Former federal lawmaker Shehu Sani has called on the Northern region not to abandon President Bola Tinubu’s government, urging them to stand by the administration despite growing opposition.
Sani emphasized that the North should not leave the government to those who did not vote for it.
He also encouraged the region to support positive reforms being implemented by the Tinubu administration, particularly those related to tax reforms.
Sani’s comments come in the wake of opposition from the North regarding the tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly.
The bills, initiated by Tinubu’s government, have sparked criticism across various regions of Nigeria.
Some have claimed that the reforms disproportionately target the northern part of the country, while others argue that they could place a heavy burden on Nigerians.
Despite the controversy, Sani highlighted the North’s natural wealth, asserting that no other region in the country is as resource-rich. He pointed out that the North covers 65% of Nigeria’s total landmass and is home to nearly 70% of the country’s rivers. Sani also noted the region’s capacity to grow crops like cotton and sugarcane, and its vast untapped natural resources.
Sani questioned whether the North should continue to depend on external help or take control of its own future. He stressed that the region’s dignity, reputation, and future depend on its ability to sustain itself, urging Northern leaders to take responsibility for the government’s success.
He further reminded the region that it played a crucial role in bringing Tinubu’s government to power and should not antagonize a government that it helped establish. Sani pointed out that many key government positions, including the Minister of Education, Chief of Defence, and Minister of Agriculture, are held by individuals from the North, reflecting the region’s influence in the administration.
He said: “There’s no part of the country that’s so blessed like the northern part of the country. We cover about 65% percent of the total landmass in Nigeria.
“Out of the nation’s 235 rivers, almost 70 percent are located in the northern part of Nigeria. Some nations rely on cotton, we are blessed to grow cotton.
“Some nations rely on sugarcane we are blessed with growing sugarcane. We are sleeping on a gold mine. There’s no natural resources that is found in all part of the world that’s not within the ground level of our soil here in the north.
“So, the question is: do you continue to rely, depend on salvation from others. Your reputation, your dignity, your future, and respect for your yourself is dependent on your ability to provide sustenance for yourself.
“If I’m not mistaken, this is a government the North brought into office. So why should you antagonize a baby that you delivered?
“You should not leave this government to others who did not vote for it. It’s your that used your tongue and brought them to office.
“Your demands should be on issues that on the table. Until now you have the Minister of Education. The Chief of Defence is always from here. The Minister of Commerce of Information is from here, National Security Advisor is from here, Minister of Agriculture is from here, Minister of Defence is from here.
‘All the key positions being given by government are people from this part of country.”
