Former Senator Shehu Sani has issued a powerful condemnation of Northern Nigeria's political leadership, accusing them of playing politics with the region's severe insecurity crisis instead of confronting its root causes.
A Scathing Critique of Failed Leadership
Speaking on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the Open Heart Foundation and the Women Empowerment Centre in Kaduna, the former lawmaker who represented Kaduna Central delivered a sweeping critique of what he termed the political hypocrisy of Arewa leadership. He pointed directly to almajirci, mass illiteracy, poverty, and underdevelopment as the fundamental drivers of the violence that has plagued the North for over fifteen years.
"The terrorists in the North-East are northerners. The bandits in the North-West speak Hausa, Fulfulde and Kanuri, not Mandarin or French," Sani stated bluntly. "This is our problem. Only we can solve it." He urged Northern elites to confront these issues headlong without further excuses.
Weaponizing Insecurity for Political Gain
Sani did not mince words when addressing the upcoming 2027 general elections, warning that some political actors are already exploiting the security situation for potential gain. "Some are celebrating attacks because it weakens the government," he alleged, accusing certain figures of cheering violence to damage the current administration.
He highlighted the stark contrast in reactions to violence under different governments. "Some of the loudest voices today were silent when thousands were kidnapped under a government they called 'our own'," Sani remarked. "Now they attempt to weaponise insecurity as 2027 approaches. Some even rejoice when soldiers fall. This is immoral."
Fifteen Years of Bloodshed and Failed Solutions
The civil rights activist painted a grim picture of the North's security collapse, drawing parallels with crises in neighboring countries. "For 15 years, northern Nigeria has been a theatre of bloodshed," he recounted, noting that schools, churches, mosques, and villages have been targeted since 2013.
He listed several high-profile school attacks that have traumatized the nation, including Bethel Baptist High School, Greenfield University, Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, and the mass abductions in Jangebe and Yauri. Sani noted with anguish that many victims spent years in captivity while leaders largely looked away.
Sani specifically criticized former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, who recently alleged that the current administration had paid over a billion naira to bandits. "It is on record that Nasir El-Rufai admitted that he once appeased bandits," Sani countered. "Under his watch, Kaduna witnessed some of its worst divisions. He even withdrew his own son from a nearby school due to insecurity. The irony is loud."
While acknowledging that Kaduna is not yet completely safe, Sani credited Governor Uba Sani's administration with reducing religious tension and improving security in previous flashpoints like Birnin Gwari. He also noted that President Bola Tinubu's government has made measurable progress in tackling the crisis.
The former senator dismissed any notion that external powers would rescue Nigeria from its security challenges. "The United States will not save us. Europe will not," he declared. "Our salvation lies in strengthening our armed forces and uniting as citizens."
He concluded with a sobering warning as elections approach: "The future of the North depends on courage, honesty and unity. The question remains: When will the North sit down and confront its problems sincerely?"
During the event, the leadership of the visiting NGOs expressed their agony over the persistent kidnapping of students. Acting Chairperson of the Open Heart Foundation, Hassan Abdullai Zubairu, and Chairperson of the Women Skill Empowerment Centre, Rabiatu Nasiru, appealed through Senator Sani to ensure all kidnapped victims are returned home safely.
