Central Bank (CBN) Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has blamed northern elites and their leaders for the crippling poverty ravaging the northern states, just as the Minister for Special Duties, Elder Godsday Orubebe, said that the problem in the Niger Delta should be blamed on lack of political will on the part of past leaders.

Prof Soludo, who spoke while delivering a lecture entitled "Banking Reforms in Nigeria" at the 2008 Arewa Inspirational Leadership award in Kaduna yesterday said that with the level of affluence in the north, the region has no reason to lag behind other parts of the country in terms of developmental efforts.

He said that the lack of interest displayed by northern elites towards the socio-economic development of the region is largely responsible for the "crippling poverty" and acute under development in the area.

The CBN governor, whose utterances drew loud applause from the audience at the lecture, argued that this lackadaisical attitude of the Northern elites and their lack of interest towards investing in viable economic ventures is responsible for the region trailing others in almost every aspect of life.

He said Nigeria has become a Northern phenomenon as each of the 19 states in the region exhibited incidences of poverty ranging between 60 and 95 percent, adding that the crippling poverty in the region had assumed the dimension of a national crisis just like the problems in the oil-rich but troubled Niger Delta region.

He stressed that only an inclusive developmental process in which the North could compete favourably with the other parts of the country on the same pedestal would ensure that Nigeria realized its dream of being part of the 20 largest economies in the world by the year 2020.

http://www.thenationonlineng.com/dynamicpage.asp?id=56397


Men I think this guy has some guts, saying such things in KD, before Northern elites themselves.

We need more people with guts that are well informed and can say it as it is.

I like him a lot.

truly said
he should have even put some blame on his boss the president

To be frank , Alhaji Musa Yaradua and his 7 point agenda is bullshit

Soludo was simply quoted out of context

He said the troubling rate of poverty is more evident in the North, he was never trying to be bold or to antagonise any leaders or elites whether North or South.

This is nothing but a view of point; based on what he (Soludo) knows and sees.
I do not see anything wrong with this statement.
It is now up to the northerners to stand together and positively address this situation.

Not a big deal at-all.

We need more people with guts that are well informed and can say it as it is.

I like him a lot.

Ditto.

This is nothing but a view of point; based on what he (Soludo) knows and sees.
I do not see anything wrong with this statement.
It is now up to the northerners to stand together and positively address this situation.

Not a big deal at-all.

Some may find it offensive and to be frank, he's really trying their angst knowing how inflammable the northerners can be.

He needed guts to tell them what more than half of the northerners already know to be true?? lol

He needed guts to tell them what more than half of the northerners already know to be true?? lol

I'm not sure if anything is funny about this new development and certainly there is no need to offend anyone.
This childish behaviour you continue to exhibit on a regular makes folks to call you out on a daily basis.

Again, my friend, you need to grow up quick!

DeepZone:

Some may find it offensive and to be frank, he's really trying their angst knowing how inflammable the northerners can be.

Why should we care how inflammable the northerners are? I mean should we continue to walk on shells for them?? For how long? When do we start dealing with them the right way instead of giving them so much lee way?

I still do not understand why telling them what most of Nigeria already knows requires gutso!! After so many decades of knowing this to be fact?? come on ,  LMAO!!

LOL, the responses on this thread are quite amusing, talk about terrorised citizens. Is everyone now so scared of the north and of offending the north that saying it as it is and has being becomes an act of bravado? If this was bravado then what would have been the normal way of telling the north anything that might be seen as "offensive" (which is basically everything) ? Via e-mail from a hidden account while we hide behind the couch hoping that the north does not throw another tantrum? Perhaps paraphrase and bend the truth a little with the use of well known cliches "the problem is not you really, its me", LOL, talk about a hostage situation, sorry but i find this quite amusing.

