Kaduna: Former Niger Governor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Dr Mu'azu Aliyu, has stated that the persistent challenges facing Northern Nigeria are largely due to elite complacency, institutional neglect, and decades of misguided policy choices that long predate the current administration.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Aliyu made these remarks during the opening session of a two-day Interactive Session on Government-Citizens' Engagement at the Arewa House, Kaduna. He emphasized that while the Tinubu administration inherited many of the region's issues, the Northern political and intellectual elites must accept part of the responsibility. Aliyu asserted, "Our problems didn't start today, and they weren't caused solely by this government. Many of us who watched and did nothing must also bear the blame. We failed to act when it mattered most."
The engagement, convened by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, seeks to deepen inclusive governance through dialogue between policymakers and citizens across Northern Nigeria. Aliyu identified insurgency, banditry, poverty, the growing number of out-of-school children, porous borders, and youth unemployment as immediate concerns. He warned that the growing disconnect between government and citizens is fueling mistrust, misinformation, and public frustration.
Aliyu advocated for institutionalized, town hall-style meetings nationwide, citing successful global examples where civic engagement has shaped policy and strengthened democracy. He stressed the importance of differentiating between governance and partisanship, urging governments to listen to the people and citizens to speak up with respect and clarity.
Reaffirming the foundation's non-partisan stance, Aliyu commended platforms like the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Jam'iyyar Matan Arewa (JMA), and Arewa House for consistently demanding accountability. He also criticized the prolonged delays in the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project and the Baro Inland Port, labeling them as unfulfilled federal promises and "frauds."
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the ACF, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, urged President Bola Tinubu to renew his commitment to Northern development, citing the region's overwhelming support in the 2023 presidential election. Dalhatu disclosed that Northern leaders had formally presented key expectations to Tinubu, which include enhanced security, revived agriculture, improved education, and investment in energy and infrastructure.
Dalhatu emphasized the need for the Federal Government to begin reflecting Northern concerns more clearly in its policies and programs, acknowledging that such interventions take time. He praised the foundation for sustaining dialogue and encouraged continuous citizen-government engagement to strengthen democracy.
Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdullahi, called for a sharper federal focus on education and infrastructure in the North, warning that current neglect undermines national development. He highlighted the region's disproportionate share of the country's estimated 20 million out-of-school children and criticized the state of road infrastructure in the North-East.
Abdullahi urged for fair representation in federal appointments and expressed concern over recent developments at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), including the relocation of departments to Lagos and perceived lopsided leadership appointments. He advocated for the strategic location of agro-allied industries in Northern Nigeria to reflect the region's agricultural potential, emphasizing the necessity of these conversations for progress and greater inclusion and responsiveness going forward.