Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has urged northern political elites to stop weaponising insecurity for political gain and instead confront the deep-rooted causes of violence in the region.

Speaking in Kaduna on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the Open Heart Foundation and the Women Empowerment Centre, Sani delivered a searing critique of northern leadership and the crises plaguing the region.

He blamed almajirci, mass illiteracy, poverty and chronic underdevelopment as foundational drivers of insecurity, urging leaders to face the reality with sincerity.

“The terrorists in the North-East are northerners. The bandits in the North-West speak Hausa, Fulfulde and Kanuri, not Mandarin or French. This is our problem. Only we can solve it,” he said.

Sani warned civic groups against being used as political tools and urged them to continue speaking truth to power without undermining security agencies.

He questioned the morality of politicians who celebrate attacks to discredit the government.
“Some even rejoice when soldiers fall. This is immoral,” he said.

He noted that northern Nigeria has endured 15 years of relentless terror—schools, churches, mosques and entire communities have been repeatedly targeted since 2013.
He recalled past high-profile abductions in Bethel Baptist High School, Greenfield University, Jangebe, Yauri and others, saying many victims languished in captivity while leaders looked away.

Sani also criticised former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, who recently alleged that the current government paid over a billion naira to bandits.
“It is on record that El-Rufai admitted he once appeased bandits. Under his watch, Kaduna witnessed its worst divisions,” he said.

While insisting Kaduna is not yet fully safe, Sani acknowledged that Governor Uba Sani’s administration has reduced religious tension and improved security in flashpoints like Birnin Gwari. He also noted measurable improvements under President Bola Tinubu’s government.

He warned against relying on foreign powers for salvation.
“The United States will not save us. Europe will not,” he stressed.
He added that insurgent networks are expanding across West Africa, operating with boldness from Chad to Mali and Burkina Faso.

He ended with a challenge to northern leaders:
“The future of the North depends on courage, honesty and unity. The question remains: When will the North sit down and confront its problems sincerely?”