The New Nigeria Peoples Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has alleged that Lagos is attempting to “colonise” northern Nigeria.
The former Kano State governor made the claim during the convocation ceremony at Skyline University in Kano.
Kwankwaso pointed to the emirate crisis in Kano as evidence of external interference, alleging that Lagos has taken a central role in determining the region’s affairs.
“Let me note our situation here in Kano and indeed northern Nigeria,” Kwankwaso said.
“The emir is just being a stooge at this very difficult time, especially in this part of the country (northern Nigeria).
“Today, we can see very clearly that there is a lot of efforts from the Lagos axis to colonize this part of the country. Today, Lagos wouldn’t allow us to choose an emir; Lagos has to come to the centre of Kano to put their own emir.”
Economic and Taxation Concerns
The former governor also accused Lagos of siphoning resources from Kano and other northern states through tax centralisation and economic policies.
“Today, we are aware that the Lagos young men are working so hard to impose taxes and take away our taxes from Kano and this part of the country to Lagos,” he alleged.
“Even the telephones that we make or register here in Kano, efforts are there to take all the taxes to Lagos. Even our sons and daughters who have brought factories—many of them here in Kano and northern Nigeria—and even banks, somehow, they are forced to take their headquarters to Lagos because taxes will now have to go to Lagos.”
Widening Economic Inequality
Kwankwaso also expressed concern over the increasing disparity between the rich and the poor, describing it as a dangerous trend.
“We have seen the efforts of some people to make the poor poorer and the rich richer, and I believe this is more dangerous,” he said.
Call to Action for Northern Lawmakers
The NNPP leader called on northern lawmakers to remain vigilant and resist policies that could disadvantage the region.
“At this moment, I would like to call all our National Assembly members to keep their eyes open so that they don’t do anything that would cheat the people of northern Nigeria, especially here, Kano,” he urged.
Reflecting on past legislative actions, Kwankwaso accused lawmakers of being bribed to pass laws detrimental to the northern economy.
“We are witnesses to what happened during the first term, 1999 to 2000, where our members of the National Assembly were bribed, were treated into collecting huge sums of money to support offshore in this country. That law put a huge blow into our economy not only here in northern Nigeria but all other states,” he stated.
Kwankwaso’s remarks have sparked conversations about regional autonomy, governance, and economic equity between Nigeria’s diverse regions.
