By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Sanusi A.S. Maikudi, a prominent titleholder under the Jama’a Emirates Council in Kaduna State, has strongly criticized former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, over his recent speech targeting Northern leaders.
Dogara, in his speech titled “North Ruled for 40 Years Without Results to Show,” accused Northern rulers of failing to deliver significant development during their tenure. The comments have sparked widespread debate, with Maikudi describing them as politically motivated and an attempt to curry favor with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a rejoinder, Maikudi, also known as “Dan Iyan Jema’a,” stated that Dogara’s remarks failed to acknowledge the North’s pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s progress and legacy.
Maikudi outlined the North’s historical contributions, stating that its leaders played a crucial role in policies, institutions, and infrastructure that propelled Nigeria to its current status as Africa’s largest economy and the 20th largest globally.
“For the record, Northern leaders were instrumental in establishing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a symbol of national unity, the National Assembly Complex where Dogara once served, and policies that drove economic growth, such as the establishment of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),” Maikudi stated.
He further noted that Dogara’s political success, including his rise to the position of Speaker, was itself a result of the opportunities created by Northern leadership.
While acknowledging the challenges faced by the region, Maikudi urged a global perspective, noting that Northern Nigeria is not alone in dealing with volatility and uncertainty.
“The North, with its rich history and resilience, will recover and shine as a giant in the Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.
Maikudi dismissed Dogara’s call for Northerners to support President Tinubu in 2027 as unnecessary, emphasizing that the region had already demonstrated overwhelming support for him in the 2023 elections despite Dogara’s opposition to the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“Your speech seems politically motivated, perhaps as an attempt to curry favor with the President and assuage guilt for your opposition. Northerners do not need your sermons to support a leader they have already embraced,” he stressed.
Maikudi called on Dogara to engage in constructive criticism that balances recognition of Northern achievements with solutions to its challenges.
“Rather than dismissing the North’s legacy, you should inspire hope and unity. The narrative of failure is not only inaccurate but also detrimental to the unity and progress we seek as a nation,” Maikudi concluded.
