|
Listen Now
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Idris Muhammed Abdullahi
In an age where leadership has been reduced to patronage, empty promises, and looting dressed up as governance, Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso stands as a rare exception. Young, audacious, and unapologetically committed to his people, Traoré didn’t wait for elite permission to lead—he took responsibility.
His leadership isn’t built on tribalism, tokenism, or convenience, but on patriotism, purpose, and people.
That is exactly the kind of leadership Northern Nigeria—especially the Northwest—desperately needs.
The North’s Leadership Crisis: Betrayal from Within
Northern Nigeria doesn’t suffer from a lack of talent or potential. What it lacks is patriots in power. In their place, we find political elites who have repeatedly traded the people’s future for personal gain, mortgaging regional interests for crumbs from the federal table.
While communities reel from terrorism, banditry, and hunger, many Northern leaders remain glued to power, offering no vision for transformation. Their obsession with Abuja appointments has hollowed out the region—economically, socially, and morally.
A Region Without Industry, Without Jobs
Let’s talk numbers.
Outside of BUA’s cement plant in Sokoto, it is difficult to find a single private industrial venture in the Northwest worth even $5 million. That’s not a typo. Despite vast arable land, a booming youth population, and strategic trade potential, the region has no agro-processing zones, no tech hubs, no real manufacturing base—nothing.
How, then, do you create jobs? How do you stimulate an economy?
Instead of building infrastructure, some governors spend ₦1.3 billion rehabilitating boreholes—a task that shouldn’t cost 10% of that. These inflated contracts aren’t just mismanagement; they are acts of economic sabotage.
The continued addiction to FAAC allocations, while ignoring internally generated revenue (IGR) and real sector growth, is proof of unserious leadership. They aren’t building the future—they’re devouring the present and mortgaging tomorrow.
The Northwest Development Commission: A Captured Lifeline
The establishment of the Northwest Development Commission (NWDC) was supposed to mark a turning point. Modeled after the NDDC, it was envisioned as a vehicle for regional rebuilding and industrial revival.
But what happened?
One man handpicked all its executives. The commission has now become a personal ATM, hemorrhaging funds meant for schools, irrigation, rural roads, and youth empowerment. It has transformed from a symbol of hope into yet another playground for elite looting.
Who Can Be Our Ibrahim Traoré?
Some names surface in the conversation:
-
Nasir El-Rufai: Smart, fearless, and reform-minded. A proven technocrat. But can he unshackle himself from the politics of the past to lead a people-driven revolution?
-
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso: Beloved by the grassroots, with a legacy in education and youth empowerment. But can he rise above party calculations to unify the region?
-
Idris Muhammad Abdullahi: A rising, relatively unknown figure. Grounded, uncorrupted, and connected to the people. If given the mandate, leaders like him could ignite a quiet revolution.
What the North Truly Needs
This isn’t about the next election. It’s about a new consciousness.
We don’t need another politician. We need a patriot—a builder. A leader who will challenge corruption, promote regional self-reliance, and drive industrialization. Someone who will stop inflating borehole contracts and start building textile mills, agro-processing plants, and export-ready factories.
The North needs someone who will prioritize IGR, foster innovation, and equip youth not with handouts—but with tools.
Until such a figure emerges—our own Ibrahim Traoré—Arewa will remain a hostage to the very people who vowed to protect it.
Idris is Head – Anti-Graft & Law Enforcement Liaison, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Global Specialist on Anti-Corruption, Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), AML/CFT, Asset Recovery, and Tax Evasion.
