The National Leader of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has called on the Federal Government to ensure fairness and equity in the distribution of national resources, lamenting the high levels of poverty and poor infrastructure in northern Nigeria.
Kwankwaso, who was the NNPP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, made this appeal on Thursday while speaking at the Coronation Hall of Kano Government House during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting convened by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. The meeting was organised to gather the position of stakeholders in Kano ahead of the North-West public hearing by the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution.
The former Kano State governor urged members of the State and National Assembly from Kano and the North to remain vigilant and effectively articulate the region’s position during the constitutional review process.
He decried the rising poverty and educational challenges in the region, citing the deplorable condition of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, whose reconstruction has dragged on for years.
Kwankwaso said, “Let me advise the Federal Government on the distribution of national resources. From the information available to us, it appears that most of the national budget is now tilting towards one direction in this country.
“Those who are striving to corner everything should remember that the issues we face here today stem from lack of resources and mismanagement of the little available. This has led to insecurity and poverty. While it is happening here predominantly, like a desert, it will eventually spread everywhere.”
In his opening remarks, Governor Yusuf described the Nigerian Constitution as the supreme law, emphasising that its provisions must reflect the aspirations of all regions.
“We are here to ensure that the voices of our people are reflected in the laws that govern our nation. Constitutional amendments provide a great opportunity to address long-standing issues and ensure that they meet the needs of our people,” he stated.
He expressed hope that the meeting would yield a non-partisan consensus capable of strengthening the country’s democracy.
Governor Yusuf also appreciated stakeholders, political leaders, traditional rulers, CSOs, youths, women groups, students, security agencies, and journalists for their contributions to the meeting.
He announced that Kano State would welcome the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution on Saturday, 26 July 2026, for the North-West public hearing.
Our correspondent reports that the meeting had in attendance critical stakeholders, including members of the State and National Assembly, civil society organisations, the media, business community, traditional and religious leaders, women leaders, market leaders, students’ union leaders, and representatives of professional bodies such as the NLC, TUC, NBA, NIA, NUJ, NURTW, NUT, and NMA.
