Northern Politicians Advancing Personal Interests Over Regional Needs – Okai Austin

Political activist and former House of Representatives candidate for Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Usman Okai-Austin, has accused several northern leaders of using the region’s name to further their own political ambitions rather than genuinely representing its people.

In an exclusive interview with NIGERIA NEWS 247 on Thursday, Okai-Austin argued that no individual or group currently speaks for the North in a unified or official capacity.

“Many are hiding behind the identity of the North to push their personal agendas,” he said. “There has been no collective decision or united front from the region, so the idea that the North is politically divided is premature and overstated.”

Reflecting on previous political maneuvers, Okai-Austin noted that some northern leaders have historically backed candidates or policies based on self-interest.

“For example, ahead of Buhari’s exit, some pushed for former Senate President Ahmad Lawan to succeed him, while others like Nasir El-Rufai argued that the presidency should shift to the South in the interest of national unity,” he recalled. “But these moves were largely driven by personal ambition.”

He further criticized El-Rufai for promoting the Muslim-Muslim ticket, claiming it was successful in Kaduna and using it as a model at the national level. Okai-Austin suggested that El-Rufai had hoped to secure the vice presidency but settled for a ministerial nomination instead—a bid that later collapsed after a petition by Senator Kahinde raised national security concerns.

According to Okai-Austin, the fallout among northern political figures continued, with El-Rufai reportedly accusing Nuhu Ribadu of sabotaging other northern politicians due to his own aspirations for the 2031 presidency.

“Any promising northern figure is seen as a threat to Ribadu’s future ambitions,” Okai-Austin quoted El-Rufai as saying.

He emphasized that despite the ongoing political power plays, ordinary citizens in the North continue to grapple with serious challenges such as insecurity, unemployment, poverty, and a high number of out-of-school children.

“The region deserves focused attention and real development,” he stressed. “Unfortunately, some leaders are more interested in exploiting northern identity for personal political gain than addressing the issues affecting the people.”