A former Kano State Governor and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in the 2023 election, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, has faulted the Federal Government over what he described as the lopsided distribution of national resources.
Speaking on Thursday during the public hearing on constitution review in Kano, Kwankwaso warned that the current trend in federal allocation appears to favour one region of the country at the expense of others.
“Let me advise the Federal Government on the distribution of federal resources. From the information available to us, it’s like most of the national budget is now tilting in one direction in this country,” he said.
The former minister of defence expressed concern over recent infrastructure projects, noting that while development in any part of the country is welcome, equity must not be sacrificed.
“Now, we are told that there is a road from the South to the East. We support infrastructure anywhere in this country, and anything that is good for the masses.
“But a situation where government is taking our resources and dumping them in one part of the country and other parts of the country are left just like that—I don’t believe that is the right thing to do by the government itself,” he added.
Kwankwaso’s comments come at a time of heightened conversation around fiscal federalism and equitable development across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
His remarks also reignited political interest, especially amid strong speculation in recent weeks that the former governor was considering defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Insiders had hinted at ongoing talks and high-level consultations aimed at drawing him into the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
The recent visit of President Bola Tinubu to Kano appeared to have shifted the political atmosphere.
Though Kwankwaso met with the President at his official residence in Aso Rock during the week, Tinubu’s decision to skip the Kano State Government House sparked fresh debate about the true state of their political relationship.
The constitution review hearing attracted lawmakers, civil society groups, and traditional leaders, with many participants, including Governor Abba Yusuf, stressing the need for justice, fairness, and inclusivity in the nation’s governance structure.
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