Arewa and the challenge of governance
It is clearly evident that Nigeria’s biggest problem is poor leadership. This analysis will focus specifically on the challenges of bad governance in the northern states. The recent multidimensional poverty index ranking Gombe State third on its list of poverty-ridden states, raises serious concerns. What is more worrisome is that eight of the top ten […]
It is clearly evident that Nigeria’s biggest problem is poor leadership. This analysis will focus specifically on the challenges of bad governance in the northern states.
The recent multidimensional poverty index ranking Gombe State third on its list of poverty-ridden states, raises serious concerns. What is more worrisome is that eight of the top ten states on this list are in the North. Although the data dated back to 2022, it portrays the reality in Arewa today.
Released by The Cable on September 8, 2025, the multidimensional poverty across states are Sokoto: 90.5%, Bayelsa: 88.5%, Gombe: 86.2%, Jigawa: 84.3%, Plateau: 84%, Yobe: 83.5%, Kebbi: 82.2%, Taraba: 79.4%, Ebonyi: 78% and Zamfara: 78%. Is this a coincidence or a clear leadership failure? It’s time we agree that this is our reality, and it’s far from a coincidence. We cannot continue to live in denial.
Let us be honest with ourselves. I have seen some public relations professionals try to downplay the situation, but the truth is it is much bigger than that. I am happy that the average person is now becoming more critical than ever before. Gone are the days when a black cup could be presented to the public as white, and they would accept it without question. I like this change. It shows that our fellow citizens are up to the task of ensuring accountability and transparency in governance.
With or without data, the truth is there is hunger not only in Gombe but across the entire North. I have come across people who have testified to eating cassia tora plant popularly known as “tafasa” in Hausa and other leaves just to survive. This is unfortunate in a region blessed with resources and a government meant to assist its people, but only pretends that everything is fine.
Beyond Gombe, I recall Barr. Bulama Bukarti, Ph.D., once told a story about the devastating hunger in Nigeria’s Katsina State, a tragedy so severe that it was comparable to what Israel was doing to children in Gaza. The number of kids dying from malnutrition is truly scary. I single out Arewa because those at the helm of affairs here are only disturbed by unnecessary and less important issues. They don’t engage in careful, calculated, and concerned moves to serve their people. Governance is not just about power and politics. It is about people, policies, and programmes. Once the people are kept on the sidelines, that government is doomed to fail.
It is clear that Arewa leaders are more interested in what others call a cinematic show or a talk show rather than actual governance. If that was not the case, why would any serious government spend money recklessly on useless infrastructure like “flyless flyovers,” new government houses, and roads to nowhere, and expect its people and economy to flourish? That is simply not how it works.
An economy only flourishes when priorities are properly weighed. In a democracy, power belongs to the people. Therefore, if the people are jobless, hungry, and starving, the best course of action is to save them from these disasters. Long-term plans should be considered instead of short-term fixes like distributing rice as palliatives. Stop the extravagant spending, cut the cost of governance, and avoid contract inflation. Ultimately, unimportant policies must be reversed.
These projects captioned blue, red, yellow, and orange light rail are captured in their development plans. Implemented one after the other. How many northern states can boast of having such development plans and showing this kind of progress? Furnish me with information if you know.
Two weeks ago, the Lagos governor took the train, interacted with staff and passengers, and rode the Blue Line to the next destination. This allowed him to get firsthand information about the state of affairs two years after its launch. This is what others are doing, while ours are doing what they do best for the benefit of the camera. It is high time we seek results instead of optics.
In 2025, if any governor claims that the South is “killing” the North, they must ask themselves: what are northern leaders doing in the first place to build the North? Or we help them ask on their behalf. Silence is not an excuse. There is no way someone else can come and destroy your territory without your contribution. If that is the case, why didn’t we see you destroying theirs in retaliation? What are you doing to remedy the situation? The answer is obvious: nothing. And nothing.
In the end, I implore northern leaders to go back to their drawing board and see the need for a refresh in their governance style, or else we will all continue to suffer the consequences.
God bless Nigeria.
Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim is a multiple award-winning investigative, wrote from Lagos.