Session held in Kaduna, the governor emphasized that the North’s decline has spanned over two decades, long before Tinubu assumed office.
“It’s unjust and politically misleading to hold the current administration accountable for problems that began over 20 years ago,” Uba Sani stated.
The governor called for self-reflection among Northern elites, asserting that silence and inaction from regional leaders have contributed more to the decline than any federal neglect.
“We’re talking about 18.5 million out-of-school children. Over 90% of them are in Northern Nigeria. But this situation didn’t begin today. If we don’t act fast, we may not have a region to call Northern Nigeria.”
Sani applauded the Tinubu administration’s willingness to engage directly with Northern leaders and citizens to find solutions, describing it as an “unprecedented” step in Nigeria’s history.
Governor Sani highlighted several ongoing federal initiatives under Tinubu’s administration aimed at uplifting the North, including:
- Food security and education programs
- Vocational and digital skill training through the 3 Million Technical Talent Initiative
- Infrastructure upgrades at federal institutions
- Classroom expansion and teacher recruitment
- Massive investments in agriculture and rural development
“We’re not just preparing future employees, we’re cultivating job creators,” Sani added, noting how technical institutes are now aligned with regional employment needs.
In health care, he noted that governors across party lines are receiving unprecedented federal support, proving Tinubu’s inclusive approach.
