Former Speaker Yakubu Dogara criticized Northern leaders for 40 years of unproductive rule, attributing the region's underdevelopment to poor governance. Speaking at a town hall meeting, he urged Northerners to support President Tinubu’s tax reforms, emphasizing accountability and national progress to overcome the North's challenges.
Yakubu Dogara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, has addressed the challenges facing Northern Nigeria, pointing to decades of regional leadership as a root cause of underdevelopment. Speaking at a town hall meeting organized for Christian leaders in the North, he rejected claims blaming President Bola Tinubu or Southern Nigerians for the region’s struggles.
Dogara highlighted that the North had governed Nigeria for over 40 years, yet significant progress remained elusive. He attributed the region’s stagnation to mismanagement and poor leadership, emphasizing that accountability must begin within. According to Dogara, resources allocated to the North were misused, leaving the region impoverished and lacking critical infrastructure.
Citing the Ajaokuta Steel Industry as an example, he lamented how a nearly completed project during the Shagari era was abandoned, squandering an opportunity for industrial advancement.
Dogara also dismissed accusations that Southern Nigerians are monopolizing federal appointments, urging Northerners to focus on self-improvement and development initiatives. He encouraged the region to support Tinubu's tax reform proposals, which he believes could benefit the entire nation.
