Protest: ‘Time to tell the truth’- Governor exonerates Tinubu, knocks northern leaders over region’s woes
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has indicted leaders of Northern extraction who held positions within the last 15 years, alleging that they were responsible for the myriad of problems affecting the region.
The Governor who said he was also part of those to be blamed, spoke in an elaborate interview with the BBC Hausa Service monitored by our correspondent in Kaduna on Saturday.
Speaking on the ongoing nationwide protest that turned violent in some states last Thursday, Senator Uba Sani said “We in Kaduna, even before the protest began, we met together with stakeholders which comprised of community leaders, religious leaders youth groups, students, and businessmen.”
“We deliberated and told the people that we were not stopping them from embarking on the protest, we were just calling on the people to ensure that the protest was done peacefully. That’s the reason why even when the people came out, we told the security operatives to tread with caution and make sure the protest was done peacefully devoid of any rancour.”
“But unfortunately, during the protest some people bent on formenting trouble, or thieves,came out and attacked two offices and the house of a lady where they stole.They also tried to fight with the police operatives. What they did, to me, was very unfortunate because when people come out to protest so that things could be rectified, it would not be proper for those who had strived to get things for themselves,to fall victim of vandals.”
“That’s the reason we’ve been calling on those who initiated the protest,to make themselves known and lead the protest. For instance,I Malam Uba Sani, if you could recall during the military era, I was among those who fought for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria, who came out on protest. At that time if we organise a protest we used to come out , ourselves. But now, there’s no one leading the protest, or even an explanation that would convince the people,” he said.
When the Governor was reminded that perhaps the protest leaders were hiding their identity for fear of being harassed by security operatives, Governor Uba Sani said ” we that came out and led the protest then, we were arrested. We never allowed the youths and other members of the public who participated in protests with us to be arrested. We were the ones that were arrested.”
” If you’re calling for a protest, you that is spearheading should come out.They have been talking on the social media, but they were not there during the protest. If they had been around, it would’ve been better because, at least, they would’ve cautioned the youths who burgled people’s shops and looted.But they did not come out.Their children did not.It’s the children of the poor that came out during the protest. I think that’s not proper.”
On the clash between security operatives and the protesters near the Government House Kaduna in which some youths were either killed or injured, the Governor said there was no single death in Kaduna.
” When we got the report that a security operative was stoned who fell and was hospitalised,we told the security operatives not to touch anybody. But by law, if a policeman is stoned, tear gas would be used and that’s what is done globally, even in America, in all democratic nations. It’s either they use tear gas or deploy the water spraying vehicle. That’s how it’s done all over the world during protest, when shops are burgled and there’s a looting spree.Or when government buildings are attacked, that’s what the law provides globally.”
On what he feels may happen if the protest extends to 10 days as already planned by the protesters, Uba Sani said “if you look at the situation in Kaduna for instance, nobody came forward and said anything, they were just little children and some few town dwellers who came out and caused destruction. I thank Allah, even though in Kaduna they went and caused destruction in 2 government agencies,although we were not happy, but my fear is I wouldn’t like the shops of innocent traders to be attacked.These are people who have been in business for long.”
“Look at what happened in other Nigerian states, they did not come out to protest, some states in the South.But look at ours that came out, they went and caused destruction, which will affect the economic well-being of our people in businesses who also are affected by the prevailing harsh economic situation.”
” So this is sad and that is why we’ve been saying that it shouldn’t be just calling for protest but those big men who spearheaded the protest should avail themselves and lead the protest. Perhaps they could have been able to caution these children and avert the destruction in states like Kano, Niger and others. “
The Governor said unlike in other states were curfew was imposed, they never thought of imposing curfew on Kaduna State.
“We are grateful to Almighty Allah because in Kaduna, at 3pm the protest ended.I never thought of declaring curfew,this is because, if because of some trouble makers a business person closes his business, do you know how much would be lost , some it’s when they do their business daily before they could eat at home? And you ask such to close shop?That’s the reason why we prayed to Almighty Allah and He made it possible that the protest didn’t take long in Kaduna.”
“We told the security operatives to tread with caution and not to touch anyone. Those children, they don’t even know what’s in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Believe me, they don’t know.So therefore, you don’t pass judgement on somebody on what he does not know.”
Commenting on the 20 trucks of rice allocated to states for onward distribution to the poor, Governor Uba Sani said since their coming to power, they had distributed up to 100 trucks of rice in Kaduna.
” In the next one week, we are going to distribute 500 trucks of fertiliser free, to farmers .We don’t wait for the Federal Government to give us, our policy in Kaduna is to give priority attention to farmers and the rural poor so as to alleviate the economic hardship. “
” But I would like to tell you that these problems bedeviling the nation particularly in the North,what actually caused it?Today if you look at Nigeria 70% of those in the North are in poverty. If you look at 65% of our people in the North,they don’t even have bank account. In 18 million out of school children, over 14 million are in the North. “
Asked whether it was the failure of leadership on their part, the Governor said “It’s not but also, its lack of synergy and working in unison. “
“We leaders should check our conscience , tell ourselves the truth and stop deceiving the poor.The problem lies with us.The problem of poverty and educational backwardness disturbing Northern Nigeria, we have the capability to rectify it ten years ago, 15 years ago but we’ve not done that.”
“Today, we are shedding tears.Why..in the South it’s only 30% that are having such problem and 70% in the North with such problem.”
” Were we not opportuned to lead Nigeria?Haven’t we held important positions in Nigeria? So , therefore whoever held any position 15 years ago in Northern Nigeria, should stop deceiving people, we should tell each other the truth. We should sit down, it’s not late, we could still make amends.”
” But many of them;once they are done with leadership and returned home, they would be deceiving the masses.”
When reminded whether it’s due to those anomalies that people went on protest,he insisted that those instigating the protest should come out and tell people the truth.
” Fifteen years ago if you go to the Birnin-Gwari forest,Zamfara or Niger,Katsina, there was nothing like kidnapping or banditry in the Northwest.We only had Boko Haram in the Northeast. “
” What led to that? It’s from 2017 that we became enmeshed. Why didn’t we sit down?Tell ourselves the truth..we had government then,our leaders were in government. Is it now that we would be crying? Time has not elapsed.Things could be rectified. “
“We must say the truth.I told you I was an activist in Nigeria and when I challenged the military government, I was arrested and incarcerated 4 times.I know it; but the day we take our bath, we can’t hide our umbilical cord.Why can’t we tell each other the truth?”
“This is not a single person’s fault, it’s not the incumbent government’s fault either.I told you whoever in the North held a position,from Local Government Chairman, House members in the state or federal, Senator, minister or Governor,Vice President or President of Northern extraction,in the last 15 years, we are all guilty. “
He however, appealed to the aggrieved youths and the entire Northerners to be patient.
” As I’ve said, we must admit there is a problem. We must agree things have to be rectified,it’s imperative that we unite and agree to rectify these anomalies. Unless that is done, the problems in the North would not end.I have to say it.But it would not be fair for any leader, to sit aside and heap the blame on someone.”
” I’ve always said that we should stop telling the youths it’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu that caused these problems.Even before Bola Ahmed Tinubu becomes the President of Nigeria,these problems I have enumerated , the North is in poverty.”
He said the problem was beyond the Northern Governors alone to solve, but required the coming together of Ministers past and present of Northern extraction, Senators and all stakeholders from the North to sit and genuinely chart the right way forward for the region.
