Who Is Really Responsible for Northern Nigeria’s Problems?
For decades, the northern region of Nigeria has held a dominant share of the country’s political power. From the era of military rule to the return of democracy, the North has produced several Heads of State and Presidents. Yet, despite this long history of political control, the region continues to suffer some of the worst developmental setbacks in the country.
Poverty remains widespread. Out-of-school children are more concentrated in the North than anywhere else in Nigeria. Insecurity—ranging from Boko Haram insurgency to banditry and farmer-herder conflicts—has devastated communities and left millions displaced. Infrastructure remains weak, and economic opportunities are scarce.
The question then arises: what did northern leaders really deliver to their people during their years in power?
A Legacy of Broken Promises
While leaders from the North occupied the highest political offices, ordinary northerners hoped for transformation—better education, modern agriculture, health care access, and security. Instead, cycles of corruption, neglect, and political self-interest kept the region stagnant. Resources that could have been invested in rebuilding northern economies were either mismanaged or used to maintain political dominance.
Ironically, today, some of these same leaders and political blocs are at the forefront of moves to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, barely two years into his presidency.
Tinubu and the Northern Political Chessboard
President Tinubu’s rise to power in 2023 marked a shift in Nigeria’s political dynamics. For the first time in many years, power moved firmly away from northern hands. While some northern elites supported him during the election, others now see his presidency as a threat to their long-standing dominance in national politics.
Rather than focus on uniting behind policies that can uplift the North and Nigeria as a whole, political battles are being waged over influence, appointments, and future elections.
The People vs. The Politicians
The tragedy is that ordinary northerners remain trapped in hardship while political elites engage in power struggles. The young population—vibrant and full of potential—is often left behind without quality education or jobs. Farmers cannot access stable markets. Women face structural barriers to empowerment. And communities ravaged by insecurity continue to wait for rescue.
It is clear that the northern problem is not about who sits in Aso Rock, but about whether leaders truly care about their people. Unless northern leaders abandon politics of self-interest and embrace development-focused governance, the cycle of poverty and insecurity will persist—whether Tinubu remains in power or not.
A Call for Rethinking Leadership
Nigeria stands at a crossroads. For the North, the question is not about unseating Tinubu but about addressing decades of leadership failure. The future cannot be built on recycled politics of power rotation and influence-sharing. It must be built on education, security, industry, and genuine investment in human capital.
Until then, northern leaders must accept responsibility: they failed their people when they had the chance. And now, the North deserves better than another round of political maneuvering.
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