The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has strongly refuted recent claims made by former Kano State governor and presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of marginalising northern Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Organising Secretary, Kole Omololu, Afenifere described Kwankwaso’s remarks as “reckless, misleading, and a calculated attempt to incite ethnic division.” The group urged Nigerians to be wary of what it called “alarmist rhetoric” designed to distort facts and fuel regional animosity.
“Senator Kwankwaso’s recent outburst, where he alleged that President Tinubu is diverting national resources to the South at the expense of the North, is not only factually incorrect but intentionally provocative,” the group stated.
Afenifere noted that given Kwankwaso’s background as a two-time governor, former defence minister, and senator, he should have spoken with accuracy and fairness, not “sectional sentiments disguised as national concern.”
North Benefited More Under Buhari, Afenifere Says
The group reminded Nigerians that under the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the North received significant federal attention and investments, often to the neglect of other regions.
“No region in Nigeria has received more concentrated federal presence in the last decade than the North. Even the World Bank Managing Director publicly confirmed that former President Buhari directed the institution to focus development efforts in the northern region,” Afenifere emphasized.
The organisation further questioned Kwankwaso’s silence during that period, wondering why he did not speak up about equity and national balance when the South reportedly faced neglect.
Questioning Past Projects and Uneven Development
Afenifere also pointed to major infrastructure projects carried out under Buhari’s leadership that disproportionately favoured the North, such as the Kano-Maradi railway that extended into the Niger Republic. The group criticized the economic rationale behind the project, arguing that it offered little direct benefit to Nigeria’s economy.
“While such questionable projects were pursued, southern infrastructure suffered. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway—originally initiated during President Jonathan’s tenure—remained unfinished, and the long-promised Second Niger Bridge was not delivered until Buhari left office,” the group lamented.
Tinubu Administration’s Northern Projects Highlighted
Contrary to Kwankwaso’s allegations, Afenifere highlighted several key federal projects currently underway in the North under President Tinubu’s government. These include:
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The dualisation of the Kano-Maiduguri road
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The Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega highway
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The Abuja-Keffi-Lafia express corridor
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The massive Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline
The group also cited recent presidential approvals for multibillion-naira infrastructure interventions in Katsina, Borno, and Niger States, underscoring Tinubu’s balanced national development agenda.
“Don’t Fall for Ethnic Propaganda,” Afenifere Warns
In its concluding remarks, Afenifere accused Kwankwaso of playing an “ethnic card” to gain political advantage and warned Nigerians not to be swayed by emotional manipulation.
“Kwankwaso’s comments are not only unfair but dangerously divisive. They risk fuelling ethnic resentment at a time when unity is critical to national progress,” the group warned.
“Nigeria needs statesmen people who elevate the national conversation, not ethnic champions who seek to pit one region against another.”
Afenifere called on political leaders across the country to exercise restraint and responsibility in their public statements, particularly on sensitive national issues, so as not to derail the country’s fragile unity.
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