Former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has criticised the recent Ramadan food distribution initiative by President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, calling it an insult to the rich heritage of Northern Nigeria.
In a video circulating online, Lamido was seen addressing a crowd of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members during Ramadan Iftar in his hometown of Bamaina, in Birni Kudu LGA of Jigawa State, condemning Seyi Tinubu’s food outreach in the region. “It’s a disgrace to Arewa (Northern region) and our founding fathers that Tinubu’s son came to Sokoto and Kano to share cooked rice. It is insulting and demeaning,” Lamido stated.
The former governor further emphasised that Northern Nigeria, known for its cultural and historical significance, should not be reduced to receiving handouts. “Arewa, with our rich culture and heritage, should not be brought down to this level. Aminu Kano, Sardauna, Tafawa Balewa, Joseph Tarka and many others are the pride of our region, so we need to stand up and do the right thing,” he added.
Recall that Seyi Tinubu’s Ramadan outreach, which involved distributing food packages in several northern states—including Kano, Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna, Adamawa, Yobe, and Bauchi—has sparked mixed reactions across the region.
While some Northern groups have lauded the initiative as a timely intervention to support vulnerable communities during Ramadan, others have dismissed it as a mere political stunt.
