ABUJA — Tensions surrounding the federal government’s humanitarian response to insecurity in Northern Nigeria have deepened following sharp allegations of marginalisation leveled against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by commentators representing Hausa communities across the North-West.
In a viral public commentary authored by Habibu Yusuf Sodangi (@HabibaIdri40129), the administration was accused of maintaining a double standard in its emergency relief and presidential visits to conflict zones, specifically contrasting the response in Benue and Plateau states with that in Hausa-majority states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Kebbi.
Key Grievances Raised in the Statement
- Disparity in Humanitarian Aid: Sodangi pointed to significant federal intervention in Benue and Plateau states—noting reported multi-billion-naira relief packages provided by the President and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu—while arguing that victims of similar banditry and massacres in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Kaduna received no comparable presidential visits or direct financial relief.
- Lack of IDP Infrastructure: The commentary highlighted the lack of formal, adequately funded Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps for Hausa villagers displaced by bandit attacks, leaving hundreds of thousands of rural farmers without basic shelter, healthcare, or food assistance.
- Critique of Political Alliances & Ministry Creation: Expressing resentment over institutional political patronage, the statement pointed to the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development, arguing that political elites have prioritized specific pastoral interests over the plight of the agrarian Hausa majority.
- Electoral Repercussions Ahead of 2027: Warning the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of severe electoral consequences in the North-West, Sodangi emphasized that the Hausa populace constitutes a massive voting block that feels abandoned despite delivering millions of votes to the administration in 2023.
Excerpt from the Statement
“When Fulani terrorists attacked a village called Yelwata in Benue State, the President’s wife reportedly visited and provided ₦1 billion in humanitarian assistance, while the President himself reportedly donated ₦2 billion. Yet, we have never seen the President or his wife visit Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, or Kebbi to offer Hausa communities similar support… As for us Hausas, some Fulani leaders have prevented us from receiving any meaningful support. We do not even have a proper IDP camp, despite the fact that we have cried out repeatedly.”
Broader Political Implications
COMPLAINANT: Habibu Yusuf Sodangi (@HabibaIdri40129)
TARGET REGION: North-West (Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna) vs. Middle Belt (Benue, Plateau)
CORE ALLEGATION: Unequal federal humanitarian response, lack of IDP camps, and political neglect
ELECTORAL WARNING: Threat of mass opposition vote mobilization by Hausa voters ahead of 2027
The commentary reflects a growing undercurrent of frustration in rural North-West communities, where relentless attacks by armed bandit groups have devastated local farming economies.
With political realignments taking shape ahead of the next electoral cycle, regional analysts warn that perceived imbalances in federal empathy and resource distribution could significantly alter voting patterns across the voting-heavy North-West bloc.
