Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has lamented what he described as decades of poor leadership in Nigeria, stressing that the nation’s challenges are rooted in the quality of its leaders.
The former Central Bank Governor made the remarks yesterday at the second Kano International Poetry Festival, organised by Poetic Wednesdays Initiative, with the theme “Poetry in a Time of Crisis.”
According to Sanusi, Nigeria has been unlucky with visionary leaders who can drive real change.
“A country rises and falls with the kind of leaders it has, and for too long, we have had leaders who lack direction,” he said.
“Many times, we ask ourselves: how did these people even get into positions of power?”
He faulted Nigeria’s political class for focusing on divisive and outdated debates instead of tackling pressing global and national issues.
“While the world is busy discussing artificial intelligence and climate change, we are still stuck on arguments about tribe and religion,” he noted.
Sanusi also addressed the controversial removal of fuel subsidy, insisting that the country would have been bankrupt had it continued.
He argued that subsidies only benefited foreign refineries while draining Nigeria’s resources. “If the trillions spent on subsidies had been invested in our refineries, the story would be different today,” he said.
The monarch maintained that the subsidy on consumption was unsustainable.
“At some point, government revenue became inadequate to cover subsidies, and we had to borrow just to pay for them. That path could only lead to collapse,” he warned.
Beyond fuel subsidy, Sanusi raised concerns about Nigeria’s rising debt profile, cautioning that reckless borrowing and wasteful spending by successive governments would have dire consequences for the future economy.
Turning his attention to young Nigerians, the Emir urged them to step forward and take charge of the country’s destiny.
“If the youth decide to take responsibility, they can replace the old political class. The future belongs to them, but only if they claim it,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Creative Director of Poetic Wednesdays Initiative, Nasiba Babale, said the festival was designed to remind artists of their role in championing peace amid the insecurity plaguing Northern Nigeria.