The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has decried Nigeria’s persistent leadership failure, declaring that the country has been plagued by “lousy leadership” for many years, a situation he said was responsible for its current economic and social woes.
Speaking at the second edition of the Kano International Poetry Festival (KAPFEST), organised by the Poetic Wednesdays Initiative (PWI) on Saturday, the outspoken monarch stressed the need for good governance, adding that Nigeria’s progress was directly tied to the quality of its leadership.
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“You rise and fall with the quality of your leadership, and Nigeria has had lousy leadership for a long time,” the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor said.
“You cannot give what you do not have until we begin to look at the people whom we choose to lead us. And that’s the truth. I mean, in most parts of this country, you look at people who are leading you and you say, ‘Oh God, is this really the person? How did we end up here?’”
Sanusi lamented the quality of national discourse, comparing Nigeria’s focus on ethnic and religious divisions with the more progressive conversations happening around the world.
“You see it in the news, you see what happens in the legislature, the kind of debates we are having, the kind of time we waste on issues that are totally unimportant, the pettiness,” he said.
“Look at other countries – they’re discussing climate change, discussing artificial intelligence. We are still talking about Yoruba or Igbo or Hausa, Northern or Christian. We are still in conversations that we had in the 1960s.”
Challenges The Youth
He challenged Nigerian youths to rise and take charge of the country’s future by demanding better leadership and refusing to recycle those he described as unproductive.
“Until the young people decide enough is enough and take this country from the old people who have held it down, nothing will change. You can retire all of them, easily, if you have the will,” he said.
Fuels Subsidy Removal
On the contentious issue of fuel subsidy, Sanusi defended its removal by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, arguing that the practice was not only unsustainable but would have driven the country into bankruptcy if allowed to continue.
“If you look at the billions and billions that were spent on subsidy, if that money had been spent on refineries… I have nothing against subsidies if you are subsidising production.
“My objection is the subsidy on consumption because we’re keeping refineries in Europe open. We’re giving jobs to refiners. And if we had taken action in 2012, we would not be where we are today,” he stated.
“Now, people say to me, ‘Why aren’t you talking?’ I say, what am I to say? This is exactly what I said would happen because, beyond a point, government revenue will not be enough to pay the subsidy. You have to borrow to pay it,” the monarch added.
Debt Profile
Sanusi further warned about Nigeria’s growing debt profile, urging leaders to take responsibility for financial decisions and invest in long-term sustainability.
“If the rate at which governments borrow and squander money continues, it will have a damaging effect on our economy in the years to come,” he cautioned.
Earlier, the Creative Director of the Poetic Wednesdays Initiative, Nasiba Babale, said the festival, themed “Poetry in a Time of Crisis,” aims to use art as a vehicle for peace, healing, and activism, especially in Northern Nigeria.
“KAPFEST is about reminding poets and artists that their voices matter. We believe poetry and art can be powerful tools for change, especially in times of deep national and regional crisis,” Babale said.
The event drew poets, scholars, and young creatives from across the country who used the platform to reflect on Nigeria’s challenges and to envision a better future through artistic expression.
