Northern Group Raises Concerns Over Yari’s Appointment As Geregu Power Board Chairman
A northern-based advocacy group, Mai Kare Talakawa (MKT), has expressed strong reservations over the appointment of former Zamfara State Governor and serving Senator, Abdulaziz Yari, as Chairman of the Board of Geregu Power Plc, saying the development does not inspire confidence or excitement among ordinary people in the region.
The group, which is largely based in Sokoto State, made its position known amid widespread public reactions that followed the announcement of Senator Yari’s appointment. Geregu Power Plc had disclosed the appointment through a notice to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) after the resignation of business mogul, Femi Otedola, as board chairman.
In a statement signed on Friday by its spokesperson, Mallam Yusuf Mohammed, MKT said it preferred to stand for the interests of the downtrodden rather than join what it described as “praise singers who unite to enrich themselves at the expense of the masses.”
The group questioned the source of Senator Yari’s wealth, alleging that his rapid accumulation of enormous assets could not be justified by his known background in public service. Mohammed noted that Yari had served as a Commissioner, a two-term Governor of Zamfara State, and is currently a Senator, but allegedly has no clearly established business empire beyond MA’AM Energy and mining activities he has often been linked to.
“Zamfara State remains one of the poorest states in Nigeria, yet Senator Yari, who presided over its commonwealth for eight years, emerged stupendously wealthy. Such undue accumulation of wealth at the expense of the masses contradicts Islamic teachings, and any genuine Muslim must stand to uphold this tenet,” the statement read.
The group further accused the former governor of failing to address youth unemployment during his tenure, arguing that the neglect contributed significantly to poverty, youth restiveness, and the insecurity currently ravaging Zamfara State.
MKT also raised concerns over what it described as a conflict of interest, given Yari’s role as a serving Senator with oversight responsibilities. It described his alleged acquisition of controlling shares in Geregu Power Plc—reportedly worth over one trillion naira—as “outlandish” and lacking any direct benefit for the people of Zamfara State.
“Using over N1 trillion to buy shares in a power company does not improve the lives of the common people on the streets of Zamfara. Rather, it will further impoverish them and aggravate insecurity, especially in view of ongoing illegal mining activities,” the group said.
The statement also referenced ongoing investigations involving Senator Yari by agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS, expressing disappointment that assets allegedly linked to him had not been recovered for the benefit of Zamfara State.
“When we thought his ongoing trials would help recover funds and assets for reinvestment in Zamfara State, we read instead that the same individual was acquiring a power plant worth over one trillion naira. This is ridiculous, outlandish, and preposterous,” Mohammed added.
Citing a 2024 report, the group noted that Zamfara State has a multidimensional poverty rate of 82.70 percent, ranking it as the third poorest state in Nigeria after Sokoto and Jigawa. It described the situation as morally troubling, questioning how a former public officer could become “richer than the state he governed” while the population continues to suffer from poverty and insecurity.
The group concluded by urging Senator Yari and other northern elites to reflect on recent comments by Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, who criticised extravagant spending by the wealthy while the number of almajirai and out-of-school children continues to rise in northern Nigeria.
Geregu Power Plc, located in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, announced Senator Yari’s appointment earlier in the week. However, the development has continued to attract public criticism, largely due to controversies surrounding his tenure as governor, allegations of corruption, illegal mining, and his frequent encounters with security and law enforcement agencies.