Soludo was just describing a symptom of an illness, he was not making a diagnosis, and he was not even recommending treatment. When the north forces unrealistic changes in our national politics, such as falsefication of census results, adopting the principle of land mass as being more important than population densities, the result is that there are unjustly more numerous states, and local governments in the arid north depending on resources from the densly populated south. You can produce census figures that show desert Kano as the most populous state in the nation, but you can't produce birth, school, hospital, and now economic data to back up your figure. Here's a part of what the CBN gov. said:

I’ve said this because if you look at the entire country, by the last census, if you put the entire North together, it constitutes over 50 per cent or thereabout, a higher percentage of people because development is about people.

He was speaking about poverty.

I disagree with the Soludo, because his figures were taken from a false, and laughable census. While the north undoubtly has more land mass than the east or west, I doubt that the entire north is more populous than the entire eastern Nigeria for example. Even if you don't understand satellite imaging for census, you can appreciate how sparsly populated the north really is by driving around the region.
Have you ever wondered why northern politicians object to issuance of social security numbers or other enumerative measures that would have backed up stipulated census figures?

[b]Have you ever wondered why northern politicians object to issuance of social security numb[/b]ers or other enumerative measures that would have backed up stipulated census figures?

Because it'll prevent their brothers from Chad and Niger from collecting regular allowance from the Nigerian government.

Why should we care how inflammable the northerners are? I mean should we continue to walk on shells for them?? For how long? When do we start dealing with them the right way instead of giving them so much lee way?

I still do not understand why telling them what most of Nigeria already knows requires gutso!! After so many decades of knowing this to be fact?? come on , LMAO!!

Same reason why we walk on shells for homosexuals in America; Same reason why Is'lam is discussed in nairaland with caution; Same reason why the German government treats the average Jew with caution; Same reason why the white folks walk on shells in their own fatherland with respect to colored people because they don't want to be branded a racist.

Even Gen. Danjuma has made similar statements in the past. Soludo is just re-echoing well known facts.

Even Gen. Danjuma has made similar statements in the past. Soludo is just re-echoing well known facts

Danjuma is better immune to say such a thing than Soludo because he's a southerner. It's like the Don Imus story, do you think black people would've made so much fuss about it if Don is black?


Again, do you remember when Shehu Shagari told Obasanjo to focus his presidency on bridging the gap between the north and south with respect to poverty and illiteracy. She claimed that the North has an average of 11% literacy rate , west has 60% while the east has 58% andObasanjo asked him whether he didn't know that all these while the Northerners has been in power.

That goes to show that no matter how much you steal, there is nothing like creating wealth because it transcends everything. The northern chronic power only paved way for a few northern elite to get a better life while they throw crumbs at their gazillion brothers that live in penury.

Same reason why we walk on shells for homosexuals in America;.

We do?? You mean with the many polls showing how majority of Americans are not comfortable with that ,and the many hate crimes against them, Americans walk on shells for homosexuals? You mean the push by the homosexual society for marriage that continues to be blocked in most all states is America being cautious around them? Don't believe all you hear on the news. Let's keep going,

Same reason why Is'lam is discussed in nairaland  with caution; .

The Ownership of Nairaland does not speak for all persons last I check. Infact, I can comfortably say, I share next to nothing in common with Nairaland admin, that does not mean that sort of cautious approach is shared by all who patronize the place. One person's issues does not sum it up for ALL.

Same reason why the German government treats the average Jew with caution;.

I doubt that is the case judging from what I have read and seen. There is a huge difference between the case of the Germans and the Jews and what we have in Nigeria. What we have in Nigeria is a case of some in the south being too cowardly to actually deal with the north as they would with each other down south. Fear is not the relationship between the Germans and the Jews. I would say it has a hint of shame to it but not fear for the jews. Completely different situations here.

Same reason why the white folks walk on shells in their own fatherland with respect to colored people because they don't want to be branded a racist.

Well,  majority of white people do it out of shame and also some do it so as not to be branded racists. Now this is close.

But I am sorry, they are not to be measured or seen the same way.  I mean should we continue to cower to the north because some whites are afraid of telling the truth out of fear of being branded racist?? Is that the connection we should try make to make in our minds each time we are faced with telling the northerners the obvious truth, as reason not to??

