By Peace Udugba -The Daily Torch Media
Convener of the League of Northern Democrats and a key promoter of the All-Democratic Alliance (ADA), Dr Umar Ardo, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of short-changing Northern Nigeria in the distribution of federal resources, political appointments and economic opportunities.
Ardo made the allegation on Monday during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, where he assessed the performance of the Tinubu administration in the North and examined the region’s likely political direction ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to Ardo, the disparity between Northern and Southern Nigeria is particularly evident in the actual release of funds to federal ministries and government institutions.
He claimed that while budgetary allocations may appear balanced on paper, the actual disbursement of funds tells a different story.
“The budget to the ministries and the actual releases of funds, the North could have not been equated with the South at all. By far the South has received more releases, about five times, than the Northern ministries,” he said.
Ardo also alleged that several key government parastatals had been allocated to people from the South, further fuelling what he described as a perception of marginalisation among some Northerners.
He argued that assessing the administration’s regional balance should go beyond counting political appointments to include the distribution of government resources, institutions and economic opportunities.
Ardo Accuses Tinubu of Regional Imbalance in Appointments
Ardo also questioned the distribution of critical political appointments under the Tinubu administration, arguing that the pattern had contributed to a sense of exclusion among some groups in Northern Nigeria.
He said the country’s ethnic and geographical diversity made political representation a sensitive issue, particularly when appointments were viewed through the lens of regional identity.
“The perception, which is also true, is that he has Yorubanised his administration. He has given all the critical appointments to his own kinsmen and Yorubas. The Hausa/Fulani and other extended groups in the North feel short-changed, and this perception has created damage to this administration in Northern Nigeria,” Ardo said.
He, however, noted that the question of Northern representation was complicated by the diverse ethnic and cultural identities within the region.
Kwara, Kogi and the Politics of Identity
Ardo also discussed the status of Kwara and Kogi in debates over Northern political representation.
According to him, appointments involving people of Yoruba background from states such as Kwara and Kogi are sometimes interpreted as Southern representation, despite both states being geographically located in Northern Nigeria.
“Because Tinubu is Yoruba, all appointments that are Yoruba, whether it is in the North, Kwara or Kogi, it is seen as Yoruba,” he said.
Ardo argued that Nigeria’s regional identities could not always be neatly divided along geographical lines.
“Because of the vastness of Northern Nigeria that carries Yoruba and other groups that are not homogeneous, you can say that the North has some other critical appointments that are distributed by the Tinubu administration,” he added.
Economic Reforms Hit North Hardest, Ardo Says
The former political aspirant also criticised the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, including the removal of fuel subsidy.
Ardo said he had yet to see meaningful benefits from the reforms for Northern Nigerians, arguing that the region had been particularly affected because of its large population of economically vulnerable citizens.
“I do not see in any way how the North has benefited from the economic reforms,” he said.
According to him, rising inflation and declining purchasing power have placed additional pressure on households and businesses.
“The economic reform of the administration is actually biting on everybody, and it has bitten on the North more than the South. The North has a large number of poor people. Because the economic reforms have sent inflation high, the purchasing power of people has gone by far low. It has pushed the North from a state of poverty to a state of destitution,” Ardo said.
‘Economic Reforms Have Wiped Out Middle Class’
Ardo further claimed that the economic situation had affected not only low-income households but also members of the middle class.
“In the North now, our people have gone more destitute than they are even poor. It has completely wiped out the middle class, and the upper class is just only those that are in government,” he said.
He also questioned whether salary increases had been sufficient to compensate for the loss in purchasing power caused by inflation and the depreciation of the naira.
Ardo maintained that nominal increases in wages did not necessarily translate into improved living standards when the prices of essential goods and services continued to rise.
‘Tinubu’s Reforms Are for Tinubu’s Benefit’
Questioning who has benefited from the administration’s economic policies, Ardo gave a scathing assessment of the reforms.
“The economic reform is by Tinubu, of Tinubu and for Tinubu’s benefit,” he said.
He argued that government policies should ultimately be assessed by their impact on ordinary Nigerians, particularly vulnerable households and small businesses.
Northern Businesses Under Pressure
Ardo also examined the impact of the reforms on businesses in Northern Nigeria, citing billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote as an example.
“If you look at the business scheme in Northern Nigeria, the largest business holder in the country from the North is Aliko Dangote. Under the reform of Tinubu’s administration, he is fighting the battle of his life to keep his business going,” he said.
According to Ardo, the difficulties confronting major businesses demonstrate the broader challenges created by the current economic environment.
He argued that smaller businesses, which have fewer financial resources and less capacity to absorb economic shocks, could be facing even greater difficulties.
Dangote Refinery Debate
Ardo also referred to the controversies surrounding the Dangote refinery and the public interventions by Dangote over issues affecting his business.
“On the issue of refinery under Tinubu’s administration, Aliko Dangote was in the media defending and protesting more than he has done in his business life,” he said.
He argued that businesses required a stable economic environment, predictable government policies and sufficient consumer purchasing power to thrive.
Ardo Criticises Tinubu Over Insecurity
Insecurity was another major issue raised during the interview.
Ardo criticised the Tinubu administration over what he described as its failure to adequately address insurgency, banditry and other security challenges affecting communities across Northern Nigeria.
“Tinubu didn’t learn from those who have knowledge and have tried it hard to stop security problems in Nigeria. He should be able to provide a solution to it, but he has done nothing,” he said.
He acknowledged, however, that Nigeria’s security challenges were complex and could not be resolved overnight.
“I know that those problems can’t be easily eradicated,” he added.
Ardo Advocates Lessons From Other Countries
Ardo said Nigeria could learn from countries that had confronted prolonged insurgencies and eventually restored stability.
He disclosed that he had written a book examining how South America addressed a three-decade insurgency within a relatively short period, arguing that Nigeria could draw lessons from international experiences.
According to him, tackling insecurity is essential to economic development because farmers, traders and other businesses cannot operate effectively when their lives and property remain under threat.
Infrastructure Challenges in the North
Ardo also raised concerns about infrastructure, particularly the condition of major roads in Northern Nigeria.
He cited the Kaduna-Kano road as an example of infrastructure challenges affecting transportation and economic activities in the region.
Poor road infrastructure, he noted, can increase travel time and transportation costs while making movement between communities more difficult.
He questioned whether the Tinubu administration had done enough to address some of the longstanding developmental challenges inherited from previous governments.
Will the North Support Tinubu in 2027?
Ardo’s assessment also focused heavily on the political implications of the situation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He argued that the support Tinubu received from Northern voters during the 2023 presidential election should not be regarded as a permanent political commitment.
According to him, voters would ultimately assess the administration based on their experiences with insecurity, inflation, poverty, economic reforms and governance.
Ardo consequently predicted that Tinubu could face significant difficulty securing support in the North in 2027 if the election is free and fair.
“If a free, fair and credible election is conducted in Nigeria, Tinubu can’t get 10 percent of the Northern part,” he said.
He repeated the prediction, saying:
“If they conduct the election in a free and fair manner, Tinubu will not win 10 percent of the North.”
The comments have placed the Northern electorate at the centre of the political debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the region expected to remain crucial to the electoral calculations of the major political parties.
