2027: “They are taking our resources to develop only the south” — Kwankwaso accuses Tinubu of neglecting the North

2027: “They are taking our resources to develop only the south” — Kwankwaso accuses Tinubu of neglecting the North

Former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of unfairly allocating national resources in favour of the southern part of the country while neglecting critical development needs in the North.

Speaking on Thursday during a public hearing on the constitutional review organized by the Kano State Government, Kwankwaso expressed strong dissatisfaction over what he described as the lopsided distribution of the national budget, claiming that the South has become the primary beneficiary of federal projects.

“Let me advise the federal government on the distribution of federal resources. From the information available to us, it is like most of the national budget is now tilting in one direction in this country,” he said.

He lamented the dire state of infrastructure in the North, particularly the decaying road networks that link major cities. Citing a personal experience, Kwankwaso recounted his recent ordeal on the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway.

“Yesterday, I was to come by air, but unfortunately, my airline delayed our flight from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., so I had to travel by road. Abuja to Kaduna to Kano was hell — terrible, very bad road. This is a road they started many years ago, right from the beginning of the APC administration,” he said.

Kwankwaso noted that while infrastructure is being supported in the southern and eastern regions, the North continues to be overlooked despite contributing significantly to the country’s revenue.

“We support infrastructure anywhere in this country and anything that benefits the masses. But a situation where government is taking our resources and dumping them in one part of the country, and leaving other regions behind, is not acceptable,” he warned.

He urged the Tinubu-led administration to adopt a more inclusive approach to governance and ensure equitable distribution of resources and development across all six geopolitical zones.

Kwankwaso’s remarks come amid growing discontent in northern political and economic circles. Earlier this month, the Arewa Economic Forum (AEF) accused President Tinubu of favouring his ethnic group in key appointments, particularly in the finance and ICT sectors.

According to the AEF, most strategic economic positions are dominated by individuals from the South-West, especially Lagos State, raising concerns about nepotism and regional imbalance.

As the country heads towards the 2027 general elections, Kwankwaso’s comments are expected to intensify the debate over national unity, equity, and the perceived marginalisation of the North under the current administration.