Former Senator Shehu Sani has urged northern leaders to harness the region’s resources to address insecurity, poverty, and underdevelopment. Speaking in an interview, Sani criticized northern elites for using President Bola Tinubu’s proposed tax reforms to stoke political fears, arguing that the region has the capacity to thrive independently if its resources are properly managed.
Sani highlighted three key areas for action: ending insecurity, investing in agriculture, and revitalizing public education. He stressed that bandits and terrorists destabilizing the North are local issues that must be resolved by the people. He also noted that with its vast land and water resources, the region could feed itself, Nigeria, and West Africa through strategic agricultural investment.
The former senator challenged northern leaders to give back to society by improving public education, recalling how many leaders benefited from free schooling and scholarships. He emphasized that the North, with its population and natural wealth, has no reason to resist reforms or remain in poverty, urging leaders to embrace self-reliance and development.