As reported by The Punch on Sunday, August 17, 2025, the National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, shared his thoughts on President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the ongoing conversation about the possibility of an Igbo presidency.
When asked about his supposed agreement with former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over claims that President Tinubu is marginalising the North, Muhammad-Baba clarified:
To the best of my understanding, the ACF has not officially “teamed up” with Kwankwaso. What actually occurred was that Kwankwaso voiced opinions that both the ACF and others had already raised long before. So, it would be wrong to call it an alignment; rather, it was a situation where he repeated issues that had already been highlighted. He presented his views individually, and the ACF equally has its independent stance.
On the matter of what these complaints are based upon, I wouldn’t call them accusations but legitimate criticisms supported by evidence. There are several points to consider, and I’ll mention a few. One major issue is the breach of the federal character principle in political appointments.
The constitution makes it clear that positions at the national level should reflect the country’s cultural, ethnic, religious, and regional diversity. Unfortunately, what we have observed so far shows a strong tilt towards the South-West. For example, Ogun State alone currently enjoys the privilege of having up to four ministers, while other regions are not proportionately represented.
That kind of lopsidedness is hard to ignore. Another issue relates to how federal projects are awarded and financed. It is not enough to make announcements or include projects in the national budget; what matters is whether they are executed and adequately funded.
Some government officials have claimed that more than half of federal road projects are situated in the North. But the question is—where are they? We want evidence on the ground, not statistics on paper or promises in speeches. The reality is that northern states are not benefitting as they should.
Let me give further examples. Right after the so-called Kaduna Dialogue, the President made three fresh appointments, all of which went to individuals from the South-West. The following day, funds were rolled out for solar energy initiatives. Seventy per cent of those interventions were directed to universities in the South-West. Ironically, northern states—where there is ample sunlight suitable for solar technology—were almost entirely overlooked. In fact, some parts of the North, particularly the North-Central zone, did not receive a single solar project.
Hear him speak: “Even in areas where there is peace, farming has become unprofitable under current economic conditions. Let me give a practical example. A bag of maize sells for less than N40,000, but fertilizer costs over N60,000, sometimes even more, depending on location. Who is going to farm under such circumstances? There’s no gain in it. Remember, our agriculture, at the best of times, has always been difficult.
