For almost a week, the northern part of the country has been plagued by a power outage, significantly impacting the lives of residents and businesses in both the private and public sectors. Despite the severity of the situation, no critical measures seem to be in place to restore electricity to the affected areas. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has been releasing daily updates with varying explanations, yet none have provided a concrete solution to the ongoing issue.
The question remains: why are northern leaders so quiet on every issue affecting the region? How can we go a week without electricity in the northern part of the country while governors remain silent? What are the reasons and objectives behind the establishment of the Northern Governors Forum?
I write with a heavy heart to urge the northern governors to pressure and demand that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) quickly resolve the current situation. Northern leaders, who are expected to be at the forefront of calling on the TCN and other agencies to fix the problem, remain silent and watch. Is it because they can afford to buy fuel and use generators or solar energy in their homes?
Unfortunately, many Northerners prioritize politics over the region’s well-being and development. Some opposition parties remain silent, content with the situation to use the government’s failures for campaign purposes instead of focusing on constructive criticism that would bring change and development. They use these faults to gain political mileage during election campaigns, rather than working toward logical solutions for our region.
Many top politicians and even presidential candidates during the 2022 election are from the northern part of the country, yet they choose not to speak out in ways that could help lift their society from critical situations. Why don’t southern politicians behave in this way?
Politicians in northern Nigeria should learn valuable lessons from their southern counterparts, particularly when it comes to prioritizing citizens’ needs. The End SARS protests serve as a prime example, where the Governor of Lagos State, despite being in the same party as President Muhammadu Buhari, quickly accepted the protesters’ letter and met with the President to address their concerns. Can northern leaders and governors do this for Tinubu for the benefit of their citizens? If not, why?
The silence of key northern stakeholders, including Senators, House Representatives, opposition parties, and governors on issues affecting Northern Nigeria, is concerning. This inaction raises questions about who will intervene to address critical situations if any issues arise in the region.
I call on our northern governors, leaders, stakeholders, and wealthy individuals to unite and set aside political and religious differences for the benefit of the people and the development of Northern Nigeria.
Furthermore, they should urge the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to quickly provide solutions to the ongoing power outage in the North. What kind of problem can’t be solved within a week?
Grace Donatus, a 300-level student in the Department of Mass Communication, Borno State University, wrote this piece.
