The insecurity plaguing our region is a direct result of the greed and selfish interests of our leaders. This insecurity has stifled innovation and development, obstructing our path to industrialization and dismantling the productive systems we once had.
The situation has deteriorated to the point where affluent individuals from our region have lost faith in its potential and sought investment opportunities elsewhere. It is clear that no one is inclined to invest in a region rife with security threats.
The introduction of the Tax Reform Bill presents an opportunity for states to reap the benefits of their industrialization efforts. However, one must ask: whose responsibility is it that the northern states have failed to meet expectations after years of governance? Any informed individual can see that this bill has merely highlighted the poor governance of our leaders, who must bear the blame for our current predicament.
The president has provided a platform for industrious states to benefit from their investments. The North could have emerged as the largest beneficiary of this bill, but sadly, we have been hindered by a lack of capable leadership. Instead, we are left with a cadre of self-serving leaders who prioritize their personal wealth over the welfare of their states.
It is unreasonable to expect equal shares from the fruits of my labor when you have been busy undermining your own development. For instance, Jigawa and Sokoto produce the largest quantities of tomatoes in the country, yet there is not a single tomato paste factory in the region, largely due to insecurity.
Governor El-Rufai took the bold step of dismissing unqualified teachers to improve the educational system, only to be labeled as heartless and cruel. In the North, we often excel at managing our suffering rather than challenging the status quo to foster development. Many in our region believe that simply providing for basic needs is sufficient, but why settle for mediocrity when we can strive for excellence?
It is disheartening to witness our religious leaders lamenting the Tax Reform Bill while ignoring the real culprits who have prevented us from benefiting as other regions do. Kaduna, once home to four or five textile factories, now has none operational. Coca-Cola has ceased production in Kaduna, and the steel factory there is also defunct. These closures are a direct consequence of insecurity.
Many talented individuals in the tech sector have relocated to Lagos in search of better opportunities, while even those in Lagos are seeking prospects abroad. Success is a product of ambition; we must dare to dream big. Let your aspirations challenge you, and do not lose hope—your efforts will be rewarded.
We can not continue on our current path; we need a wake-up call. I am willing to be the one to sound the alarm!
Lagos has successfully developed its blue and red rail lines, generating revenue and substantial tax contributions. Why can’t Kano aspire to similar achievements? Instead, we find ourselves embroiled in debates over titles and positions, such as who should be recognized as the legitimate Emir.
The federal government has established rail services between Kaduna and Abuja, yet these corridors have faced numerous threats. A simple Google search for Kaduna will reveal train attacks as a prominent issue, and yet we expect investors to come to our region!
It is evident that young people in the southern regions are embracing entrepreneurship, while wealthy heirs struggle to maintain their family businesses here in the north. Instead, they squander their resources on lavish weddings and status displays. This obsession with status can be detrimental!
I hereby call on our leaders, elites, and prospective young leaders to adore the act of selfless services and leverage the potential to transform North into a streamlined business environment for both private and public investors. No one else can do it better for us, except we by ourselves.
God bless Nigeria, and God bless Nigerians.
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