A civil rights activist and politician, Senator Shehu Sani has lambasted Northern leaders, accusing them of failing to boost the region’s socio-economic status.
Sani, who represented Kaduna central at the 8th Senate, however added that this is part of the reasons the Northerners need to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete eight years in office.
Senator Sani, who addressed newsmen at his residence, said the North had seen tremendous progress during just two years of Tinubu-led administration.
He said, “For those of us from this part (North) of the country, we appreciate the progress made so far by this present government and for those of them who had the opportunity to do better and they failed, we tell them that it is better they apologise for the wrong they have done to the people of the North.
“And for the masses of the North, they should not allow themselves to be incited against government that is doing far better than the one that came from their side; they should not be incited against the President who had supported our own for eight years in power. I have heard a lot of comments and remarks that are linked to tribal sentiments.”
Sani added that Northwest Nigeria has produced two presidents, who enjoyed full support from the Southwest, and it is time to return the favour.
“But let’s put it in a better perspective, the Northwest of the country has produced two Presidents since 1999. One was President Umar Musa Yar’Adua and the second was President Muhammadu Buhari. And in all these elections, the Southwest part of Nigeria had supported the North and never gave any serious challenge as long as the smooth running of President Buhari was concerned,” he said.
The former lawmaker stressed that it was only logical that the North allows the South to complete eight years in power.
He said, “If there should be another presidential candidate from the opposition, that candidate should be from the South West because that is equity, justice and that is fairness.
“Under the last administration, all heads of the security apparatus were from Northern extraction, they never stopped terrorism in the North, they never stopped banditry in the Northwest, they never stopped killings in Benue State, in Plateau, and most of the North central states.”
