Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has strongly criticized the recent visit of Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, to northern Nigeria, where he distributed food items to residents.
Lamido denounced the initiative as demeaning and an insult to the dignity of the northern people, questioning the motive behind the gesture.
“A Humiliation to Arewa,” Says Lamido
Speaking in Hausa at a public gathering, Lamido expressed his outrage, stating that the food distribution was both politically motivated and humiliating to the northern region.
“People say that Arewa is known for bravery and integrity, yet Tinubu’s son is in Sokoto and Kano, handing out cooked rice to our people. Is this what governance has been reduced to?”
Lamido further criticized the act, calling it a “total humiliation” and questioning whether such an approach aligns with the principles of good governance.
“Is this how to govern or promote good governance? What Tinubu is doing to the northern people is an insult,” he asserted.
The former governor lamented what he described as the decline of the region’s political and economic strength, recalling that northern Nigeria once produced great leaders such as Aminu Kano, Sir Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto), and Tafawa Balewa.
“Arewa, a land that raised visionary leaders, is now reduced to a place where people are only given cooked rice,” he said.
Calls for Unity Against “Humiliation”
Lamido urged the northern people to unite and resist what he termed a deliberate attempt to belittle them. He warned that allowing such actions to continue would diminish the region’s dignity.
“It is up to us to stand together and reject this humiliation, or we can remain passive while outsiders come and undermine us,” he declared.
He also emphasized the need for self-determination and leadership within the region, insisting that Arewa must not allow itself to be reduced to a region dependent on handouts.
“If we stay on the right track in this country, no one can ever defeat us,” he added.
Political Backlash Over Seyi Tinubu’s Ramadan Food Distribution
Seyi Tinubu’s Ramadan food distribution campaign took place across several northern states, including Niger, Kano, and Sokoto. During the initiative, he distributed food items, such as Danwake (a traditional dish made from bean flour), packaged in plastic bags that featured images of President Tinubu and his son.
While the move was intended as a charitable effort during Ramadan, it has been met with significant criticism, especially among northern political leaders and residents, who see it as a tactical attempt to gain political influence amid the region’s worsening economic challenges.
Critics argue that instead of providing long-term solutions to poverty, unemployment, and inflation, such handouts only serve as short-term appeasement while ignoring the region’s fundamental development needs.
As reactions continue to pour in, the controversy surrounding Seyi Tinubu’s food distribution raises broader concerns about poverty, governance, and the role of political elites in addressing the struggles of ordinary Nigerians.
