The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has accused Nigeria’s political class of deliberately undermining the nation’s development through self-serving leadership.
Sanusi, who spoke on Wednesday at the 15th anniversary of Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria in Lagos, said the country continues to miss critical opportunities for growth because public office is treated as a “family business” rather than a public trust.
According to him, many political leaders prioritise personal and family interests above national progress.
“We have done enough damage, and maybe we need to stop,” the former Central Bank governor said.
“Not just missed opportunities—sometimes deliberately missed opportunities. The reason we miss them is that we have people who think public office is about themselves, their families, and people close to them. But public office is about the citizens.”
Sanusi urged young Nigerians to reject the “dysfunctional system” inherited from decades of poor leadership and instead push for a country driven by unity and a clear national vision.
He warned that Nigeria’s current structure, built on “ethnic rivalries, religious conflicts and competition for personal aggrandisement,” cannot deliver progress.
“The important thing for me is that as citizens, every one of us must remember that the nation belongs to us. It does not belong to the government or politicians,” he said.
Sanusi added that Nigerians must work collectively to shape a new ideological direction for the country.
“We own this country, and wherever we find ourselves, we must play our part. What we need is a clear and achievable vision for the Nigeria we want—one different from what has been manufactured for us,” he said.
According to him, only a united citizenry committed to national interest can position Nigeria to realise its true potential.
