Former Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly, has said the deep-rooted socio-economic challenges confronting Northern Nigeria are the result of decades of leadership failure, not the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking on Tuesday at his Kaduna residence during a courtesy visit by members of the Tijjaniyya Grassroots Mobilization and Empowerment Initiative of Nigeria (TIGMEIN), Sani criticized efforts by some northern elites to shift blame onto the Tinubu administration, arguing that the problems predate the current government.

“It is disingenuous for anyone to blame Tinubu, who has been in office for just two years, for problems that have plagued the North for decades,” Sani said. “We had [Muhammadu] Buhari in power for eight years, but the North remained backward and impoverished.”

Citing the collapse of once-thriving industries such as Kaduna Textile Limited (KTL), United Nigerian Textiles Limited (UNTL), Nortex, and Arewa Textiles, Sani lamented the missed opportunities and lack of foresight by northern leaders, accusing them of prioritizing personal and family gains over regional development.

“Our leaders lacked vision and pursued development only for their families,” he said bluntly.

Sani highlighted the neglect of critical infrastructure and essential sectors such as education, healthcare, and security. He pointed to the continued deterioration or abandonment of major projects like the Kaduna–Abuja road, Minna–Abuja road, Lokoja–Abuja expressway, Ajaokuta Steel Company, and Mambilla Power Project as symptoms of failed leadership in the region.

“Ask yourself — did these bad hospitals, failed roads, insecurity, and poverty start just 24 months ago?” he asked rhetorically.

The outspoken former lawmaker warned northerners to be wary of what he called political propaganda, especially from disgraced politicians attempting a return to power.

“No matter how bad things may seem now, know this — your brothers from the North failed you. And if they return to power, nothing will change,” he declared.

Sani’s comments add to the ongoing national debate about accountability, development, and the direction of leadership ahead of the 2027 General Elections. His remarks are likely to spark both support and controversy, particularly among political actors from the North.

So far, there has been no official reaction from northern political figures implicated in Sani’s critique.