A founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum and elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, has said other regions in the country are fond of blaming northerners for their problems when the North has the highest number of poor people.

Yakasai said though the North had produced more leaders compared to the South, it had numerous issues it is dealing with.

Speaking on Thursday at an online conference, themed, ‘The 2nd Never Again Conference: 51 years after the Nigerian-Biafran civil war’, hosted by Nzuko Umunna, an Igbo Think Tank, in partnership with Ovation International and Njenje Media, he said the fractional tendencies in the country must be addressed.

Some southerners have accused the North of ploys to dominate leadership positions and treat other regions of the country as second-class citizens. They have also alleged that the North was against the proposed restructuring of the country because it benefits from the current system, which they believe is unfair and unproductive.

Meanwhile, despite having ruled the country longer than the South, the North is said to have higher number of out-of-school children, higher poverty and illiteracy rates, especially with the Almajiri system.

In his response to comments by Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, both of whom accused the North of shying away from the compelling need to restructure the country, Yakasai said, “I’m a northerner but we are the most unlucky people in this country.

“Most people blame us for their problems but we are the poorest in the country. I was reading recently the number of billionaires in Nigeria and out of 10, eight were from the South and only two were from the North; Aliko Dangote and Abdul Samad Rabiu of BUA Group.

“We have been in power more than any other ethnic group. The fact is that we held power more than anybody yet we became the poorest.”

He said even though people could disagree during discourse about national issues, people should always create time to attend such events and contribute “because it is our collective contribution that would make the aggregate of the ideas that we want to sell to the country.”

Yakasai added that though the Civil War ended over 50 years ago, the mistrust among major sub-regional groups remained a threat to the democratic process.

He said, “We need to learn from the Civil War of 51 years ago and address squarely the fractional tendencies in the country today. Unity, peace, trust, justice, democracy and development must be made to work for Nigeria to keep it stronger.”

In her remarks, a stalwart of the ruling All progressives Congress and wife of a former deputy governor of Kaduna State, Mrs Charity Shekari, said every region, including the North, had issues they were dealing with and that it was wrong to attribute the country’s problems to the North.

She added, “Each of us has issues we are talking about. Must people always refer to the north? Let us reassess how we will sit together properly and stop this victim mentality. I am from the Middle Belt and I have issues too.”

Meanwhile, a retired Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Godknows Igali, said it was important for Nigeria to examine why some countries went through war, like Nigeria’s Civil War, and they became stable afterwards. “Every country has a level of heterogeneity and diversity; so diversity is not an excuse for people’s inability to build states,” Igali added.

“In a federation and a diverse country like Nigeria, we must listen to one another. We must continue to build a constitution that accommodates everybody. A situation where some people feel superior to others or where some don’t feel protected by the Constitution creates a problem. All parts of the country must have a sense of belonging.”

He said one way to avoid another civil war was to build a society where people feel protected and cared for.

He added, “In the Scandinavian countries where I was once an ambassador, the society takes care of the people and over there, n0body is poor and nobody is too rich. But here, people are hungry and there are no jobs. The elite must be able to create an environment where people are able to live like others.” ,,

https://www.reubenabati.com.ng/index.php/component/k2/item/23658-nigerians-blame-northerners-for-their-problems-yakasai/post

"..In fact, if there are Nigerians that can be exonerated they are the people of the South-East and South-South; but the North and the South-West are responsible for our problems today under this regime.I said it right from the beginning that Buhari is not competent and therefore cannot lead.

Now, we are crying.It was our shortsightedness.People did not behave the way they are supposed to behaved when Buhari was looking for power..."

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/yakasai-to-nigerians-blame-southwest-north-for-your-sufferings/

So what lessons have they learnt in their inordinate quest to always dominate others? Getting the presidency or political power is absolutely nothing if it does not benefit you or the country.

Huh

That's it

I did not read to the end but as a patriotic citizen of this country, I join hands with other patriots to make it louder...the Northern part of Nigeria is the problem of Nigeria.
For instance, the religion they practice is far different from how it is practice where the religion originated from.
Alamajiri system exist only with northern Muslim in Nigeria.

All noise..

Status remain same.. Nigerians sabi talk.. they lack action

North not only produce more leader's but due to the fact it controls most federal apparatus it influence who becomes leader on other part

Someone like hope won't be governor of imo state if not for not

If APC had brought someone from ngwa in 2019 ikpeazu would have been voted out but they chose not to

Without north orji kalu won't be local government chairman even and we know the effect on abia

People like ararume won't even be known in is ward

So yes there is a need for people to blame the north but if anambra can pull out then others too can pull out

The north is really Bewitched,how can you tell me how a certain region will stay in power for more than 35 years and still be the poorest, undeveloped,high illiteracy rate.

