Former Speaker of the ninth House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu or the Southern region is responsible for the challenges faced by the North. Speaking at a town hall meeting for Christian leaders in northern Nigeria, Dogara highlighted decades of poor leadership in the region as the root cause of its persistent underdevelopment.
“The idea that President Tinubu or the South is our problem is false. They have not come to cheat the North. Some argue that the Yoruba are getting more appointments, but let’s be honest: we ruled this country for over 40 years. What did we achieve? The North remains the same—impoverished by our own leaders,” Dogara stated.
The event, themed “Church and Society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising”, provided a platform for the former Speaker to address governance and development issues. Dogara criticized northern political leaders for squandering decades of opportunities to develop the region.
“We have received significant resources, including Value Added Tax (VAT) and federal allocations, yet our governors mismanaged these funds instead of investing in meaningful development,” he said.
Dogara also lamented the neglect of the Ajaokuta Steel Industry, initiated under the Shagari administration and reportedly 98% complete, but allowed to deteriorate.
“The project was nearly finished, but it was left to rot,” he noted.
Calling for unity and support for President Tinubu’s administration, Dogara urged northerners to back the President’s efforts to transform the nation, particularly through the tax reform bills awaiting National Assembly approval.
“Nigerians should rally behind these reforms as they are crucial for our nation’s progress,” he added.
