Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has stated that political leaders from northern Nigeria who held positions of authority over the past two decades should apologise for the region’s deepening poverty and underdevelopment.
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In a recent interview, the governor stressed the need for accountability among northern elites, noting that many of them contributed to the structural failures affecting the region today. He said former senators, governors, ministers, and vice-presidents from the North share responsibility for the challenges facing their people.
Governor Sani criticised political figures who focus on attacking current government policies while ignoring their roles in the decline of the region. He described such behaviour as self-serving and unhelpful to the progress of ordinary citizens.
He acknowledged that he was also part of the system and said that years of poor governance had resulted in widespread social exclusion and economic hardship across northern states.
Referencing the social intervention programmes under former President Muhammadu Buhari, the governor said that despite heavy investments, the efforts failed largely because about 70 percent of the region’s population remained financially excluded. This, he noted, prevented the intended impact of such programmes from being felt by the people.
Governor Sani called for a more honest and ethical approach to leadership in the North. He said the region requires leaders who are willing to confront the truth, accept responsibility, and work collectively towards finding lasting solutions to its problems.