Northern elders say money from the region was used to develop Nigeria

This is following their statement supporting the call by some youths in the North, for Igbos to leave the region.

Speaking to Punch, the NEF spokesman, Prof. Ango Abdullahi said “First oil exploration was conducted using money from groundnut pyramid, cotton, hide and skin, among other cash crops from Northern Nigeria.

“However, these people tend to forget all these goodies provided by the North toward ensuring the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria.

“They always look down on us, feeling that Northerners are parasites in this country.”

Abdullahi also condemned some Governors from the North who disowned the CNY. He said easterners cannot live in the North and agitate for Nigeria to separate.

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He said “I am disappointed in the decision taken by Northern Governors’ Forum disowning and condemning the agitation by this young, agile and progressive youth groups.

“Let me ask these Northern governors, who are they representing, are they representing spirits, ghosts or people of the North?

“Recently, people from eastern part of this country, specifically Igbo, were busy calling for the Sovereign State of Biafra and from all indications, their leaders — including governors — are behind them.”

“These people always pretend that the North is cheating them, not minding the fact that Southern Nigeria was developed by resources from the North.

“Please, look for a book written by Adamu Fika, the Waziri of Fika, on Nigeria’s budget before and after Independence.

“Each year, up to the time Nigeria gained its Independence, none of the two regions was able to provide for itself.

“I mean, none of the Western and Eastern regions had the money to effectively run the affairs of its region until they got financial support from the Northern region,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohaneze-Ndigbo has commended Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state for ordering the arrest of those who asked Igbos to leave.