Usman Okai-Austin, a former Peoples Democratic Party’s House of Representatives candidate, has claimed that northern leaders are not genuinely representing the interests of the people. In an interview with the Daily Post, he accused these leaders of using the region’s name to push their personal political ambitions rather than addressing the pressing needs of the populace.
Okai-Austin stated that the North has not yet made a unified decision on political matters, including the 2027 presidential race, and that the perceived division is overstated. He noted that a “united force” or “collaborative decision” has not yet emerged from the region.
The former candidate also cited past political events as examples of self-serving actions by leaders. He mentioned the push for former Senate President Ahmad Lawan as a presidential candidate and the subsequent promotion of the Muslim-Muslim ticket by figures like Nasir El-Rufai. Okai-Austin alleged that these moves were motivated by individual ambitions, such as a potential vice-presidency for El-Rufai, which did not materialize.
He further claimed that a rift developed between some leaders, with El-Rufai reportedly stating that Nuhu Ribadu does not want any northerner to succeed politically because of his own purported ambition for the 2031 presidency.
Okai-Austin concluded by highlighting the significant challenges facing northern citizens, including insecurity, unemployment, out-of-school children, and poverty. He lamented that instead of focusing on these critical issues, some leaders are exploiting the region for their personal political gains.
