Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has criticised what he described as attempts by some northern political actors to exploit ethnic and sectional sentiments against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the security challenges confronting the region.
Sani said the North’s insecurity should not be presented as a problem that began with the Tinubu administration, arguing that the region has faced longstanding challenges rooted in poor leadership, poverty, underdevelopment and weak institutions.
According to reports, Sani urged opposition figures to stop seeking validation from foreign governments and instead focus on addressing Nigeria’s challenges through domestic political engagement. He particularly expressed concern about the use of ethnic narratives in political campaigns.
“What is happening today in the northern part of Nigeria is that there is ethnic and sectional sentiment being whipped up against the person of President Tinubu,” Sani was quoted as saying.
The former senator’s comments come amid growing political debate over insecurity in northern Nigeria as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections. Sani has previously warned against politicising terrorism and banditry, saying some political actors could attempt to use insecurity to weaken the government for electoral advantage.
The issue is significant because insecurity remains one of the major concerns facing communities across northern Nigeria, with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes affecting lives, businesses and economic activities.
Sani has also previously argued that successive northern administrations failed to adequately address the region’s structural problems. In 2025, he said it was unfair to blame Tinubu for challenges that had existed for decades.
As the 2027 elections approach, debates over Tinubu, northern insecurity, ethnic politics and political accountability are expected to intensify, making calls for issue-based political discourse increasingly relevant.