Sometimes I do wonder is it not the same Islam the northern Nigeria and Saudi Arabia with United Arab Emirates practice.or is their own from Iran.

. . . he spoke well but actions speaks louder than words.

Yes o.

How is it that standards is so low in the north but high in the south yet quota system empowers the one who got to school with 20 as cut off mark to oversee agencies, boards, ministries, parasatals (what solution do you except from a cattle brain)


How is it that the north is the only region that has weaponized crime and is cashing out on the resources meant for the entire nation in the sham of fighting terrorism.


How is it that the north has had the luxury to rule more than any region cum given the freedom to do as it pleases even though like buhari (it displays gross incometence, nepotism etc)

But a southern man can never try half even if he wants to shake the system to revolutionize things.



How is it that north can never rise up against their own northern president even when he is a gross failure.

They support him with silence e.g during endsars and call criticism against buhari blasphemy.



How is it that we have a Sharia judge ruling our judiciary in a secular state, cum a member of Islamic nations.


How is it that kaduna and Kano are among the top seven highest oil money allocation states even before Calabar, Edo that produces oil


How is it that a quota refinery was built for kaduna in a desert


How is it that zamfara is keeping it's gold and getting money from Niger Delta


How is it that the boarder in Niger is so porus to receive terrorists and goods cum a railway to them but those in the south are closed


How many times have a southern become fct minister.

How many states in the North have Southern Dpo compared to the number of Northern Dpo's in south


How many police/army check point are in the North which is under Islamic jihad/kidnapping seige compared to checkpoints in south






I can go on



You cannot be enjoying freebies and quota system if you are not the ones the country is designed to favour.


You can not be asking not to be criticised when your quota system benefits is a clog in the wheel of this country.


If we stop quota system and this bambiallah approach to governance everyone would take care of it's turf

The North is the richest yet the poorest
What a life

The north is the problem of the north.

time will tell

They should just divide Nigeria

stupid excuse

Pissing in the wind

The north should lying to itself

The north is the problem of this country and a very big problem too. The north kept breeding almajiris who are the future terrorists. Soldiers fighting insurgents will tell you that the more you kill the terrorists, the more they reinforce. It look as if dem no dey finish . Go to the east and west, you will see Shuwa Arabs from the north begging . They are in our cities as beggers , infact any Shuwa Arab you see in the East is a begger, they breed like rabbits too and their children in turn become beggers, if you offer to sponsor any of these kids to school what you will get from the child and parents is a resounding no. Infact, ,98% of beggers in the east are northerners

Arrewa simplyleo Helinues Omenka yenefer How market?

DasaintHope:
Arrewa
simplyleo

Helinues
Omenka
yenefer
How market?

These ones...especially the baba MURIC called NGPatroit...?

Will be busy shoving #BuhariAirport and #BuahriRail in your face...shouting shildren of hate upanada...

Such greedy, selfish and conscious-less character are everywhere in Nigeria.

Shame.

The elderly fellow has said it as it should. Everybody should have a sense of belonging and everybody will be happy and patriotic...unlike those clowns who want you to be patriotic by FORCE

....In her remarks, a stalwart of the ruling All progressives Congress and wife of a former deputy governor of Kaduna State, Mrs Charity Shekari, said every region, including the North, had issues they were dealing with and that it was wrong to attribute the country’s problems to the North.

****************************

Then support restructuring like all other regions have agreed on restructuring.

The north gets much from the federation than the south that contributes more.

That is the major problem.

Redcrafton:
....In her remarks, a stalwart of the ruling All progressives Congress and wife of a former deputy governor of Kaduna State, Mrs Charity Shekari, said every region, including the North, had issues they were dealing with and that it was wrong to attribute the country’s problems to the North.

****************************

Then support restructuring like all other regions have agreed on restructuring.

The north gets much from the federation than the south that contributes more.

That is the major problem.

she is apc what do you except her to say?

I laugh when people say the south also have problems why face north (forgetting it is north every inch liability that is affecting south)

Let's look at security for example even USA have internal crime but it becomes a foolish act when citizens of a region are delibrately supporting criminals either by silence or direct collaboration as done in the north.

Boko Haram war is collaboration of terrorists and indegenes, the general security funds that should be used to fight genuine security concerns in the south is been wasted to fight a predetermined end less war.

The underfunding of security agents down south just to fund army/Boko Haram partnership is the reason why there is security lapses in the south as expressed by the suppressed police during endsars

And a northerner would open his gworo mouth to say crime is also in the south when the resources to fight that crime genuinely is been wasted on his regional deceitful jihad war

Nothing Nigerians no go hear from mumu northerners gworo mouth

NLPoliceWoman:

Justwise, Dominique, Mynd44, Seun.

mynd44 lalasticlala seun
Rule 1

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Lalasticlala