Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has challenged Northern Nigeria’s political elite to accept responsibility for the region’s longstanding developmental challenges, declaring that governors, ministers, senators and other public officeholders who have served since 1999 cannot escape blame for decades of educational setbacks, infrastructural deficiencies and socioeconomic hardship.Northern Leaders Failed Their People, Must Share Blame For Region’s Backwardness — Uba Sani
The governor, who defended President Bola Tinubu against mounting criticism over the condition of Northern Nigeria, argued that the region’s problems predated the current administration and must be examined within the broader context of successive governments’ performance since the return to democratic rule.
Sani insisted that political leaders who had occupied influential positions over the past 27 years should acknowledge their contributions to the region’s present circumstances rather than shifting responsibility to an administration that assumed office in May 2023.
“I’m a northerner, and I’m telling you that anybody who held position, whether a governor, minister, senator, vice president, you should be ready to take blame,” he declared.
His remarks come amid intensifying political activities ahead of the 2027 general election, with questions surrounding Northern Nigeria’s development, political representation and support for Tinubu increasingly shaping public debate.
The governor maintained that genuine political leadership required accountability, arguing that those who had participated in governance should be prepared to defend their records and explain the persistent challenges confronting the region.
He identified the alarming number of out-of-school children as one of the clearest indicators of the North’s developmental difficulties.
According to figures cited by Sani, approximately 18 million Nigerian children were out of school as of 2023, with an estimated 70 per cent residing in Northern Nigeria.
The governor questioned why Tinubu should be held solely responsible for an educational crisis that had persisted through several administrations.
He argued that successive governments, particularly at the state and local government levels, had responsibilities for ensuring access to basic education and improving the conditions of vulnerable children.
The Kaduna governor maintained that the crisis could not be addressed without confronting longstanding weaknesses in educational planning, funding and implementation.
Drawing attention to his administration’s interventions, Sani disclosed that Kaduna State had approximately 550,000 out-of-school children when he assumed office in 2023.
He claimed that his government had since returned about 300,000 children to classrooms, describing the development as evidence of its commitment to tackling educational exclusion.
The governor did not provide a detailed breakdown of the programmes through which the children were enrolled or the measures adopted to ensure their continued attendance.
Nevertheless, he maintained that expanding educational opportunities remained central to efforts to improve living conditions and address the factors contributing to poverty and unemployment.
Turning to the political atmosphere ahead of 2027, Sani rejected the notion that Northern voters could be persuaded to support candidates merely because they came from the same geographical region.
He argued that voters were increasingly interested in the performance, credibility and achievements of political leaders rather than appeals to regional identity.
“The people of Northern Nigeria are very smart. You cannot come to them and tell them, ‘Vote for me because I’m a northerner.’ They will never vote for you. They can only vote for you based on your track record,” he said.
The governor’s comments come as political parties and presidential hopefuls begin positioning themselves for the next general election, with Northern Nigeria expected to remain a major arena of political competition.
Sani maintained that the electorate should assess candidates on the basis of their contributions to national development and their capacity to address the country’s pressing challenges.
He also defended the Tinubu administration’s performance in Northern Nigeria, citing federal infrastructure projects as evidence of what he described as the government’s commitment to regional development.
According to him, more than 348 kilometres of federal roads have been completed in the North-East, while approximately 3,100 kilometres of road projects are under construction across the geopolitical zone.
He added that about 1,800 kilometres of the ongoing projects were approaching 90 per cent completion.
In the North-West, the governor said more than 342 kilometres of roads had been completed, while another 1,042 kilometres were nearing 90 per cent completion.
Sani presented the figures as evidence of federal interventions intended to improve transportation networks, economic connectivity and access to markets.
The claims, however, were not accompanied by an independently verified project-by-project breakdown in the report.
The governor further highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing the initiative as an important intervention for students from financially disadvantaged households.
He claimed that more than 414,000 students from the North-West had benefited from the scheme, with approximately N84 billion allocated to beneficiaries across the region.
According to him, the student loan programme provides opportunities for young Nigerians who might otherwise struggle to finance their tertiary education.
Sani argued that such interventions were important in a region where educational exclusion and limited economic opportunities continue to pose significant development challenges.
He also advocated increased investment in technical and vocational education, stressing that conventional academic qualifications alone would not adequately address the employment needs of Northern Nigeria’s growing youth population.
The governor maintained that practical skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and vocational training were essential to equipping young people for productive economic participation.
He urged political leaders to prioritise programmes that could improve educational access, expand employment opportunities and strengthen the region’s human capital.
Sani’s defence of Tinubu comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over insecurity, poverty, inadequate infrastructure and poor social services in parts of Northern Nigeria.
The governor’s position also draws attention to the responsibilities of state governments, which exercise considerable authority over basic education, healthcare and other public services.
Although federal policies and funding influence development outcomes, state and local administrations also play significant roles in determining how effectively public resources translate into improvements in residents’ living conditions.
Consequently, responsibility for the region’s development cannot be assessed solely through the performance of the incumbent federal administration.
Sani’s remarks have further highlighted competing approaches to political accountability ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly whether public debate should focus on regional loyalties, the records of past administrations or measurable achievements under the current government.
His assessment places successive Northern political officeholders under renewed scrutiny while reinforcing his position that the region’s development challenges require sustained policy interventions rather than electoral rhetoric.
As the country moves closer to the 2027 general election, the governor’s intervention brings a fundamental question into sharper focus: after nearly three decades of uninterrupted democratic governance, how much progress has Northern Nigeria achieved in education, infrastructure and economic opportunity, and to what extent have those entrusted with political power delivered on their promises? For millions of residents still confronting poverty, insecurity and inadequate public services, the answers will ultimately be measured by tangible improvements in their everyday lives.
