Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, a founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum has said other regions in the country have formed the habit of blaming the north for their challenges when the North has the most number of poor people.
The elder statesman said that the North had varied challenges despite producing more leaders compared to the South.
This was contained in his speech at an online conference monitored by The Punch, 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.
Some southern leaders have alleged that the North plans to dominate leadership positions and accord other regions second-class citizens status.
The North on the other hand though having been in power more than the South, is said to have a higher number of out-of-school children, higher poverty and illiteracy rates, especially with the Almajiri system.
Responding to claims by Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and leader of the 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.”
Yakasai added that though the Nigerian Civil War ended over 50 years ago, the mistrust among major sub-regional groups remained a threat to the democratic process.
He added, “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.”