“Northern leaders our problem, not Tinubu or South” — Dogara

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has issued a scathing critique of northern leaders, accusing them of squandering decades of political dominance without meaningful development in the region.

Speaking at a town hall meeting for Christian leaders in northern Nigeria on Friday, Dogara pulled no punches in addressing governance failures that have left the North lagging in infrastructure and economic progress.

In a sharp rebuke of divisive rhetoric, Dogara dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu’s administration or southern influence is responsible for the North’s struggles:

“We are all northerners, and it should be made clear that President Tinubu or the South is not our problem; they have not come to cheat the North. That is out of the question.”

He continued by urging northern leaders and citizens to self-reflect:

“We ruled this country for over 40 years when northerners were in power. What did we achieve? The North remains the same, impoverished by our own leaders.”

Dogara’s remarks at the event, themed “Church and Society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising,” spotlighted the region’s long-standing issues of poverty, underdevelopment, and mismanagement of resources.

While some northern elites have pushed narratives about ethnic or regional marginalization, Dogara’s comments challenge these views, suggesting that the region’s woes are homegrown.