By Olatunbosun Obafemi
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena, has criticised 2023 NNPP presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso over his recent remarks alleging bias in the distribution of federal projects in favour of the South.
Kwankwaso had accused the federal government of marginalising the North, claiming road infrastructure and development in the region lag behind those in the South. He argued that this reflected unfair treatment under the current administration.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, Nabena dismissed the claims as politically motivated, accusing Kwankwaso of attempting to incite the North ahead of the 2027 elections. He said such tactics no longer work, particularly in Kano, where voters are increasingly aware of political manipulation. “The Kano voters now know who is using them for political business,” Nabena said.
Nabena, a Bayelsa-born APC chieftain, challenged Kwankwaso to tour South-South states by road and compare their infrastructure to that of the North. He said underdevelopment is not exclusive to any region. “Let him check the road networks in the oil-rich South-South and see if they are any better,” he said.
He also questioned why Kwankwaso is raising concerns about development in the North when the region held presidential power for eight years before now. “Why complain now? What Northern resources were used to develop the South—Gold, Rice, or Groundnut pyramids?” he asked.
Nabena insisted that the presidency must remain in the South to complete an eight-year tenure for the sake of fairness and equity. He said Kwankwaso’s efforts to use ethnic and religious sentiments to sway public opinion were outdated and would not succeed in 2027.
“You cannot intimidate the South with Kano votes anymore,” Nabena said. “The era of playing ethnic or religious cards is fading. Nigerians are wiser now.”
He urged politicians to adopt a more inclusive and responsible approach to governance rather than fuelling regional tensions for political gain.
