My attention has been drawn to an opinion piece written by Mr. Salihu Tanko Yakasai, titled “Emi Lokan or Lagos Lakon?”, in which he accuses President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of favoring Lagos State to the detriment of other parts of the country, especially Kano.
While I respect his right to express his views, I feel compelled to address the clear misrepresentations, political undertones, and misleading sentiments contained in his piece.
I strongly dismissed all the accusations against Tinubu for regional bias in federal projects. Such accusations are baseless, misleading and politically motived as aforementioned. The piece is selective and dishonestly promoted.
Mr Yakasai was Special Adviser, Media, to the Governor, when Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was governor of Kano state. And later became Special Adviser, Media, again to Ganduje, when he was National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). I am just trying to scientifically establish the relationship for all to see.
President Tinubu is not the President of Lagos; he is the democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
His policies, projects, and appointments reflect the interests of the nation as a whole, not a region, not a tribe, and certainly not one city.
The writer should clearly understand that, Tinubu being the President of Nigeria, his administration demonstrated inclusiveness and fairness in projects distribution. Kano like other states is benefitting from ongoing federal interventions.
Before moving forward in my write-up, let me first and foremost challenge the former National Chairman of APC, Ganduje to come out publicly and dissociate himself from Yakasai’s claims. Failure to do so would confirm suspicion and allegation that the article is sponsored from within Ganduje.
The narrative that Lagos is the only beneficiary of President Tinubu’s administration is not only false but also misleading. Across the northern state, including Kano, Katsina, Borno, Sokoto, and Niger, massive federal projects are ongoing.
The Kano-Kaduna Standard Gauge Railway is receiving fresh attention and funding. The Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Kontagora-Makera Road has resumed construction. Borno State is witnessing renewed investments in power, housing, and rehabilitation projects for communities affected by insurgency.
The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, a transformative economic project, is ongoing and holds immense promise for Northern Nigeria’s industrial future.
The Renewed Hope City project in Kano is one of the largest in the country, targeting thousands of housing units.
Rehabilitation of dams, irrigation, and dry-season farming support in Northern states is being implemented through the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources.
These are not “audio” approvals; they are real, verifiable projects. And more are coming, because this government is not driven by tribal or regional sentiments but by a vision of shared prosperity.
Yes, Lagos, like Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt, commands significant infrastructure needs because of their national importance and economic impact. That said, other cities are not left out.
We must stop promoting the idea that progress in Lagos automatically means regression for other regions. We are one country. Federal investment in any strategic economic hub benefits the country as a whole.
It is on record that there are major federal projects being implemented in Kano under Tinubu. And many of which were secured through the active involvement of key political figures from the state.
Senator Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President, successfully sponsored Bills for the conversion of Federal Colleges of Education in Kano and Zaria into full-fledged Universities of Education, which have now been signed into Law by President Tinubu.
A separate Bill by Senator Barau also led to the creation of the Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo, transformed from the Federal Polytechnic Kabo.
So also the creation of North West Development Commission is there as another testimony of federal presence and visibility.
Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, helped facilitate a N150 billion allocation for a railway project in Kano City in the 2025 budget.
In addition, Kano is witnessing progress in rural electrification, road rehabilitation, federal housing schemes and agricultural support programs.
These are not imaginary or ‘audio’ projects. They are on ground, ongoing and visible. Anyone genuinely interested in Kano’s development will acknowledge these facts instead of resorting to false accusations for political relevance.
Moreover, Mr. Salihu Yakasai was conspicuously silent on such matters when his principal, former Kano Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, was a major political player under Tinubu’s administration as APC National Chairman.
One wonders why he has suddenly found his voice now that Ganduje has lost position and is facing serious allegations of corruption. If equity and justice are the principles he stands for, why was he mute then?
Let us be honest with ourselves, the stagnation of Kano is not because of President Tinubu. Rather, it is the result of years of mismanagement, poor leadership and political self-interest that have characterized the stewardship of Ganduje.
How can anyone blame the President when Kano own leaders failed to prioritize infrastructure, education and innovation when they had the chance?
If truly Mr. Yakasai and his political family are interested in Kano’s development, they would spend more time lobbying and proposing viable projects for federal support, rather than penning provocative and politically motivated articles aimed at sowing division.
Ironically, if President Tinubu were favoring Lagos excessively, who is better positioned than Ganduje, former governor, former Party Chairman and political godfather of the author, to advise or remind the President of Kano’s needs?
Instead, what we saw from Ganduje was a relentless pursuit of personal gain, appointments, contracts, and privileges, not legacy projects. It is well known that appointments were being shared allegedly among Ganduje’s family members while Kano’s development was an afterthought.
I urge Tinubu, to, among other things, put close eye on all those who get federal appointments under the influence of Ganduje when he was party’s National Chairman.
The loyalty of those appointees could be divided and shared between Ganduje and national responsibility, or Tinubu at best. While in the Law of Loyalty, loyalty is total and absolute. Anything short of this is misnomer.
We welcome healthy criticism of the federal government. Indeed, that is the hallmark of democracy. However, we must draw the lines using falsehoods, selective memory and sentimentalism to score cheap political points.
President Tinubu’s administration is committed to inclusiveness, equity, and national development. Kano remains a vital part of Nigeria and will not be left behind.
To those who want to exploit regional sentiments for political rehabilitation, I say, focus your energy on being part of the solution, not the noise making ploys.
Let us put Kano first, Nigeria first, and stop the politics of bitterness.History will be kind to us when we speak truth with responsibility, not propaganda with desperation.
Before my conclusion, let me call the attention of Ganduje to honorably bear the consequences of his actions as the former National Chairman of APC. Whatever followed should be blamed on himself and his self – created fate.
It is therefore instructive to advice Ganduje not to hold a stakeholders meeting slated for next few days in his Miyangu residence, in Kano.
We learned that the meeting is allegedly organized to talk to stakeholders on how to strategically plant discord tune against Tinubu administration in a clever way to Kano APC leadership and followership.
The meeting is also organized to bring to the table discussion about the possibility of checking-out from APC to the newly formed political coalition taking place across Northern Nigeria.
If it is true, then Ganduje is not helping matters. Neither is he helping his political survival and peaceful exit from the stage.
I urge President Tinubu, the People’s – President to, as from now on, place an eye on Ganduje’s political move. He should be monitored, inch by inch. What we need in the North is the continuation of good projects, as being brought onboard by Tinubu’s administration.
Conclusively let me call on our stakeholders across the North, to support Tinubu administration in its efforts to build a stronger and more inclusive Nigeria. I always believe that, leadership should be measured by tangible results not empty criticism.
Hon. Sadiq Ali Sango
APC Kano Youth Activist
August 3rd, 2025
