The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged governors in the 19 Northern states to pay closer attention to criticism and use it to improve governance.
Speaking at a joint meeting of the Northern Governors Forum and traditional rulers in Kaduna on Monday, he warned that ignoring public concerns could slow progress in tackling insecurity, poverty, and economic hardship in the region.
The Sultan said leaders are often wrongly accused of doing nothing, stressing that no elected official would ask for people’s votes and, when he takes office, all he does is turn his back against the people.”
He appealed to the governors to listen to criticisms and critiques and make amendments whenever these arise, saying genuine feedback helps leaders make better decisions.
The Sultan also called for stronger unity and cooperation among Northern leaders. He praised the governors’ efforts and said recent meeting delays were caused by official engagements.
According to him, only hard work and coordinated action can secure the North and stabilize the country.
“We are 100% with you in this drive to make the North a better place. You have our confidence, you have our trust; you can reach out to us any time of the day,” he told the governors.
He further suggested more frequent and structured engagements between governors and traditional rulers to harmonize decisions affecting the region.
The Sultan reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the governors, adding: “We will do whatever it takes to bring peace and stability to the North and to the country, as we have no other place to turn to except our place.”