>
> We're all victims of colonization
> –Sanusi
> By DURO ADESEKO
> Friday, November 20, 2009
>
>
> ...Sanusi faults Olaniwun Ajayi on
> Northern domination
>
>
> The Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,
> surprised guests present at the Musom Centre for the
> launching of the book of Sir Lanihun Ajayi at the MusoN
> Centre in Lagos.
>
> The book titled: "Nigeria, Africa's failed
> asset?" attracted many important dignitaries,
> intellectuals and some governors.
> The argument by discussants centered on whether or
> not the colonial masters laid the foundation for the
> problems Nigeria is currently facing. Many argued that the
> British loved the North and that was why it gave more than
> 5o percent of the National Assembly seats to the North at
> independence.
>
> Sanusi, however, stole the show when he spoke. His
> speech was anchored on the plank that the British and
> Nigerian rulers are responsible for the state of the
> situation Nigeria finds itself today.
> Below is his unedited speech.
>
> "Let me start by saying that I am Fulani
> (laughter). My grandfather was an Emir and therefore I
> represent all that has been talked about this afternoon. Sir
> Ajayi has written a book. And like all Nigerians of his
> generation, he has written in the language of his
> generation.
>
> "My grandfather was a Northerner, I am a
> Nigerian. The problem with this country is that in 2009, we
> speak in the language of 1953. Sir Olaniwun can be forgiven
> for the way he spoke, but I can not forgive people of my
> generation speaking in that language.
>
> "Let us go into this issue because there are so
> many myths that are being bandied around.
> Before colonialism, there was nothing like
> Northern Nigeria. Before the Sokoto Jihad, there was nothing
> like the Sokoto caliphate. The man from Kano regard himself
> as Abakani. The man from Zaria was Abazasage. The man from
> Katsina was Abakani. The kingdoms were at war with each
> other. They were Hausas, they were Muslims, they were
> killing each other.
>
> "The Yoruba were Ijebu, Owo, Ijesha, Akoko,
> Egba. When did they become one? When did the North become
> one? You have the Sokoto Caliphate that brought every person
> from Adamawa to Sokoto and said it is one kingdom. They now
> said it was a Muslim North.
>
> "The Colonialists came, put that together and
> said it is now called the Northern Nigeria. Do you know what
> happened? Our grand fathers were able to transform to being
> Northerners. We have not been able to transform to being
> Nigerians. The fault is ours.
>
> Tell me, how many governors has South West
> produced after Awolowo that are role models of leadership?
> How many governors has the East produced like Nnamdi Azikiwe
> that can be role models of leadership? How Many governors in
> the Niger Delta are role models of leadership? Tell me.
> There is no evidence statistically that any past of this
> country has produced good leaders.
>
> You talk about Babangida and the economy. Who were
> the people in charge of the economy during Babangida era?
> Olu Falae, Kalu Idika Kalu. What state are they from in the
> North?
>
> "We started the banking reform; the first thing
> I heard was that in Urobo land, that there will be a course
> of the ancestors. I said they (ancestors) would not answer.
> They said why? I said how many factories did Ibru build in
> Urobo land? So, why will the ancestors of the Urobo people
> support her?
>
> "We talk ethnicity when it pleases us. It is
> hypocrisy. You said elections were rigged in 1959, Obasanjo
> and Maurice Iwu rigged election in 2007. Was it a Southern
> thing? It was not.
>
> "The problem is: everywhere in this country,
> there is one Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba and Itshekiri man whose
> concern is how to get his hands on the pile and how much he
> can steal.
>
> Whether it is in the military or in the civilian
> government, they seat down, they eat together. In fact, the
> constitution says there must be a minister from every state.
>
>
> "So, anybody that is still preaching that the
> problem of Nigeria is Yoruba or Hausa or Fulani, he does not
> love Nigeria. The problem with Nigeria is that a group of
> people from each and every ethnic tribe is very selfish. The
> poverty that is found in Maiduguri is even worse than any
> poverty that you find in any part of the South.
>
> The British came for 60 years and Sir Ajayi talked
> about few numbers of graduates in the North (two at
> independence). What he did not say was that there was a
> documented policy of the British when they came that the
> Northerner should not be educated. It was documented. It was
> British colonial policy. I have the document. I have
> published articles on it. That if you educate the Northerner
> you will produce progressive Muslim intellectuals of the
> type we have in Egypt and India. So, do not educate them. It
> was documented. And you say they love us (North).
>
>
> "I have spent the better part of my life to
> fight and Dr. (Reuben) Abati knows me. Yes, my grandfather
> was an Emir. Why was I in the pro-democracy movement
> fighting for June 12? Is (Moshood) Abiola from Kano? Why am
> I a founding director of the Kudirat Initiative for Nigerian
> Development (KIND)?
>
> "There are good Yoruba people, good I
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