I mean if you posted all this so we can all comfortably say It is ok not to tell the truth out of fear of the northerners: fear that is, maybe, justified by the fact that some whites avoid telling the truth out of fear of being labelled racists, please go ahead and let me know now. So I can feel better next time I decide to trade integrity for fragility when I face northerners.

DeepZone:

Danjuma is better immune to say such a thing than Soludo because he's a southerner. It's like the Don Imus story, do you think black people would've made so much fuss about it if Don is black?

I think you meant Northerner.

Yes, I get your point, but I don't think telling Northerners they are poorer than southerners and their elites need to do something
about it would get them offended. I really don't think it's offensive.

It's not like it was disrespectful or anything like that.

Again, this shouldn't be taken negatively; it is what it is. Sometime it takes an outsider to deliver a profound message. It is now up to the northerners to wake up and start cleaning up; it is never too late.

But to think about it, the symptom of poverty in the north is not much different from the one in the south or west or east. Of course, the levels may not be similar, but the dots are pretty much the same and well connected to the same root.

The same message should also be sent to Niger Delta and many other areas as well.

No disrespect to Soludo, he's only revealing his point of view and he gets my kudos for having the balls to do so in KD; but doesn't it sound silly when a homeless man teases a jobless man for not having a job?

We do?? You mean with the many polls showing how majority of Americans are not comfortable with that ,and the many hate crimes against them, Americans walk on shells for homosexuals? You mean the push by the homosexual society for marriage that continues to be blocked in most all states is America being cautious around them? Don't believe all you hear on the news. Let's keep going,

The media and the govt has been wary of homosexuals for long now. They are considered as the oppressed in the society and much attention is given to them now more than the colored people.



Quote

Same reason why the German government treats the average Jew with caution;.
I doubt that is the case judging from what I have read and seen. There is a huge difference between the case of the Germans and the Jews and what we have in Nigeria. What we have in Nigeria is a case of some in the south being too cowardly to actually deal with the north as they would with each other down south. Fear is not the relationship between the Germans and the Jews. I would say it has a hint of shame to it but not fear for the jews. Completely different situations here.

Shame or fear, both parties i.e Germany and Southern Nigeria walk on the same pedestal because these northerners are not only volatile but are wired to believe the only thing they have against the southerners is political power. Don't stage a fight with somebody on the ground already because either way, you'll lose.

Well, majority of white people do it out of shame and also some do it so as not to be branded racists. Now this is close.

But I am sorry, they are not to be measured or seen the same way. I mean should we continue to cower to the north because some whites are afraid of telling the truth out of fear of being branded racist?? Is that the connection we should try make to make in our minds each time we are faced with telling the northerners the obvious truth, as reason not to??

I mean if you posted all this so we can all comfortably say It is ok not to tell the truth out of fear of the northerners: fear that is, maybe, justified by the fact that some whites avoid telling the truth out of fear of being labelled racists, please go ahead and let me know now. So I can feel better next time I decide to trade integrity for fragility when I face northerners.

I never said it's okay not to say the truth, rather, for peace's sake, we need to be careful on how we deliver the truth and I strongly advise we adopt a diplomatic way of delivering that truth so that the parties involved will accept it without any mixed feelings. Common, these are the same guys that went on ibo killing spree just because there was an anti islamic cartoon in Denmark.

But to think about it, the symptom of poverty in the north is not much different from the one in the south or west or east. Of course, the levels may not be similar, but the dots are pretty much the same and well connected to the same root.

Please!!! you cannot compare the western poverty with that of Northen Nigeria(let me not speak for other regions). Have you been there before?

Yes, I get your point, but I don't think telling Northerners they are poorer than southerners and their elites need to do something
about it would get them offended. I really don't think it's offensive.

Me too; It's not offensive to me but it's a pity that the northern mindset may not follow our school of thought. Violence is a bitch!

