The North and its leadership vacuum, by Muhammad Al-Ghazali
A story is currently trending online about Chief Fabian Nwaora, who moved to Abuja and became one of the largest property developers in the FCT and across Nigeria.
According to the account, his journey began with humble lodgings in Idu, from where he gradually expanded his land holdings to what they are today. His story is truly inspiring.
As of the latest count, he reportedly owns over 15 ultra-modern estates in the FCT. Chief Nwaora is the face behind Efab Estates in the capital, and with the well-documented and globally acclaimed mentorship culture of the South-East, he has undoubtedly inspired many others from his region to break free from the grip of poverty.
In contrast, his Northern counterparts—whether political office holders or favored businessmen—also received substantial land allocations from successive FCT ministers, many of whom were Northerners, dating back to when the FCT was largely undeveloped.
However, there is little evidence of any comparable investment from them. Chief Nwaora’s story is just one example among hundreds that highlight this disparity.
Instead of investing, these Northern elites often sold the land granted to them for large sums and returned to their towns and villages, distributing crumbs to their followers to gain primitive political capital, like the local champions they are.
Their focus remains on amassing and consuming wealth without fostering productivity or providing benefits to their communities. They thrive on the “Ranka Ya Dade!” syndrome, maintaining societal relevance at a high cost to their communities.
We glorify clowns disguised as leaders, even when they are caught using their agbadas as makeshift banks.
That such individuals still influence the nation’s wellbeing is a stain on our collective intelligence, to be frank.
Imagine the potential impact if these elites had invested even a fraction of their wealth in agro-allied industries to create much-needed jobs and lift beggars off our streets.
I once had a profound conversation with the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi, alongside his close friend, Alhaji Adamu Fika, the Wazirin Fika. That conversation inspired my subsequent column in Daily Trust the same week. May the souls of these two illustrious Northern sons rest in peace.
Both were fans of my now-retired column, and they would occasionally call to share valuable insights from their experiences.
That day, they recounted the exemplary leadership qualities of the late Sardauna. Chief Awoniyi, who served as the Secretary of the Northern Executive Council until the tragic events of January 1966, painted a vivid picture of the Sardauna’s vision. Although one was a Christian and the other a Muslim, their close friendship embodied the unity the Sardauna envisioned for the North—a unity that could defend against regional exploitation during the First Republic.
By the end of our conversation, I was left deeply moved, struck by both awe and admiration.
I struggled to reconcile what I heard that day with the current state of the North, and indeed of Nigeria, since the Sardauna’s untimely death.
When I finally gathered myself, I asked Chief Awoniyi how he thought the Sardauna would react if he returned to see what had become of his beloved region. His response was devastating.
“Ha! He would prefer to be taken back to his grave!” Those were his exact words, and he said them over a decade ago.
Today, even Chief Awoniyi would be traumatized, if not horrified, by how far things have deteriorated since our meeting. God, in His infinite mercy, spared him from witnessing this decline.
For anyone who wasn’t there that day, it’s nearly impossible to grasp the depth of what I heard, especially within the context of present-day Nigeria.
The stark contrast in leadership and governance—without the elaborate yet mostly superficial legislation of the current Republic—is astonishing.
I fully align myself with Dan Bello and the likes of Ahmed Isah, the “Ordinary President” and founder of Human Rights Radio & TV, 101.1 FM Abuja, popularly known as Berekete Radio. Their efforts to provide critical enlightenment on this issue are commendable.
The current generation of Northern leaders, who have benefitted most from the Sardauna’s strategic vision, have failed us. Only the most irredeemable bigots can deny this.
The North has never been more disunited or insecure. Rampant poverty has left millions in abject misery amid abundant opportunities and mediocre leadership.
Most tragically, through our own acts of omission and commission, we Northerners are also our own worst enemies.
The North must resist the tendency to romanticize poverty.
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