Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, has alleged a deliberate plot from Lagos to marginalize the northern region of Nigeria.
Speaking at the convocation of Skyline University, Kano, on Saturday, Kwankwaso expressed concern over the numerous challenges confronting the North, including economic instability, insecurity, poverty, hunger, and diseases, which he said are harming the nation’s overall well-being.
Kwankwaso also pointed to Lagos as playing a role in the contentious issues surrounding the Emirates tussle in Kano. He emphasized the need for unity and fair treatment across the country to address the socio-economic and political challenges facing the North.
“Let me note our situation here in Kano and indeed the entire northern Nigeria. The emir is just being a stooge at this very difficult time, especially in this part of the country (northern Nigeria).
“Today, we can observe very clearly that there are persistent efforts from the Lagos axis to colonise this part of the country. Today, Lagos would not allow us to choose an emir; Lagos has to come to the centre of Kano to impose their choice emir,” he said.
Kwankwaso also expressed concerns over the handling of taxes, alleging attempts to divert revenue generated in Kano to Lagos.
“Today, we are aware that the Lagos young men are working so hard to impose taxes and take away our taxes from Kano and this part of the country to Lagos.
“Today, as we have noticed, even the telephones that we make or register here in Kano, efforts are there to take all the taxes to Lagos.
“Even our sons and daughters, who have brought factories, many of them here in Kano and northern Nigeria, and even banks, somehow, are forced to transfer their headquarters to Lagos because proceeds from taxes will now have to go to Lagos,” he stated.
The former Kano State governor emphasized the widening socio-economic gap, describing it as a dangerous trend.
“We have noticed the efforts of some people to make the poor poorer and the rich richer, and I do believe this is more dangerous,” he said.
He urged northern lawmakers to remain vigilant and ensure that the region is not marginalized.
“At this moment, I would like to call all our National Assembly members to keep their eyes open so that they don’t do anything that would marginalize the people of northern Nigeria, especially here in Kano.
“We are witnesses to what happened during the first term, 1999 to 2003, where our members of the National Assembly were bribed and were treated into collecting huge sums of money to support offshore in this country.
“That law dealt a huge blow to our economy not only here in northern Nigeria but all other states,” he remarked.
Kwankwaso’s comments followed his earlier criticism of the All Progressives Congress, where he accused the ruling party of losing focus amidst the hardships faced by Nigerians.
