Northern Leaders Have Betrayed the Region, Turning It into a Hub of Violence, Poverty – Gamji

The Gamji Heritage Association has accused some Northern leaders of betraying the region, leading to its underdevelopment and rising insecurity since the death of the late Premier of the defunct Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello. Speaking at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Annual Memorial Conference in Kaduna, the association’s national president, Ahmed Abdullahi, lamented the state of the North, attributing its decline to internal betrayal.

Abdullahi argued that, compared to other regions, Northern Nigeria has seen minimal progress since Ahmadu Bello’s era. He questioned the disappearance of key industries and institutions that once symbolized the region’s economic and educational strength, including the Bank of the North, agricultural and livestock industries, and academic institutions. While acknowledging the North’s vast potential, he expressed concern over its descent into chaos, plagued by killings, kidnappings, and religious and ethnic conflicts.

According to Abdullahi, Ahmadu Bello built a united and prosperous North that fostered inclusivity. However, he claimed that many leaders who followed him had betrayed the region by fostering poverty, violence, and underdevelopment. Despite this, he stated that Gamji Heritage remains committed to reviving Ahmadu Bello’s vision through advocacy and developmental initiatives.

Adding to the discussion, the director-general of the Centre for Democratic Studies, Development and Training (CEDDERT), Abubakar Siddique-Mohammed, described Northern Nigeria as a victim of bad governance. He suggested that both past and present leaders have allowed the region to deteriorate, arguing that the ongoing insurgency is a calculated failure of leadership rather than an unavoidable crisis.