A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Prof Usman Yusuf said that the North engaged in self-affliction and should stop blaming any other part of the country, adding that past leaders from the region failed.

Yusuf, who was the Chairman at the launch of a pressure group, Tafiyar Matasan Arewa Foundation (Northern Youth Movement) on Saturday in Bauchi, said that no Northerner would go for Muslim-Muslim tickets again.

His words: “No Northerner should blame anyone for our current situation. We brought it upon ourselves. In 2015 we voted out the administration under the pretence of Boko Haram, today, where are we? We had Muhammadu Buhari as President for 8 years, yet, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road is not completed.

“Today, trillions of Naira has been earmarked for the Lagos – Calabar coastal highway. Who are we to blame for this? Ourselves of course. Our children cannot go to school, the farmers cannot go to the farms because of insecurity, banditry. Who are the bandits, who are the Boko Haram? Now, we have another Lakurawa, who are these people? Our people of course.

“I can hear discordant voices all over the Northern region, of betrayal, the question is who betrayed who? Out of the over 8 million votes cast during the 2023 presidential election, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu scored over 5 million from the North. That means the North chose to be betrayed.”

Yusuf continued: “In 2015, it was the same North that voted for Muhammadu Buhari as President, he spent 8 years, he could not complete a viable project in the region but this present administration within 1 year, go and see what it has done for the other side of the country,” he added.

He blamed the region for “sitting idle and crying that we have been betrayed. We have people in the National Assembly, they do not speak for the North since the exit of people like Gudaji Kazaure. Whatever happened to the North was caused by the Northerners.”

The ex-NHIA boss said that the country had produced good leadership in the past, leaders who built good schools, roads, hospitals and other infrastructure not minding who was where.

Also speaking, Governor Bala Mohammed commended the organisers for creating the stage to discuss the issue affecting the youths, he expressed his commitment to advance the welfare and inclusion of more youth in governance.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Adamu Babayo Gabarin, Mohammed said that youth is an integral part of any society but faces numerous challenges, ranging from inadequate access to resources, education, and mentorship.

“For us to address these issues, it is imperative to empower our youth through various programmes and initiatives. This can be achieved through education, training, entrepreneurship development, and mentorship,” he said.

The programme was attended by representatives of the Senator representing Bauchi South (Shehu Buba), the former senator for Bauchi Central (Dauda Jika), and other prominent personalities within and outside the state.