Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has strongly criticized Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, for his recent visit to northern Nigeria, where he distributed food to residents.
Lamido described the gesture as a humiliation and an insult to the people of the region.
Speaking in Hausa in a video, Lamido denounced the act as degrading and politically motivated.
“You will hear people saying that Arewa is known for bravery and integrity, yet Tinubu is going to Sokoto and Kano, distributing cooked rice to our people,” he said.
“This is total humiliation. Is this how to govern or promote good governance? What Tinubu is doing to the northern people is an insult.”
He further questioned the implications of such actions on the legacy of the region’s past leaders.
“Is this what we have been subjected to? This is the height of humiliation, and they know it. Arewa, which produced great leaders like Aminu Kano, Sardauna (Sir Ahmadu Bello), Tafawa Balewa, and many other prominent figures, is now being reduced to a region where people are only given cooked rice.”
Lamido urged northern Nigerians to take a stand against what he perceives as an act of disrespect.
“However, it is up to us to unite and resist this humiliation or fold our hands and allow an outsider to come to our region and belittle us.”
“It is time to stand for what is right. If we stay on the right track in this country, no one can ever defeat us,” he added.
Seyi Tinubu recently visited several northern states, including Niger, where he distributed food packages during the Ramadan fasting period.
The items, such as Danwake—a local dish made from bean flour—were packed in plastic bags featuring images of both President Tinubu and Seyi Tinubu.
However, the initiative was met with strong backlash.
Many in the northern communities viewed the gesture as an attempt to gain political favor amid the region’s economic difficulties.
Critics argued that offering basic street food items during Ramadan, especially with personalized branding, was both insensitive and exploitative.