I hate it when people try to bring up the west to use as excuse for unconnected cases so I am not even going to touch the first part of your post in hopes that you will not continue to offer me the same old lame defense argument many continue to throw around in here as solution to all issues. I will not even ask you if you are in any way related to @Madamkoko,  lol

I never said it's okay not to say the truth, rather, for peace's sake, we need to be careful on how we deliver the truth and I strongly advise we adopt a diplomatic way of delivering that truth so that the parties involved will accept it without any mixed feelings.  Common, these are the same guys that went on ibo killing spree just because there was an anti islamic cartoon in Denmark.

Interesting point of view there. Are you then proposing that when ibos get killed up north, even when there are no cartoons from denmark, Or when someone sneezes,  instead of going after the killers and making sure they are prosecuted, we should try diplomacy with the killers?  So, each time the northerners throw a tantrum, we should cower? You are essentially saying the same exact thing. Instead of us pushing to make sure they understand they can not continue to do such, we should continue to have two separate laws in the same country : one for northerners and another for southerners?

Guys this is not about anybody being afriad of anybody

Soludo has been under attack from all those who want to oust him by all means merely because he is doing his job right. Now that they are having difficulties beating him down professionally, they have resolved to misconstrue what Soludo said that was rather an honest economic statement to have ethinic connotations.

And unfortunately people are simply fanning the flames that makes this cladenstine objective worthwhile. The current administration is a northern administration. Pitting Soludo against the North might just be very effective at removing him from office, this is what this is all about.

McKren:

Guys this is not about anybody being afriad of anybody

Soludo has been under attack from all those who want to oust him by all means merely because he is doing his job right. Now that they are having difficulties beating him down professionally, they have resolved to misconstrue what Soludo said that was rather an honest economic statement to have ethinic connotations.

And unfortunately people are simply fanning the flames that makes this cladenstine objective worthwhile. The current administration is a northern administration. Pitting Soludo against the North might just be very effective at removing him from office, this is what this is all about.

what's the point of taking it to this level? Is Soludo beyond criticism?
people especially policy makers get criticised for crucial but unpopular policies
and they sometimes get it wrong, people-south and north grumbled when he introduced
the bank consolidation and other policies

He made an honest statement- every school boy in nigeria know and see daily
the media should report it whatever way they feel perhaps those governors will sit up!

Soludo only stated the obvious. The northern leaders applauded his analysis. If the north does not walk on shells while making comments on the N Delta crisis, why should the south mince words in stating its views. Please don't fan a flame that is not there.

McKren:

Guys this is not about anybody being afriad of anybody

Soludo has been under attack from all those who want to oust him by all means merely because he is doing his job right. Now that they are having difficulties beating him down professionally, they have resolved to misconstrue what Soludo said that was rather an honest economic statement to have ethinic connotations.

And unfortunately people are simply fanning the flames that makes this cladenstine objective worthwhile. The current administration is a northern administration. Pitting Soludo against the North might just be very effective at removing him from office, this is what this is all about.

I don't think that was the motive of the report, but the way the nation is going today is unfortunate.
Today's leadership of the nation is disheartening or how can you explain our out put as a nation when
compared to the number of intellectual the nation has produced.

On Soludo his major sins against the North are: Bank Consolidation, Removal of Arabic on our currency
and replacing it with local languages. These I think were job related are for over all national interest.

This is the full text of the publication emphasis on the part not included earlier

Central Bank (CBN) Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has blamed northern elites and their leaders for the crippling poverty ravaging the northern states, just as the Minister for Special Duties, Elder Godsday Orubebe, said that the problem in the Niger Delta should be blamed on lack of political will on the part of past leaders.
Prof Soludo, who spoke while delivering a lecture entitled "Banking Reforms in Nigeria" at the 2008 Arewa Inspirational Leadership award in Kaduna yesterday said that with the level of affluence in the north, the region has no reason to lag behind other parts of the country in terms of developmental efforts.

He said that the lack of interest displayed by northern elites towards the socio-economic development of the region is largely responsible for the "crippling poverty" and acute under development in the area.

