Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State and presidential candidate for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 election, has accused the Lagos-based political elite of attempting to “colonize” the northern region of Nigeria.
Speaking at the convocation ceremony of Skyline University in Kano, Kwankwaso claimed that Lagos was interfering in the affairs of the northern states, including a growing influence in the emirate disputes in Kano.
He expressed concerns that this interference was part of a larger effort to exert political and economic control over the North.
“Today, we can see clearly that there is a concerted effort from Lagos to dominate this region. Not only are they imposing their choice of emir on us, but they are also trying to take control of our resources. Lagos is now interfering in how we select our traditional rulers and, in some cases, even dictating who becomes our emir.”
The former governor also lamented what he called a growing economic exploitation of the North, particularly by Lagos-based interests.
According to Kwankwaso, there are ongoing efforts to redirect taxes from the northern region to Lagos, as well as pressure on businesses in Kano to relocate their operations and headquarters to the southern commercial hub.
“We are seeing a situation where the taxes we generate here in Kano are being funneled to Lagos. Young men from Lagos are aggressively pushing to take our taxes away, while local businesses are being forced to move their headquarters to Lagos, leaving our region deprived of vital resources.”
Kwankwaso also highlighted the stark economic divide between the rich and poor, accusing powerful groups of widening the gap to the detriment of the Northern population.
“We are witnessing the efforts of a few to make the poor even poorer while enriching the already wealthy. This trend is dangerous for the unity and stability of the country.”
In response to these challenges, Kwankwaso urged lawmakers from the North to be vigilant and protect the interests of their constituents.
He recalled how northern representatives in the National Assembly had previously been compromised, leading to decisions that hurt the region’s economy.
“I call on our lawmakers to stay alert and ensure that northern Nigeria is not sidelined or exploited. We cannot allow history to repeat itself, where our representatives are bribed or coerced into supporting policies that harm our region.”
