The Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has slammed Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano state, over his recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing him of using ethnic sentiment to stir political division ahead of the 2027 elections.
Kwankwaso had alleged that the Tinubu-led government was investing more in southern Nigeria at the expense of the North.
But in a statement issued on Saturday, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, convener of ATT, described the comments as misleading and “a dangerous distraction.”
Yakubu said: “Arewa Think Tank will not support any divisive statement along ethnic, religious and regional lines.
“Why didn’t a person like Kwankwaso speak out during the previous government of infrastructural deficit in the North?
“We want to advise Kwankwaso not to introduce dirty regional politicking into our national discourse because it will do nobody any good.”
He argued that Tinubu, along with Vice-President Kashim Shettima, had performed creditably, especially in terms of infrastructure delivery across the North.
Citing data from the federal ministry of works, Yakubu said 52.48 percent of the ongoing road projects, equivalent to 1,414km out of 2,735km, are located in the North.
He added that out of 82 Sukuk-funded road projects, 45 are in the North, while 108 out of 260 emergency road interventions are also concentrated in the region.
Yakubu pointed out major projects such as the Abuja-Kano Expressway, with funding over ₦777 billion, and the Kano-Kaduna Standard-Gauge Railway, backed by a $255 million facility from China’s Development Bank.
He noted that David Umahi, minister of works, had also debunked claims of southern bias in project allocations, stating at a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that ₦507 billion was approved for the Abuja-Kano road, compared to ₦24 billion for a South-east project.
“It is unfortunate that whenever a president occupies the seat of power, some politicians take pleasure in manipulating figures not for accountability, but to pit one region against another,” Yakubu said.
He warned that Kwankwaso’s remarks risk inflaming regional tensions and misleading Nigerians who may not have access to factual data.
He further stated: “There is no doubt the North enjoys a slight edge in ongoing infrastructure projects both by number and geographical spread.
“So, for anyone to say otherwise without facts is not only a disservice to the government of the day but deeply irresponsible—especially from someone aspiring to lead the nation.”
Yakubu added that the North’s longstanding hold on political power had not translated into equitable development for its people, and urged citizens to hold their leaders accountable regardless of region or religion.
He added: “If we must speak of equity, let’s do so with evidence, not emotion.
“Playing the regional card without data only deepens division and discord among the citizenry.”
