Leadership in North Central, Kogi State, and Yahaya Bello.
By Abdul Mohammed Lawal.
The North Central region, formerly called the Middle Belt, is known for its many different cultures and ethnic groups. Unlike other parts of Nigeria, this region doesn’t have one main ethnic group or language. Every state in the North Central has at least five ethnic groups, which makes it different from the mostly Hausa-Fulani in the North East and North West, the Yoruba in the South West, and the Igbo in the South East.
This mix of groups is both a strength and a challenge. It shows how Nigeria can celebrate its diversity, but it also makes it hard for the region to speak with one voice. This has sometimes put the region at a disadvantage in national politics.
In the North Central, the political situation is divided, with each state focusing on its own needs instead of working together. This lack of unity means the region has not had a strong influence on national issues, despite being politically active. As one wise person said, “The North Central is strong individually, but weak when it comes to collective action.”
Historically, other regions, like the Core North and the South West, have been able to support strong political leaders who represent their shared interests. This is something North Central has struggled with. Even when a leader rises from the region, they often face opposition from their own states or ethnic groups, making it harder for them to grow and represent the region as a whole. Sometimes, they even need help from outsiders to diminish these challenges.
Starting with Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a key figure in Nigeria’s fight for independence, the Yoruba-speaking South West has a long history of strong leadership, with leaders who have united the region behind a shared vision. Awolowo’s leadership style laid the foundation for future leaders in the South West.
After Awolowo, M.K.O. Abiola became another important figure in the 1990s. His bid for the presidency, widely supported across the Yoruba states, showed the strength of a united Yoruba voice. Even after his death, his legacy continued to influence Yoruba politics and helped the rise of His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who now leads the South West and became President of Nigeria.
The Hausa-Fulani-dominated North has had strong political leaders who were able to unite the region. Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, was one of Nigeria’s most influential leaders. He played a key role in forming the country and helped bring the northern states together, creating a political system that lasted through military regimes and into the civilian era.
After Ahmadu Bello, the North had several military leaders, such as General Murtala Muhammed, General Muhammadu Buhari and a host of others, who led the country and represented the North’s political interests, making sure the region remained important in Nigeria’s political decisions. In the democratic era, leaders like Musa Yaradua, Atiku Abubakar, and Buhari once again, kept the North at the centre of Nigeria’s politics.
While the North Central has produced some notable leaders during the military era, the region’s lack of unity has kept its political influence divided. As a result, unlike the South West and North, the Middle Belt has often been left out of major political decisions.
During Nigeria’s military rule, notable North Central figures like General(s) Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, and Abdulsalami Abubakar served as Heads of State. Others, like David Jemibewon, David Mark, and Jonah David Jang, were governors. People like John Shagaya and Salihu Ibrahim were also part of the military different governments and they helped in forming policies while representing the interests of the Middle Belt.
However, the return to democracy in 1999 saw a strengthening of regional and ethnic politics, which made it harder for the North Central to present itself as a unified bloc. As the South West and North became more united around their regional figures, the North Central struggled with internal divisions that often weakened its national standing. A core northerner, for example, does not perceive someone without a Hausa-Fulani orientation as “northern enough.”
The military era was less focused on ethnic lines, and many leaders from the region rose to power because of their competence, loyalty and ability to fare well in national politics. During that period, the privileged Middle-Belters were perceived as part of the broader Hausa-Fulani political structure, and they were aligned with the core northern elites.
Did this perception contribute to their inability to form a distinct political identity as “North Central leaders” within the new democratic framework in 1999?
In today’s Nigeria, the need for a unified voice in the North Central region has never been more urgent. As stated earlier, the region is home to a large and diverse population, with multiple ethnicities and cultural groups, but also with fragmented politics. If these groups could set aside their internal differences and work together, they could become a powerful force in the country’s political landscape. However, this is easier said than done.
The history of political leaders from the North Central shows that even capable individuals have struggled to maintain the support needed to rise to prominence on the national stage. Take, for example, the Saraki family in Kwara State. The family’s long-standing political influence was tested with the growing power of Bukola Saraki; internal divisions arose, outsiders were employed, and their hold on power was weakened.
Similar stories can be found in other North Central states, where supposed strong and lasting alliances fail political figures, and they fail to grow beyond ethnic or state lines. Ironically, allies easily turn into foes because what they stand to gain as individuals is often greater than what binds them together.
The lesson here is clear: without unity, individual leaders, no matter how capable, cannot bring about the lasting change that the region needs. This is why a concerted effort to promote regional unity must be at the forefront of North Central politics.
In this context, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State, presents a compelling case as a leader who could unite the North Central. Bello’s time in office was marked by his ability to handle Kogi’s complex political environment, a state known for its ethnic diversity. He worked to bridge gaps between different groups within the state and showed a strong drive to progress. His efforts built a new order.
Bello’s leadership style, like that of Asiwaju, which focuses on inclusivity and collaboration, could serve as a model for the wider North Central region. He is in a good position to lead the push for regional unity, using his experience in Kogi to bring together various political and ethnic groups for a common goal. Yahaya Bello is a product of tough decisions and ongoing challenges, but these have not stopped his steady rise. The North Central certainly needs a touch of this unyielding determination.
The North Central must recognise the importance of supporting a leader who has the potential to unite the region. Despite political divisions, a united North Central would have greater influence on national affairs, and Yahaya Bello is one of the few leaders with the political experience and vision to lead this effort.
The region has long held promise, yet growth has been elusive. For the North Central to rise to its rightful place in the country’s political hierarchy, it must overcome these divisions, and it begins with trusting an individual to lead the change.
And, the time for a unified North Central is now.