Ali Baba Criticizes Northern Elites for Nigeria’s Challenges

Nigerian comedian Ali Baba has voiced his concerns about the growing social and educational challenges in Nigeria, especially in the northern region. In an Instagram post on September 24, 2024, Ali Baba shared a video showing numerous children from the North who were out of school and begging on the streets. He urged the nation’s leaders to take immediate action, expressing his frustration with the current state of affairs.

Ali Baba reflected on a conversation he had five years ago with friends from top universities. Together, they formed a WhatsApp group to discuss and brainstorm solutions for Nigeria’s pressing problems. During these discussions, however, he noticed that members from the North were often sensitive when the issue of out-of-school children was brought up. He pointed out that while the issue of uneducated children affected the entire country, the situation in the northern region was particularly alarming due to the higher numbers.

In his post, he wrote, “Many of us believed that the failure of the government to properly educate children from birth to age 10 would eventually become a ticking time bomb. While this problem exists in the South too, the northern region’s increasing number of out-of-school children was shocking.”

Ali Baba recalled a Northern woman in the group who protested against the discussions, especially when the topic of grazing was raised. He emphasized that, from his perspective, livestock rearing and trading were personal businesses that should not overshadow the larger issue of education. However, after a video surfaced showing hundreds of children begging for food in Kano, the conversation in the group shifted dramatically. This sparked further debate, leading to some tension between Ali Baba and certain Northern members of the group.

In the video, Ali Baba highlighted the heartbreaking reality of children begging for food, not in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, but in the heart of Kano. Despite his efforts to raise awareness, a Northern lady in the group accused him of always pushing a negative narrative about the region. Ali Baba responded by leaving the group, frustrated by the lack of understanding and action.

Now, several years later, he observed that the same Northern elites who dismissed his concerns are the ones complaining about the situation. He concluded his post by stressing the responsibility of Nigeria’s elite, particularly those in the North, to address the nation’s educational and social challenges. Reflecting on his earlier warnings, Ali Baba stated that the current situation is a direct result of neglect, adding, “It’s not even been 10 years yet, and they will feel the consequences.”