‘Abolition of regionalism destroyed the North’ -Abubakar Habu Muazu

Abubakar Habu Muazu is a stalwart of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Gombe State and former Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the eight years of immediate past governor of the state, Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje. He speaks with ISHOLA MICHAEL on why the absence of truthful and selfless leadership is the bane of its progress.

Do you think Nigeria has been able to achieve the objectives of its founding fathers?

Thank God that Nigeria is 57-years-old and thanks to the founding fathers of the country that fought and gave all they had in ensuring that there is a country called Nigeria. Our founding fathers like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, Okotie Eboh and the rest really did well and bequeathed to us what is today known as Nigeria. Their objective was a common one, a united, strong and virile Nigeria; that was also what informed the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorate. For me, I will make bold to say that our founding fathers did well. Therefore, it is not out of place to say that the objectives have been achieved. At least, in spite of the ups and downs that we have faced as a country, Nigeria has remained one united entity, which is today the envy of many other nations of the world who are always surprised that despite our diversity, we have remained one and are relating as one.

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The dreams of the great Sardauna, Ahmadu Bello, was to establish a fully developed Northern Nigeria that could match any modern civilisation in the world. Have these dreams been realised?

The answer to this question is in two ways, and that is yes and no. Yes in the sense that Sardauna was able to break all the barriers of divisions among the entity that is today known as the North; he ensured that there were no religious differences among the people of the area, because he worked with everyone who was able and ready to work with him. Also, he built an economically strong North through agriculture; remember the Kano Groundnuts pyramid, the cotton farms, hide and skin factories and other agro-based institutions. Through the focus on agriculture he was able to build educational institutions like Barewa College, Ahmadu Bello University and many others.  No in the sense that now the area has been polarised along ethno-religious lines; brothers are now at arm’s length with each other, no more tolerance of one another and these have really set the North back. The major factor that broke the development of the North was the abolition of regions by the General Yakubu Gowon-led military regime, which instead broke the area into states, thereby creating differences among a once united area. Also, the discovery of oil relegated the agriculture sector to the background as every facet of the development is now focused on oil, every area wants oil to be explored within it so that it can make easy money. That was not the idea of Sardauna.

What do you think are the problems with Nigeria and do you think they can be overcome? 

The main problem with Nigeria is that of leadership, every leader now wants to become an emperor; he wants to build his own empire where he will be dictating what happens. This has really degenerated to the wanton killings and maiming all over the places. Honestly, dedication and commitment have eluded us and all we are always thinking of is the self, what good comes to the neighbour is no longer our collective concern. The only way out is for our leaders to go back and read the history books; learn and imbibe what our founding fathers did in spite of their ethno-religious and political differences they stood together, united in purpose and ensured that a virile Nigeria was built.  We need leaders who will be selfless, not corrupt, not sectional and not religious bigots but see themselves as first, Nigerians before any other thing.

With some European and Asian countries that Nigeria had economic advantage over in the 70s and early 80s now miles ahead, do you think the entity called Nigeria should be renegotiated by all ethnic partners to chart a better course for it?

Yes, the entity called Nigeria should be renegotiated by all ethnic partners so that we will be able to chart a better course for the development of Nigeria. All those who are agitating for the breakup of the country are not doing us any good, because what we need now is a country with a very strong economic base where resources will be allocated without any eyebrows raised. We need to go back to the basics, rediscover our missed link and start to rebuild from there. At 57 years, we should not be talking of breaking up, rather, we should be talking of how to solidify our existence and be able to compete with other economies of the world.