ACF accuses Tinubu of marginalising Northern Nigeria, failing on campaign promises

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Bashir Dalhatu, has accused President Bola Tinubu of neglecting the northern region despite the massive support he received from the area during the 2023 presidential election.

Speaking at a two-day interactive session in Kaduna organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF), Dalhatu said Tinubu had failed to honour the promises he made to the north before the elections. The event focused on assessing electoral promises and fostering government-citizen engagement for national unity.

Dalhatu recalled that in October 2022, Tinubu presented a written document outlining his plans for the north, following a similar document submitted by northern leaders. He said those commitments have largely gone unfulfilled.

He alleged that Tinubu’s appointments, budget priorities, and infrastructural projects have been skewed against the region, adding that the president appears to be favouring those who did not support him at the polls. “We cannot pretend not to observe the growing alienation of the north,” he said.

According to Dalhatu, over five million northerners voted for Tinubu in 2023, yet the region has seen little benefit from federal actions. He said the sense of marginalisation is growing, and many in the region feel disappointed.

He also cited insecurity as the greatest challenge facing the north, noting that for more than a decade, the region has suffered from massacres, bombings, kidnappings, and insurgent violence, which have crippled economic activities.

Dalhatu criticised the federal government for doing little to address these security issues, warning that the situation remains dire and threatens national cohesion. He called on the president to revisit his commitments to the north and take urgent steps to correct perceived imbalances.

Civil society groups and opposition leaders have echoed these concerns, demanding a fairer distribution of national resources and inclusive governance, especially ahead of the next election cycle.