Why Northerners are most unlucky people in Nigeria – Yakasai

A founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum and elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, has decried the backwardness of northern Nigeria despite being in power more than any other geopolitical zone in Nigeria.

According to him, the north has produced more presidents in the country but the people remain the poorest and most unlucky.

Speaking on Thursday 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, he said the fractional tendencies in the country must be addressed.

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.”

He said, “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.”