Sanusi Lamido's response to Sir Olaniwun Ajayi's book titled "Nigeria , Africa 's failed asset?"
A refreshing perspective - Interesting read!!!

Please if you write a silly book, don't invite Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to make a presentation. ,

I guess Olaniwun Ajayi has learnt from this. Sanusi faults Olaniwun Ajayi on Northern domination.

The Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, surprised guests present at the Muson Centre for the launching of the book of Sir Olaniwun Ajayi at the Muson Centre in Lagos .

The book titled: " Nigeria , Africa 's failed asset?" attracted many important dignitaries, intellectuals and some governors. The argument by discussants centered on whether or not the colonial masters laid the foundation for the problems Nigeria is currently facing.

Many argued that the British loved the North and that was why it gave more than 50 percent of the National Assembly seats to the North at independence.

Sanusi, however, stole the show when he spoke. His speech was anchored on the plank that the British and Nigerian rulers are responsible for the state of the situation Nigeria finds itself today.

Below is his unedited speech.

"Let me start by saying that I am Fulani (laughter). My grandfather was an Emir and therefore I represent all that has been talked about this afternoon. Sir Ajayi has written a book. And like all Nigerians of his generation, he has written in the language of his generation.

"My grandfather was a Northerner, I am a Nigerian. The problem with this country is that in 2009, we speak in the language of 1953. Sir Olaniwun can be forgiven for the way he spoke, but I cannot forgive people of my generation speaking in that language.

"Let us go into this issue because there are so many myths that are being bandied around. Before colonialism, there was nothing like Northern Nigeria, Before the Sokoto Jihad, there was nothing like the Sokoto caliphate. The man from Kano regard himself as bakane. The man from Zaria was bazazzage. The man from Katsina was bakatsine. The kingdoms were at war with each other. They were Hausas, they were Muslims, they were killing each other.

"The Yoruba were Ijebu, Owo, Ijesha, Akoko, Egba. When did they become one? When did the North become one? You have the Sokoto Caliphate that brought every person from Adamawa to Sokoto and said it is one kingdom. They now
said it was a Muslim North.

"The Colonialists came, put that together and said it is now called the Northern Nigeria. Do you know what happened? Our grand fathers were able to transform to being Northerners. We have not been able to transform to being Nigerians. The fault is ours.

Tell me, how many governors has South West produced after Awolowo that are role models of leadership? How many governors has the East produced like Nnamdi Azikiwe that can be role models of leadership? How Many governors in
the Niger Delta are role models of leadership? Tell me. There is no evidence statistically that any part of this country has produced good leaders.

You talk about Babangida and the economy. Who were the people in charge of the economy during Babangida era? Olu Falae, Kalu Idika Kalu. What state are they from in the North?

"We started the banking reform; the first thing I heard was that in Urobo land, that there will be a curse of the ancestors. I said they (ancestors) would not answer. They said why? I said how many factories did Ibru build in Urobo land? So, why will the ancestors of the Urobo people support her?

"We talk ethnicity when it pleases us. It is hypocrisy. You said elections were rigged in 1959, Obasanjo and Maurice Iwu rigged election in 2007. Was it a Southern thing? It was not. "The problem is: everywhere in this country, there is one Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba and Itshekiri man whose concern is how to get his hands on the pile and how much he can steal.

Whether it is in the military or in the civilian government, they sit down, they eat together. In fact, the constitution says there must be a minister from every state.

"So, anybody that is still preaching that the problem of Nigeria is Yoruba or Hausa or Fulani, he does not love Nigeria . The problem with Nigeria is that a group of people from each and every ethnic tribe is very selfish. The poverty that is found in Maiduguri is even worse than any poverty that you find in any part of the South.

The British came for 60 years and Sir Ajayi talked about few numbers of graduates in the North (two at independence) . What he did not say was that there was a documented policy of the British when they came that the Northerner should not be educated. It was documented. It was British colonial policy. I have the document. I have published articles on it. That if you educate the Northerner you will produce progressive Muslim intellectuals of the type we have in Egypt and India. So, do not educate them. It was documented. And you say they love us (North).

"I have spent the better part of my life to fight and Dr. (Reuben) Abati knows me. Yes, my grandfather was an Emir. Why was I in the pro-democracy movement fighting for June 12? Is (Moshood) Abiola from Kano ? Why am I a founding director of the Kudirat Initiative for Nigerian Development (KIND)?

"There are good Yoruba people, good Igbo people, good Fulani people, good Nigerians and there are bad people everywhere. That is the truth. "Stop talking about dividing Nigeria because we are not the most populous country
in the world. We have all the resources that make it easy to make one united great Nigeria . It is better if we are united than to divide it.

"Every time you talk about division, when you restructure, do you know what will happen? In Delta Area, the people in Warri will say Agbor, you don't have oil. When was the Niger Delta constructed as a political entity? Ten years ago, the Itshekiris were fighting the Urobos. Isn't that what was happening? Now they have become Niger Delta because they have found oil. After, it will be, if you do not have oil in your village then you cannot share our resources.

"There is no country in the world where resources are found in everybody's hamlet. But people have leaders and they said if you have this geography and if we are one state, then we have a responsibility for making sure that the people who belong to this country have a good nature.

"So, why don't you talk about; we don't have infrastructure, we don't have education, we don't have health. We are still talking about Fulani. Is it the Fulani cattle rearer or is anybody saying there is no poverty among the Fulani?", he said.

