Kwankwaso accuses FG of budget bias, neglect of Northern Nigeria
Former Kano State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has accused the federal government of concentrating national resources in one region while ignoring the development needs of others, particularly the north.
Kwankwaso made the remarks on Thursday during a stakeholders’ dialogue on the 2025 constitutional amendment held in Kano. He criticized what he described as lopsided distribution of resources and persistent underdevelopment in parts of the country.
He said mismanagement at all tiers of government — federal, state, and local — had worsened poverty and insecurity in the north. “I believe the issues we face today, especially in this part of the country, are rooted in mismanagement of resources by our leaders,” he stated.
The former governor also alleged that wealthy individuals influence lawmakers through bribery, undermining equitable representation. “We’ve seen how the rich raise money to bribe National Assembly members, including those meant to represent our interests,” he said.
Kwankwaso called on legislators to take a firm stand on the proposed constitutional changes, urging them to resist manipulation and act in the interest of their constituents.
He expressed frustration over what he called the uneven allocation of the national budget. “From what we see, most of the national budget is tilted toward one direction in this country,” he said.
Citing his personal travel experience, he lamented the state of infrastructure in the north. “I was supposed to travel by air, but the airline delayed the flight for five hours. I had to travel by road from Abuja to Kano, and the road was in terrible shape — a project started years ago under the APC government,” he said.
Kwankwaso stressed that while he supports national development efforts everywhere, neglecting entire regions is unacceptable. “This is the time for the government to prove it belongs to all, not just one part of Nigeria,” he concluded.
