The President, Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria, Mallam Shehu Sani, has said that 70 per cent of problems bedeviling the North are caused by ex-presidents and leaders of northern extraction.
The remaining 30 per cent, Sani said, should be attributed to President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration’s sectional leadership and neglect of the North.
The CRCN boss described as a “waste” the number of years ex-heads of state and presidents of northern extraction had piloted the affairs of Nigeria.
He argued that they had not only failed to empower the region but ruined it educationally, socially as well as economically.
He said the past leaders such as Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Shehu Shagari, Generals Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, the late Sani Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as the late Umaru Yar’Adua, all from the region only left behind trails of poverty, discords among the people of diverse faiths and ethnicity rather than development.
Sani, who is aspiring for the seat of the Kaduna Central Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, argued that President Jonathan only compounded the woes of the region while past leaders of the North simply left a region whose future was in doubt.
The activist said this while addressing sacked and unpaid workers of textile industries in the North who gathered on the premises of the Kaduna Textile Limited, in Kaduna State on Saturday.
He added that the President only empowered the people of the South-South on the detriment of other citizens of the country.
He said, “70 per cent of the North is destroyed by northern leaders and 30 per cent is being destroyed by Jonathan. We must take the blame and must tell ourselves the truth. Northern leaders had the opportunity to industrialise, to educate and to uplift the social standard of the region but they left behind a trail of poverty, of discord among people of diverse faiths and ethnic affinities.
“They left behind a region backward educationally and industrially. They left behind a region whose future is in doubt. For over three decades when northerners were in power they used the opportunity to empower traditional rulers and some religious leaders as well as making the rich, richer and pauperised the common man.
“They were not able to do what Jonathan is doing by empowering the young and the Niger Delta militants who are being enriched today. It was a wasted opportunity which I believe should serve as a lesson next time when power is back to the region.”
While condemning the insurgency in the North, Sani noted that the only way out of the current challenges in the region was for its leaders to embark on rapid revival of its industries, agricultural sector as well as to harness the resources of the region, rather than over-depending on federal allocations.
He said, “I must at this junction condemn the ongoing violence in northern part of the country. This act of terror and the discord between the Muslims and Christians and the backwardness of the region must stop.
“We are concern that the northern part of Nigeria is today becoming a theatre of violence and mindless killings. If there are functional industries, educational system and leadership, the North could not have been where it is today.”
Earlier in his address, the General Secretary of the Coalition of Closed and Unpaid Textile Workers Association, Kaduna State, Mr. Ishar Iorngulum, had said the workers had decided to queue behind the candidature of Sani to become the next senator representing the Kaduna Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly in 2015.
He also said that they would mobilize their colleagues in other parts of the North to vote against some leaders in the region in the 2015 general elections.
Iorngulum, “It is the irresponsibility of the northern governors that led to the collapse of the textile industries in the North so we will vote against them in 2015 elections.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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SANI IS LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, HOW COMES NO BOKO HARAM DURING, IBB, BUARI, YARADUA AND THE LIKES, AND REMEMBER YOU DO NOT VOTE IN IBB, BUARI, ABACH AND GOWAN SO DONT GO TO THAT END, COMMENT ON BADLUCK EBOLA JONA
ReplyDeleteMake this Sani the President and the North will be worse off if not buried. Former National leaders did all they can to empower so many in the North but who spend frivolously thinking political power will remain their birthright
ReplyDeleteyou are telling that when a northerner takes over, he will only focus on north and leave other regions right?? Is that the Northern agenda??
ReplyDeleteThe earlier the North takes responsibility for their situation the better for them. Jonathan has done far more for them in terms of education, health care and agriculture which are the most critical items for their well being and advancement than any Northern head of state had.
ReplyDeleteSani, this is more reason why all Notherners should stand on their feet against voting for northern President for the next three decades, so that others can take the lead and develope the North. And remember is this same President Jonathan that has seen the need to educate the Northern children, hence the Amajiri schools. Since 30 years Northerners were in power they couldn't do it o. Sani, what empowerment is better than education???? Plus over 33 built damps in the North for farmers by this Administration. President Jona remains the best President for the North! And you have to vote him in again for better empowerment to the North of which no Northern President would be able to do so!
ReplyDeleteEarnest pls stop politicising things, the Al -majiri school is of no use as did Jonathan plan of such ever b4 now compaire with the way he empowered the South-south? The way oil bunkering is on going at Bayelsa is very funny; so Jona did not know ?
DeleteLawal How about Lead bunkering in zamfara, Tin bunkering in Jos Gold bunkering in Sokoto
DeleteOya, over to you Lawal.
Deletesani is a confused man,you are among those people that sees white and call it blue,Jonathan has done more than your so called northern heads of state,may be we will vote for you to see if you can stop the amajiris from going to school.
ReplyDeleteThank U ERNEST for Ur assessment of why a Northern MUSLIM should not RULE his country again. As for Bros' JONA contributions to the NORTH U fail to mention the HUNDREDS of ALMAGAMATED AL-MAJIRI SCHOOLS his administration has BUILT throughout the NORTH to EDUCATE their RELIGIOUSLY BLINDFOLDED FOLKS.
ReplyDeleteFor me until the NORTH stop decieving themselves with this RADICAL FORM of ISLAM they will remain BACKWARD FOREVER. Back then in my Universiity days in the NORTH, if a MUSLIM guy put on a JEAN and T shirt or COAT his fellow MUSLIMS will acuse him of imitating CHRISTAINS but, the SAUDIs, QATARIs and must ARABs in the MIDDLE EAST wears suit and shave NEATLY. However, in NORTHERN NIGERIA it is HARAM to dress neat and smart. For me this RADICAL form of ISLAM is responsible for the EXTREME POVERTY in the NORTH.
ok oooooo.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, we need to change our mindset from this tribal perception of politics if this country is to move forward. From what you've said now Mr Dani,I as an easterner will be frightened to vote a Northerner, even if he's got the best qualities, bcos he may not likely think of those of us in the east if vote. This is what your statement insinuates. Secondly, if anyone is to feel cheated and marginalized in terms of government in this country,it is not the north. An Easterner has not been the President of this country after Azikiwe who ushered in independence. We don't seem to be as viscous about power as the north has been.
ReplyDeleteThe worst enemies of the north are northerners. We're yet to find a terrorist from the east or the west. It has always been northerners and Muslims too. If Christians are the sponsors as some of you have claimed, then there would be no better way of calling northern Muslims fools since Christians are sponsoring them to kill themselves and destroy their villages. You guys are being very economical with the truth. Unfortunately the truth is the only thing that will save you guys. Jonathan's govt has favoured the north more than all northern headed governments. If you northerners did not allow Boko haram to thrive,the north would have had a lot of reason to commend his government. We must all stop being bigotic if we want the progress of our great Nation.