I must commend the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, for his views which came from a mindset of deep reflection and desire for positive change. However, the comments made by Professor Ango Abdullahi comes from a position of denial, outdated facts and belief.
What he pointed out as assets are land and population. Of what value are land and population if they are not put to good use? Like the Emir rightly pointed out, if females constitute 50 per cent of the northern population and these females are locked up in harems, of what use is this?
Talking about land, where are the groundnut pyramids and the cotton bales which were major exports and sources of foreign exchange?
The Emir was very specific about the geopolitical zones he was referring to: North-East and North-West. What revenue comes from those places?
The truth is that this is a wake-up call for the North to do away with cultural and religious extremism. Like they say, if you refuse to re-fire, you risk to expire.
Jide Awobiyi
jideawobiyi@yahoo.com
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