The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, has criticized Nigeria’s political elite for deliberately hindering national progress by treating public office as a personal business rather than a responsibility to the nation.
Speaking at the 15th anniversary of Enough is Enough Nigeria in Lagos, Sanusi said the political class often ignores development opportunities because “public office is about themselves, their families, and people close to them, not about the country or the citizens.”
“We have caused enough harm, and perhaps it’s time to stop. Omobola is highlighting the missed opportunities sometimes not just missed, but deliberately so,” he added. “The reason for these missed opportunities is the mindset of those who see public office as serving themselves, their families, and their inner circles, rather than the nation. Public office should serve the citizens.”
Sanusi urged young Nigerians to reject what he called a dysfunctional system and dedicate themselves to building a nation that lives up to its potential. He described the country’s current political and social structure as driven by “ethnic rivalries, religious conflicts, and the pursuit of personal gain,” warning that these factors stifle national development.
“As citizens, we must remember that the nation belongs to us, not the government or politicians,” he said. “We hold a part of Nigeria wherever we are, and we have a duty to contribute our share to its growth.”
He called on Nigerian youth to unite across social, ethnic, and religious divides to develop a clear, achievable vision for the country. “We need to articulate a coherent ideological position—a vision for the Nigeria we want one that breaks from the fabricated divisions of ethnicity, religion, and personal competition. It should be a country that fulfills its potential among the community of nations.”
