Kaduna — The governors of the 19 northern states declared yesterday that the region can survive on its own with or without proceeds from oil, maintaining that all they needed was to develop the agricultural sector.
They governors also debunked claims that the people of the North are parasites on other regions in the country, alleging, however, that the collapse of industries in the region was part of international conspiracy against the North.
Chairman of the Northern Governors' Forum (NGF) and governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, who stated this while speaking at the first northern agricultural summit held at the Arewa House, Kaduna, added that the north has the capacity to solve its problems and do better through agriculture and education.
But the Adamawa State Governor, Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako, lamented that it is shameful that the nation cannot feed its people despite its vast arable lands.
Both governors spoke against the backdrop of complaints from the people of the Niger Delta that northerners are parasites who depend on oil from the region to develop their areas at the expense of the oil-producing areas.
"The future of the north lies in our hands, and we should today begin to shape her destiny. As a Nigerian of Northern extraction, I feel very unhappy when someone describes me as a parasite because of oil, when I know I have the capacity to solve my problems, and probably do even better through agriculture and education," Dr. Aliyu said.
On what he described as de-industrialization of the North, Dr. Aliyu said that: "Most of the plants have been probably sold to Asians who in turn shut them down as a part of international conspiracy to turn the north into dumping grounds for their goods and products while our farmers fold their arms in hapless confusion.
"We need to examine the issues that led to de-industrialization of the north, whereby many of the northern industries have been closed down with attendant consequences for the social security of our people". For instance, we need to be very clear on why the two tractor assembly plants located at Kano (tractors) and Bauchi (Styre tractors) are today shut down, or why most of our textile factories are out of business. Our fertilizer plants are producing below installed capacity or have been shut down, thus making the commodity expensive and inaccessible. We must continue to find answers to the question: what went wrong?," he said.
In his speech, Nyako said that the time had come for "the North to wake up and correct the erroneous impression that we are seen as economic parasites."
According to Vice Admiral Nyako, "no nation has ever enjoyed lasting peace and stability, or could ever survive when only a few of its citizens wallow in wealth and affluence at par with the rich of other nations, while the rest of its citizens are entrapped in poverty," adding that, "the simple truth is that the above reality obtains more in the North than other parts of the country."
He also said: Available infrastructure is decaying by the day. The scope and quality of education in the North, including acquisition of basic skills are declining with amazing rapidity. Resulting from the above, the levels of poverty in the Northern states are reaching legendary dimensions...The plain reality is that poverty in Nigeria today is almost exclusively a Northern preserve."
In his address on the occasion, the minister of agriculture and water resources, Dr. Sayid Abba Ruma, said that the federal government would from next year stop the procurement and distribution of fertilizer to farmers.
Ruma said the government decided to take this step following the discovery that the subsidy input has not reflected in the prices at which fertilizer was being sold to farmers.
The minister also announced the government's plan to build agro-industrial parks in the six geo-political zones of the country with a view to further developing agriculture.
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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.
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