2027: Northern leaders must address root causes of insecurity — Shehu Sani

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Former Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Assembly, has urged northern political leaders to confront the root causes of insecurity in the region and stop exploiting the situation for political gain ahead of the 2027 elections.
During a courtesy visit from the Open Heart Foundation and the Women Empowerment Centre in Kaduna, Sani delivered a compelling critique of political hypocrisy, failed leadership, and the worsening insecurity that has plagued northern Nigeria for over a decade.
He identified factors such as almajirci (the system of street children), mass illiteracy, poverty, and underdevelopment as root causes of insecurity.
Sani emphasized the need for northern leaders to tackle these issues directly, stating, “The terrorists in the North-East are northerners. The bandits in the North-West speak Hausa, Fulfulde, and Kanuri, not Mandarin or French. This is our problem, and only we can solve it.”
Sani encouraged civic organizations to hold the government accountable, warning them against becoming pawns in political disputes. “Continue to speak out, but never allow yourselves to be used to undermine our security agencies,” he urged. “The future of the North depends on courage, honesty, and unity. The question remains: When will the North sit down and sincerely confront its problems?”
He lamented, “For 15 years, northern Nigeria has been a theater of bloodshed,” recounting the numerous attacks by terrorists and bandits across the North-East and North-West. “Schools, churches, mosques, and villages—nothing has been spared since 2013.”
Sani drew parallels between the region’s security collapse and crises in neighboring countries like Chad, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, warning that insurgent networks now operate across West Africa “with increasing boldness.” He accused some political figures of celebrating violence to undermine the government, stating, “Some of the loudest voices today were silent when thousands were kidnapped under a government they called ‘our own.’ Now they attempt to weaponize insecurity as 2027 approaches. Some even rejoice when soldiers fall. This is immoral.”