Yakubu Dogara, former speaker of the house of representatives, has criticised northern leaders for failing to develop the region despite decades of political dominance.

Speaking at a town hall meeting for Christian leaders in northern Nigeria on Friday, Dogara said the region remains impoverished due to its leaders’ inability to invest in meaningful projects.

At the event, themed “Church and Society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising,” Dogara addressed issues surrounding governance and development in the country.

“We are all northerners, and it should be made clear that President Tinubu or the South is not our problem; they have not come to cheat the North,” Dogara said.

“That is out of the question. Some are claiming that Yoruba people are getting appointments, but let’s reflect.

“We ruled this country for over 40 years when northerners were in power. What did we achieve? The North remains the same, impoverished by our own leaders.”

Dogara said the tax reform bills proposed by President Bola Tinubu are designed to bring transformation to the country. 

He urged Nigerians to back the initiative, adding that the president should not be blamed for the current state of the north.

The former speaker also criticised northern governors for failing to utilise resources such as value added tax (VAT) revenue and federal allocations for meaningful development.

Dogara pointed to the Ajaokuta Steel Company as an example of the region’s wasted potential, saying the project, which was near completion, has since deteriorated due to neglect.

“We have had so much, but what did our governors do with the resources? They squandered them instead of investing in meaningful development,” he added.

“The (Ajaokuta Steel Company) project was almost finished, yet it was left to rot.”