Mar 29 2026

Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf, has expressed deep concern over the apparent silence of northern political leaders regarding the detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

In an interview aired on Trust TV, Yusuf criticized the lack of public statements from senior northern figures, suggesting that their silence reflects deeper structural and political issues within the region’s leadership.

He also referenced the role of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, noting his longstanding political ties with El-Rufai and implying that the handling of the detention raises questions about accountability and alignment among northern elites.

Describing the situation as troubling, Yusuf lamented the broader state of affairs in the North, highlighting persistent insecurity, widespread poverty, and internal divisions.

He argued that at a time when the region should be united to address these pressing issues, leaders are instead engaged in conflicts among themselves.

Citing recent tensions between Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Industries Limited, and Farouk Ahmed, former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Yusuf said,

It is only in the North that you see fighting; look at Dangote and Farouk fighting. You would not see this in the Southwest.” He used the comparison to underscore what he sees as a regional pattern of rivalry and discord.

Yusuf warned that such disunity is weakening the North at a critical time, particularly given the severity of challenges facing ordinary citizens.

He stressed that without cohesion and collaboration among political leaders, efforts to address insecurity, poverty, and other pressing problems may continue to fall short.

Naija news channel