The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has taken a swipe at Nigeria’s political elite, accusing them of treating public office as a private or family enterprise rather than a responsibility to serve citizens.
Speaking in Lagos at the 15th anniversary of Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, Sanusi said the country continues to miss vital opportunities for progress because many leaders prioritise personal gain over national interest.
“We have done enough damage and maybe we need to stop,” he said.
“We miss opportunities not just by accident but sometimes deliberately, because many in public office think it’s about themselves, their families, or those close to them, not the country.”
Sanusi, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said Nigeria’s governance challenges are deepened by ethnic divisions, religious tensions and self-serving political structures that undermine unity and development.
He urged young Nigerians to take ownership of the country and challenge systems that promote dysfunction.
“The nation belongs to us. It does not belong to the government or politicians,” he said.
“Wherever we find ourselves, we must remember we hold a small part of Nigeria and have a duty to contribute our quota.”
The Emir called on youths to rally around a common vision for a new Nigeria, one that breaks away from longstanding tribal, religious and political rivalries.
“What we need is a clear, achievable ideological direction,” he said.
“It has to be a Nigeria different from the one that has been manufactured for us, a Nigeria free from ethnic competition, religious conflict, and the pursuit of personal aggrandizement.”
Sanusi stressed that Nigeria can only take its rightful place globally when citizens collectively reject divisive politics and embrace a shared national purpose.
