Yakubu Dogara, former Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, has blamed the political leaders from northern Nigeria for the region’s continued state of poverty and underdevelopment, claiming that their mismanagement of opportunities over the past 40 years has left the North struggling.
Speaking as a guest at a town hall meeting for Christian leaders in northern Nigeria, Dogara urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to transform the country through the tax reform bills currently under review by the National Assembly.
The event, themed “Church and Society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising,” focused on governance and development issues.
Dogara lamented the poor state of the North, attributing it to the failure of northern political leaders who have had control of the country for decades.
He emphasized that the region’s poverty and stagnation should not be blamed on President Tinubu or the southern parts of the country.
“We, as northerners, must face the reality. The problem is not with President Tinubu or the South. They are not here to exploit us. We had the opportunity to lead for over 40 years, yet we achieved nothing. The North is still poor, largely because of the actions of our own leaders,” Dogara stated.
On the issue of federal allocations and Value Added Tax (VAT), Dogara questioned the management of resources, saying that the region had received substantial funds that were misused by local governors.
He also cited the Ajaokuta Steel Industry, a project started under the Shagari administration, which was left incomplete and eventually deteriorated despite being 98% finished.
“The Ajaokuta Steel Industry was nearly done, but it was abandoned and left to decay,” he said, underscoring the failure of past leadership to invest in the country’s development.
Dogara called on northerners to rally behind President Tinubu’s tax reform initiatives, which he believes will be crucial for national transformation.
In his remarks, Reverend Joseph John Hayab, Executive Director of the Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN), stressed the importance of Christian leaders engaging with the ongoing discussions on tax reforms.
He explained that CHAIN, founded in 2007, provides a platform for Christians to contribute to Nigeria’s growth in spiritual, social, and economic matters.
Hayab encouraged Christian leaders to support efforts aimed at addressing the nation’s tax system, which he described as critical for Nigeria’s development.
