The former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena, has taken a swipe at ex-Kano State Governor and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) chieftain, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over his recent comments criticizing the federal government’s project allocation and national development strategy.
In a strongly-worded statement released on Tuesday, Nabena accused Kwankwaso of attempting to incite northern sentiment against President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the broader Southern presidency.
The Bayelsa-born politician dismissed Kwankwaso’s claims as politically motivated and divisive.
Kwankwaso, who ran for president in the 2023 general election under the NNPP, had alleged that the South was being unduly favoured in terms of federal infrastructure projects, citing neglected road networks in the North.
He claimed that the concentration of development in the South pointed to systemic marginalisation of the northern region.
However, the Presidency quickly countered his allegations, publishing data that suggested that a greater share of project funding under President Tinubu has gone to northern states. This includes key infrastructural investments in roads, rail, and power.
Reacting further, Nabena insisted that the South’s right to complete eight years in the presidency—following eight years of northern rule under President Muhammadu Buhari—was non-negotiable and grounded in fairness and equity.
“No ethnic, religious, or regional sentiment can override the legitimacy of a Southern presidency,” Nabena stated. “The era of using religion or ethnicity to manipulate the political space is fading. Nigerians are wiser now.”
He accused Kwankwaso of trying to reignite outdated political tactics for personal gain, comparing them to similar strategies used unsuccessfully in 2019 and 2023.
“The people, especially voters in Kano, now understand who is using them for political business. Even the political gladiators in the region have seen through these tactics,” Nabena added.
He further challenged Kwankwaso to travel across South-South states to see the poor condition of road infrastructure in the oil-producing region, questioning how the North—after holding power for eight years—could still claim marginalisation.
“Was it the Gold, Rice or Groundnut pyramids that built the South?” he quipped sarcastically. “The South has waited its turn and must finish its tenure.”
Nabena concluded by asserting that Kwankwaso no longer possesses the political weight or influence to threaten Southern political aspirations ahead of the 2027 elections.
“You cannot intimidate the South or anyone with Kano votes anymore. The game has changed,” he warned. “Kwankwaso’s antics are outdated, and his political influence is overrated.”
The statement comes amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, as regional leaders across the country begin to stake their claims in the evolving national power equation.
