A respected northern elder, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed says the notion that the north is poor is a false narrative According to Baba-Ahmed, contrary to widespread insinuations, northern Nigeria is very rich and can survive on its own The comments of the spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum was in reaction to the ongoing debate concerning the Value Added Tax.
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum says the north is a rich region and can survive on its resources without support from southern Nigeria. Baba-Ahmed made the statement on Tuesday, September 21 when he featured on a programme aired on Arise TV. Baba-Ahmed is of the opinion that the north can survive on its own.
He was reacting to the recent tussle between southern states and the federal government on the collection of Value Added Tax, VAT.
South-south governor slams critics, faults those attacking him “We are a rich region and we can live on what we have, even if we don’t have the billions that accrue to other states. Our poverty is not a kind of problem that we would break this country over. “We need leaders, the current governors don’t recognise this. Otherwise, they won’t be involved in this argument; allow the court to decide.
“Agriculture is a major asset; we have land, we have water, we have livestock, we have minerals that are literally begging to be picked from the ground but our governors are too focused on the pittance that they are getting. This is wrong.”