Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has criticized northern leaders for their inability to drive development in the region, despite holding political dominance for over 40 years.
Speaking at a town hall meeting for Christian leaders in northern Nigeria on Friday, Dogara lamented the persistent poverty in the region, attributing it to poor governance and the lack of investment in meaningful projects.
The event, themed “Church and Society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising,” provided a platform for discussions on governance and national development.
Dogara dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu or the South were responsible for the North’s struggles. He emphasized that the region’s issues were rooted in its own leadership.
“We are all northerners, and it must be said that neither President Tinubu nor the South is our problem. They have not come to exploit the North,” he stated.
“Some people argue that Yoruba people are getting more appointments, but let’s take a moment to reflect. Northerners ruled this country for over 40 years. What did we achieve during that time? The North remains underdeveloped, a testament to the failures of our own leaders,” Dogara concluded.