This is a great message to our generation.

Are we truly ready to develop and unite Nigeria?

This guy never ceases to impress me. He is indeed a rare Nigerian. I just wish these are the kinds of individuals that are going to govern us in future.

Fallacies

Can you point out any of Sanusi's statement that isn't valid today?

seanet02:

Fallacies

When did the book launch take place?

Wow, the guy hit the nail exactly at the head. Nigeria's problem might have stem from such tribal issues but the truth is that the present problems facing us is as a result of unionism work of corrupt representatives leaders in which every part of the country has a name on the list (Not equally shared though). So we should face the real issue if we still want to keep this country as one rather than blaming others for our irresponsibility, entertaining ourselves and fanning the flames of our ego with tribal issues. Therefore CORRUPTION must be vehemently addressed if we are really tired with the state of things. Nice one there Sir.

After Soludo was replaced by Sanusi as CBN governorn I lost interest in most things as I believed Soludo was the only man capable of bringing about positive reforms but upon reading Sanusi's response to the novel, I must say that the man oozes of brilliant. All he said were well selected and properly laid out, its quite shocking to knw that such intelligence is coming from the northern part. I have decided to be more open hearted about everyone in Nigeria. If someone like Sanusi exists in this country then there is hope for a positive change in Nigeria

indeed ,his presentation can be aptly titled "NIgeria: A myth demystified.See! issues not sentiments atimes this talk is like a 40yr old failure that keep saying it is because hs father ws not rich, and thats why he ended up poor!, Awake Nigeria and build this land for posterity!!!!!!!

Mere rhetoric.

The reform in the banking sector is applaudable but it's motivated towards giving some section in Nigeria a grip in that sector that was lost after Prof.Soludo's shake-up.

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is a rare breed! This man is new on mother earth!

i dont doubt sanusi's intelligence but i doubt his motives. He is very sectarian.

opal4real:

Mere rhetoric.

The reform in the banking sector is applaudable but it's motivated towards giving some section in Nigeria a grip in that sector that was lost after Prof.Soludo's shake-up.

partly true. Sanusi's reforms are commendable and came at the right time but trust me his motives are not noble. He is very ambitious and is interested in mainstream politics. this is a man that wants to rule Nigeria.

Whenever Sanusi Lamido Sanusi chooses to run for presidency he has my vote.
He is indeed a rare breed.

T9ksy:

Yeah right and what happened when the brits finally left?
Didn't the sardunna hated Awo's guts when the latter insisted on free education for all nigerians?
What's stopped all the mo.rons the north foisted on us from educating their people?
Instead they go about building ostentatious buildings with our collective wealth whilst their uneducated people are momentarily forgotten. That's until they are needed to creat bedlam in the country.

Oh how i wish this guy will just STFU and focus on the job we pay him for.
So he's a nigerian while his g/father is a northerner. who gives a rat.s arse what he deems himself to be.
Am a yoruba man and my forefathers were yorubas too.
How can i call myself a nigerian when an arab in faraway Afganistan can order a fellow nigerian to take my head and he will, without a second thought.

Where was this id.iot when northerners were killing southerners all because some white man in faraway denmark decided to drew an accurate picture of mohammed?

Where was he when northerners decided to kill southerners in their midst because they want to have their own blasted sharia as state laws?
Just listening to the guy makes me wanna puke. so it was our fault that we were not able to transform to been nigerians.
Dumb fo.ol! Has it ever occurred to this mofo maybe i don't want to be no-phocking nigerian?
So all those who lost their loved ones in all the so many mayhem in the north instigated by thier elites, should have readily transmuted to been nigerians? However, if they don't wish to see themselves as sharing the same passport as those who have just butchered their loved ones callously without justification, then its their fault.

Sanusi has just spoken like a true "BORN TO RULE" hausa/fulani.
So undeservedly arrogant and a novice revisionist, to boot.

So sad that you are still repeating what Sanusi's brilliant speech sort to address!

Lets face the facts; Quote omo_Tier1 "EVERY ACTION HAS AN INTENTION AND THE MOTIVE OF AN ACTION ONLY LIES IN PRESUMPTION UNTIL WORK (RESULT) IS PRODUCED"

Ask yourself the question, why wasn't Jim Ovia formerly of Zennith Bank who obviously is not Northern swept aside by same Sanusi? Rightly, Sanusi applied a guiding principle that when a man repeats an act over and over again, his skills reaches a peak and begin to diminish due to lack of focus!
That was exactly what we had in banking pre-sanusi and thank God Nigerians are the better for it.

Like Sanusi brilliant exposed, every tribe or ethnic group in Nigeria has an overly corrupt elite whose care only for thier belly at the expense of thier people and it is this ethno corrupt elite we need to deal with in Nigeria for us to truly have development.

I boldly dare you to name your tribe and see if a long list of individuals who have looted the treasury will not reel out from amongst.

T9ksy!!!



It’s damn ludicrous for an ostensibly cultured individual (like you) to insult a world applauded brilliance exuded by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi! He is a man, indeed, well distinguished from the vast majority of Nigerian Leaders! You know that! Stop venting your misguided ignorance in an unfashionable manner! I am proud of the man Sanusi, not because I am a Northerner or an Economist like him, not even because he is a Nigerian, but because the man oozes of uncommon vividness!