South is prosperous, North in poverty – Shettima

Northern governors say they are working hard to restore and revive the legacies left behind by the late Premier of the North, Sir Ahmadu Bello.

Speaking during 50th anniversary of the Bello’s demise, Chairman, Northern State Governors Forum and Borno helmsman, Kashim Shettima, said the present day leaders of the north would build on the legacies the late Sardauna left behind and work on how to create jobs for the millions of people.

“Unemployment in the north is extremely high. Nigeria is a country of two nations, the South is much more stable and prosperous, the north on the other hand is in a poverty trap. In Nigeria, poverty wears a northern cap, if you are looking for a poor man, get somebody wearing a northern cap,” he said.

“Sardauna was a leader of his own generation and every generation comes up with its own style of leader. Sardauna did remarkably well for the North and for the nation; our duty, especially for those of us in the North is in our interest to invest in the people.

“Nigeria’s population will double in the next 23 years. By 2020, Nigeria’s population will be around 210 million. By 2030, there will be about 270million Nigerians and by 2050, when old men like me might not be around, the population will be around 440million.

“By then, we will be the third most populous nation on earth and most importantly, 70% of the population will be living in Northern Nigeria. Deforestation, desertification, joblessness, hopelessness, illiteracy, unemployment, low access to health facilities are all recipies for disaster.

“It is in our enlightened self interest as northern leaders to invest in the people, to invest in agriculture, to create jobs because, there is a direct correlation with endemic poverty and most of the crisis threatening the north,” he said.