Former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mohammed Abba Gana on Monday incurred the wrath of the northern leaders when he advocated that giving President Goodluck Jonathan another four years would not hurt the North in any way.
The Secretary General of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Prof Ango Abdullahi and second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, dismissed Abba-Gana’s suggestion for a second term for Jonathan as ill-conceived, pointing out that the President did not deserve it.
The two northern leaders said Jonathan had failed to tackle the myriad of challenges confronting the nation, thereby showing that he lacked the capacity to move Nigeria forward.
According to them, another four years for Jonathan would push the country into the abyss and Nigerians cannot afford to take such a risk.
The leaders pointed out that Abba Gana was not qualified to speak for the north, going by his antecedents.
Abba-Gana, who was flanked by a lawmaker from Taraba State, had argued that giving Jonathan a second term would enable the North to use the period to groom a successor to the President.
However, Junaid Mohammed and Ango Abdullahi dismissed Abba-Gana as a politician who had always fraternised with the wrong political group for his personal interest and asked him to speak for himself and leave the North alone.
In separate interviews with Vanguard, Abdullahi and Mohammed insisted that Abba-Gana did not have the pedigree to serve as an advocate for the north and should not be taken seriously by Nigerians.
“Even in Borno where Abba-Gana hails from; he has never been part of the mainstream political arrangement and for that reason, he lacks the locus standi to speak for Borno and the North,” Abdullahi reasoned.
“Abba-Gana is more of a businessman than a people-oriented leader from the north. Having failed to advance any reason why the north should wait for another four years to enable Jonathan to run again, he should hide his face in shame.
“His advocacy is an insult to the north and a product of compromise,” the former ABU Vice Chancellor said.
Adding his voice to the debate, Mohammed described the former minister as someone who lacks clout and challenged him to show one thing that he has achieved in his state of origin to qualify him to speak for the entire northern Nigeria.
Mohammed said, “Abba-Gana was one of the errand boys when we were in active politics and should not be taken seriously because he has no political clout even in Borno State.
“If the former minister insists he should speak for the north, he should be kind enough to demonstrate his political relevance in Borno, his home state or shut up forever. He does not really merit any response from right-thinking northerners,” Mohammed said.
But while cautioning the northern elite on their utterances, Abba-Gana said if the North had produced between eight and nine heads of state and presidents, with poverty as a proof and underdevelopment, then, four years of Jonathan would not kill them.
Abba Gana noted, “Some people in the North want Jonathan to come back and some don’t want him to return. But allowing Jonathan another four years will not take away anything from us. We’ve had between eight and nine heads of government. But what do we have to show for it? Poverty and underdevelopment!
“So, if their person did not bring development to them, another four years of Jonathan will not cause any havoc.
“The North needs the four years to plan, learn, relate better with other parts of the country, work harder, talk less and groom a leader that will unite the nation and tackle the challenges facing the country.” [Vanguard]
Abba Ghana you’re right. the North should relax and give the incumbent a chance. after all they have been ruling for a very long time without anything to show for it.
You are right. They are lucky. it is not OBJ that is tackling their self created problems. They wouldnt have been talking like this. They are displaying an exergirated overbloated view of themselves to the rest of Nigerians. We shall see come 2015.
Ango abdunlahi is a useless northerner who thinks ,we Nigeria don’t read history .the north has ruled for 38 years.let others try.let him go find his brother in crime .the bokoharam and rule his state.
What really can a northern president give that the southener can not give,to infiltrate our ministries again?the north mesed this country to this state of rubbis.ango abdunlahi ,go eat sheet and dead dog ,northerner can’t rule again.
Ango & his northern fools are not rep north.
Ango is not realistic about his arguement. Wat can d northerners do again in Nígeria, they ruled 4 38yrs, brought up boko haram n many other atrocities done to nigeria and its citizens. Wat d north can do wen given power is to enforce saria law n make us a muslim country, no.
If Jonathan lacks the capacity,then who has the capacity is Ango Abdullahi or Jumaid muhammed expired elders and politicians who ruled for 38 years and sguandered the opportunities of 38 generations in the north, made them almajeries(street beggers and spys) and turned them to boko harrams while their own children schooled in the best schools in the world?.These set of elders should please hide their face in shame you can speak from a saw mouth northern elders Jona will lead second tenure 2015. Shakina.
Being a Leader has nothing to do with religious sentiments our resources have been hijacked by the North yet we have not cried out loud and that old fool is their seeking to lead their slaves. God will punish all of you come 2015. Its either one Nigeria for real without sentiments are we part our different ways for good. Mind you the South South are watching and are wiser now except the Northern tool called Gov Amaechi.
The Northern Leaders have ruled Nigeria for 38 years with northing to show for it, Jonathan too have failed us in his economy reformation crusade, and the purpose for which the president was elected in the first place was been defited, Jonathan should not even think of second term in office, we the people should start to agitate for getting this country back to her former Regional setting, where every region will produced is leadership or better still let the country return back to the white colonial rule on contract of 10 yrs only so that they can help us to developed both the ceonomy, political and social life.
Nothern elders pls behave like a leaders allow peace to reign and stop making unprofitable noise. 2015 Is not 4 u pls relax.
Abdullahi Ango is a junk & religious extremist, if north rule nw wat diff. Wil they mek dat was so difficult 38yrs ago of dia ruling?
If north want 2rule, den Nigeria must b divided cos selfish pple like the northerners are the major problems we hv.
Terrorist, seekin 4 position isn’t acceptable again.