The CBN governor, whose utterances drew loud applause from the audience at the lecture, argued that this lackadaisical attitude of the Northern elites and their lack of interest towards investing in viable economic ventures is responsible for the region trailing others in almost every aspect of life.

He said Nigeria has become a Northern phenomenon as each of the 19 states in the region exhibited incidences of poverty ranging between 60 and 95 percent, adding that the crippling poverty in the region had assumed the dimension of a national crisis just like the problems in the oil-rich but troubled Niger Delta region.

He stressed that only an inclusive developmental process in which the North could compete favourably with the other parts of the country on the same pedestal would ensure that Nigeria realized its dream of being part of the 20 largest economies in the world by the year 2020.

While urging Northern elites to pick up the challenge by striving to bring the region to same level of development with other parts of the country, he also asked them to pull resources together to enhance development in the north.

"You’ll realize that I have not talked about banking sector but just one last word on that. I will not talk about the universal, national or global bank. Within this hall, I can see some members of the elite from the North and I throw this as a challenge.

"The poverty in your respective villages, what have you done about it? How many micro-finance banks have you set up in your states? Don’t say it’s N25billion, it’s just N20million.

"With N20million, you set up one microfinance bank and this can empower hundreds of people within your community. What I do say to people when they approach me and talk about banks, I ask the person, first do you have a microfinance bank in your village? N20million is all it takes.

"You mobilize other people around, not only one person. But if you want to set it up alone, you can. I know there are people who can bring say about one billion naira and set up microfinance banks with branches throughout the state.

. "But if you put together about 12 to 15 states in the North, they are not up to a number that you find in one state in the South. There is something that is in that for you the elite.

"We must take the issue of poverty reduction very seriously. Government can only do little but the bulk of it remains with the rest of us, the elites.

"There is probably no better time for us to declare, if you like, I don’t want to call it an emergency, but to say that we really need to focus attention on the Northern economy.

"I’ve said this because if you look at the entire country, by the last census, if you put the entire North together, it constitutes over 50 per cent or thereabout, a higher percentage of people because development is about people.


"But if you look at all the indications of development, what constitutes today the North seems to be lagging far behind that the gaps seem to have even widened.

"I have also listened to the presentation on the Niger Delta which is a major national challenge but permit me to argue that crippling poverty in the North is as much a national crisis as that of the Niger Delta.," Soludo said

In his remarks, the Minister of Special Duties, Elder Godsday Orubebe blame the nation’s past leaders for the rising crisis in the Niger Delta.

He said the current crisis in the Niger Delta got to the worsening level it was now due to the lack of political will on the part of the past leadership of the country to frontally tackle the problem and address the agitations of the people of the area.

Also speaking, former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu wants more allocation to Lagos state from the federation account, as the most populated state in the country to enable her cope with the challenges imposed on it by such a situation.

Executive Director of the Northern Development Initiative (NDI) organisers of the lecture, Abdul Ahmed Isiaq said that it purpose for organizing the lecture/ awards was "informed by a deep sense of history, a balance view of the present and a clear perspective of what the future ought to be."

Soludo should also take the rest of the summer off to travel around the country.
This message is not only to be delivered to the northerners in the country. In order for his message to be conclusive and effective, he also needs to deliver the same message in the east, south and west.

I don't care how you see it, but it is obvious that the dots are connected and absolutely from the same root. What is affecting north is also affecting south, west and east.

I predict that more of this message will be delivered all around the country. Every part of Nigeria needs it, not only the northern part.

Again, I have no beef with Soludo; he has done what is right.

I'm sure that very soon another fellow from the northern part of Nigeria will visit Ibadan to deliver the same type of message; and it would probably have the same effect.
The content of this message suits well no matter where it is delivered as long as it is being delivered in Nigeria.

Therefore, the messenger shouldn't matter as much as the content of the message itself.

You will be blind and a fool to feel good about yourself just because you're not from the northern part of Nigeria and the message isn't directly connected to you.

Regardless of which part of Nigeria you come from, I'm sorry to inform you that we are all on the same boat.