In a sharp escalation of regional political discourse, the Reuben Fasoranti-led faction of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has issued a forceful condemnation of recent remarks by former Kano State Governor and presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso. Kwankwaso had levelled serious accusations against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, claiming it was deliberately sidelining Northern Nigeria in the allocation of developmental projects and concentrating national resources in one region, exacerbating poverty and insecurity nationwide, particularly in the North.
Speaking earlier, Kwankwaso, a prominent Northern political figure, painted a picture of systemic neglect under the current federal government. He alleged that critical developmental initiatives were bypassing the North, while resources were funneled disproportionately elsewhere. This alleged imbalance, coupled with what Kwankwaso termed mismanagement across national, state, and local government tiers, was presented as a primary driver behind the deepening crises of poverty and insecurity afflicting the Northern region.
Responding via a statement issued on Friday by its National Organising Secretary, Abagun Omololu, Afenifere categorically rejected Kwankwaso’s narrative. Omololu characterized the former governor’s claims as “grossly misleading and deliberately incendiary,” expressing dismay that such pronouncements were made seemingly without factual foundation. The Afenifere official asserted that Kwankwaso’s perspective starkly contradicted observable federal investment patterns.
Omololu presented a detailed counter-argument, explicitly listing significant federal projects underway in Northern states as evidence against the neglect allegation. “No region in Nigeria has received more federal presence in the last decade than the North,” Omololu stated emphatically. He pointed to major transportation infrastructure initiatives, including: The ongoing dualisation of the Kano-Maiduguri Road. Development of the Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega Road. Upgrades to the Abuja-Keffi-Lafia corridor.
Beyond roads, Omololu highlighted the strategic Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline project. He stressed that this long-delayed national infrastructure priority, neglected by previous administrations, was now being “fast-tracked” under President Tinubu. Furthermore, Omololu referenced recent presidential approvals, stating that “just weeks ago, President Tinubu approved billions for critical infrastructure in Katsina, Borno, and Niger States,” directly countering the claim of Northern exclusion.
The Afenifere statement concluded with a pointed critique of the nature of Kwankwaso’s intervention. Omololu framed such accusations as detrimental to national unity, urging a move away from divisive rhetoric. “We must rise above ethnic saboteurs and sectional agitators masquerading as patriots,” he declared. The call was clear: “Let statesmen, not ethnic lords, shape the conversation” regarding Nigeria’s development and resource allocation.
This robust rebuttal from the influential Yoruba group underscores the deep sensitivities surrounding regional development and resource distribution in Nigeria. It positions Afenifere in direct opposition to Kwankwaso’s narrative, defending the Tinubu administration’s Northern engagement while accusing the former governor of inflammatory and unfounded claims. The exchange signals heightened tensions along regional lines concerning the perception of equity in federal project execution.
