This unhealthy rwelationship is the main reason why the CONSTITUTION should be seriously reassessed and modified TO ALLOW COMPLETELY SEPARATE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SIX GEO-POLITICAL DIVISIONS of the country. This will allow COMPETITION AND HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF EACH ZONE and the PERSISTENT TRIBALISM IN THE POLITY WITH THE ACCOMPANYING CORRUPTION WILL EVENTUALLY DISAPPEAR. The politicians and the people should face the fact and act for the good and progress of the people of Nigeria and for humanity in general. NIGERIA AS IT IS NOW IS NOT WORKING AND, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION ALL THE FANTASTIC ADVANTAGES THE COUNTRY HAS THAT ARE BEING TURNED INTO DISADVANTAGES BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY POLITICAL SET-UP CAUSED MAINLY BY TRIBALISM IN THE POLITY, UNLESS AND UNTIL CORRECTIVE MEASURES ARE TAKEN, THE COUNTRY WILL CONTINUOUSLY DISGRASCEFULLY BE MOVING BACKWARD RELATIVE TO OTHER NATIONS IN THE WORLD. IT IS NICE THAT THE NORTHERN GOVERNORS ARE REALIZING THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY POLITICAL HEAVY FRICTION AND EVERYBODY SHOULD REALIZE THAT A SOLUTION IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

The relationship of the northern states of Nigeria to their southern counterpart have not only been parasitic but they (the northern states of Nigeria) have been responsible for the underdevelopment of Nigeria and all the problems the country has had since independence. This is because, among many other reasons, they have refused to work hard in almost every sphere of life. The practice of 'quota system' in Nigeria, guarantees them good placement in plum jobs as well ministerial/military appointments in Nigeria. As a result, they have killed the spirit of competition in Nigeria which has spurred many country to great heights technologically and academically. Northern Nigeria can never survive as an entity without the Southern part as things presently stand. They will need to change their lazy attitude to work and help move our nation forward.

I couldn't have said it better. Each part of the country needs to work hard towards the progress of Nigeria and though it may be a bitter pill to swallow for the northerners, most if not all development in the north has been at the expense of the south. I would advise the governors of the 19 northern states to take up the challenge and change the dependent status of their states.

For anybody to move forward in life, he must be able to tell himself the truth about his status, then try vigorously to solution it. Fact is that since independence, Nigeria has largely been (mis)ruled by Northerners. They brought Nepotism, Favouritism, unpatriotism and loothing (in the name of sharing the national cake)because they never realy beleived in the project of Nigeria. But it is also a fact that the myopic nature of these Northen rulers, have rather impoverished the North more, made the North more lazy and less pragmatic than their southern neighbours, made the North so backward in things like disease control, education and modernisation (as it is reported that the number of students that seek admission in Imo state higher institutions in one year is more than that of 14 northern states combined). And these northern rulers have ultimately made Nigeria a laughing stock in the committee of nations. Having told ourselves these truths, we all as Nigerians (North and South) should unite to root out Tribalism, favouritism and all the isms as the status quo has obviously not benefited the overwhelming majority of Nigerians, lesser still the Northerners themselves. I wish Yaradua reads these comments and stop filling up every post in his government with Northerners because it will only make the northerners lazier while the southerners become more pragmatic in fending for themselves. History is good when one learns the lessons inherent in it.But making the same mistakes over and over again means that we learn nothing !!!

the northern governors are just making noise. they are not talking from their hearts. it was only yesterday, that one of them was saying that it is their turn, to buy chevron shares in texaco, that the southwest bought the ones sold previously. i attacked the man by telling him that he is ignorant and non sensical. today they are coming with this crap. i challenge them to go develope their agriulture. by the way, the money voted to all the northern states, are being hijacked by their elites. the poverty being expirienced by their masses, are caused by their elites. they steal the money. i know a politician, from zamfara state, that brings a bag of money down to lagos, in millions to buy shares of blue chip ompanies. he sends this money through a banker at NDIC. this is money meant for the poor masses, and he grabs it for shares and the masses are suffering. when next i write, i will mention names, and if u find my information wrong,do not rely on my write ups. so the bottom line is that, the north is parasitic on the south and their poor masses misery, are caused by their rulers, who steal the monies. the south will soon go with their oil. watch and see. i tell u, nigeria cannot survive the next civil war. i am as usual, G.C.

It is true that most leaders of the northern states contrbute to the sufferring and poverty of their people BUT this does not qualify their southern counterparts to be regarded as saints or those who do not contribute to the crises in the niger delta..we do remember in nigeria that it is one of the governors of a rich oil state that looted his state's treasury and bought for himself properties and investments in another country far from Nigeria...He escaped from a manhunt by foreign agent_ dressed in a WOMAN'S cloth he came back to his state, where he was arrested...It was in the south that a former governor called for high profile exposure if arrested by the EFCC for allegedly looting his state's treasury to become the largest donor of a presidential campaign in Nigeria...So, there is neither a geopolitical zone nor a group that can claim to be full of saints...Nigeria is a Republic where all people from the different goepolitical zones contributed to it being a political UNITY....We as good citizens of OUR GREAT COUNTRY NIGERIA should act in unity rather than in disharmorny,acts of ethnocentrism or the South-North factor. United we should stand

Dr Aliyu says he feels unhappy when described as a parasite when he knows that he can do better through agriculture and education. That may be true. But the problem he may have (like many nigerian leaders) is not "not knowing what"(i.e. ignorance). The real problem is what he does with the knowledge he claims to have. Nigerian leaders are good at talking, making plausible public speeches: they speak intelligently but act foolishly. That is the problem. Dr. Aliyu will prove me wrong or prove himself different when he successfully carries out what he pretends to know. Good luck Mr. Governor.

I DONT BELIEVE IN THE NORTH and SOUTH DICOTOMY.NIGERIA NEEDS BOTH SIDES TO DEVELOPE.AFTER ALL THE NORTHERNERS SEND YAMS,AND COWS TO THE SOUTH.THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE NOT ADOPTED THE CORRECT PRINCIPLES OF FEDERALISM AS OBTAINS IN THE OLDER DEMOCRACIES LIKE THE USA.WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR ALLOCATION OF REVENUE POLICY,AND GIVE 49% TO THE STATE OF DERIVATION.THERE ARE ALSO MINERALS IN THE NORTH AND WHEN THEY START HARNESSING THEM THE SAME PRINCIPLE WILL BE APPLIED.