Ango Abdullahi claims that southern Nigeria was developed by cashed raised in the old Northern Region

NORTHERN Elders Forum (Nef) spokesman and former Ahmadu Bello University vice chancellor Professor Ango Abdullahi has alleged that resources from the northern half of the country were used to develop other regions of Nigeria.

In a brazen statement which he refused to back up with any evidence or data, Professor Abdullahi said it was the money from the north that was used to construct Nigerian Railways, refineries and other facilities. Speaking in Zaria, he made the claim while berating people of southern Nigeria for saying the people of the north were cheating them in the area of resource control.

In addition, the former vice chancellor recalled that the tradition had remained since the colonial masters, the British left and nothing changed following their departure from Nigeria. Professor Abdullahi said: “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 Western and Eastern regions had the money to effectively run the affairs of its region until they got financial support from the Northern Region.

“First oil exploration was conducted using money from groundnut pyramids, cotton, hide and skin among other cash crops from northern Nigeria. However, these people tend to forget all these goodies provided by the north towards ensuring the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria and they always look down on us, feeling like northerners are parasites in this country.”