By: Erewunmi Peace

The pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere has dismissed recent claims by former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of marginalizing the North in favor of the South.

In a statement issued by Otunba Kole Omololu, Afenifere’s National Organising Secretary, the group described Kwankwaso’s comments as “grossly misleading and deliberately incendiary,” warning that such remarks are capable of stoking ethnic tension and disrupting national unity.

The Controversy

Kwankwaso had alleged during a recent constitutional amendment dialogue that President Tinubu’s government was allocating federal resources disproportionately to the South while neglecting the North.

However, Afenifere firmly refuted these claims, pointing out that multiple federal projects are ongoing across northern states—including major road dualizations, infrastructure works, and the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline.

“The North is not being shortchanged. In fact, several multi-billion naira infrastructure projects are currently being executed in northern states,” Afenifere stated.

Northern Projects Cited Include:

Kano–Maiduguri road dualization

Sokoto–Tambuwal–Jega–Kontagora–Makera highway

Abuja–Keffi–Lafia corridor

AKK Gas Pipeline Project

Ongoing work in Katsina, Borno, Niger, and other northern states

A Call for Responsible Dialogue

Afenifere urged political leaders to avoid making inflammatory remarks and instead focus on building unity and progress across regions. The group also reminded Nigerians that previous administrations, including that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, had significantly invested in northern infrastructure.

“It is disingenuous to ignore past northern-led investments and accuse the current government of bias,” the statement added.