By Bashir Bello
KANO — The 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, and former governor of Kano State, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, has accused the Federal Government of concentrating more of the infrastructure development in the South than the North.
Kwankwaso, who spoke during the stakeholders’ dialogue on 2025 constitutional amendment in Kano, criticised the Federal Government over what he described as lopsidedness in the execution of road projects across the country.
He decried the deplorable condition of roads from Abuja-Kaduna-Kano, describing it as a hell while compared to the South.
He said: “Yesterday, I was to come by air, unfortunately my airline decided to shift our take-off from 3p.m., to 8p.m. I had to come by road. From Abuja to Kaduna to Kano was hell, terrible, very bad road. And this is a road that was started many years ago, right from the beginning of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Now we are told that there is a road now from the South to East. Let me say at this point that we support infrastructure anywhere in this country. In fact I was telling myself that I wish that road was done before 2023 election, because I was the only aspirant or candidate who travelled to all part of this country. I would have used that road.
“So, we support roads everywhere, and any other thing that is good for the people, especially for the masses.
But a situation where government is taking our resources and dumping it in one part of the country, and other parts of the country are left just like that, I don’t believe that is the right thing to do by the government itself. And this is the time for the government to change, to convince our people that the government is not just on one side of the country,” he said.
On the constitutional amendment, Kwankwaso urged to the lawmakers at the National Assembly from the state to form a formidable and united front to make case and defend the interest of the state.
“We have seen what has happened in the past, and I think it’s important for you and all of us to consider the mistakes of others while we have an opportunity to do our jobs now. I remember especially 1999 to 2003, and of course right through to this National Assembly, we have seen a situation where our members were given the opportunity to really represent their constituents, but unfortunately on many occasions they were compromised.
“We have seen a situation whereby the rich in the country worked so hard to raise a lot of money to bribe members of the National Assembly, especially those who are representating us. And as a result of that, we now have a tilted arrangement in terms of resources sharing in the country. Many people will think that they have won. I don’t believe so. because I believe the issues that we have today in this country, especially in this part of the country, has to do with mismanagement of resources by leaders at the national and state levels, and even at local government level. And of course, it has to do with the little that had to be given to those concerned.”
In his remarks, Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State said the essence of the stakeholders dialogue on the 2025 constitution amendment, was to enable the state to reach a common position that truly represents the hopes and values of the people of the state.
The governor, however, said the dialogue was not only timely but crucial and critical to reflect the voices, realities, aspirations, and values of the people of the state.
In attendance at the dialogue were, representative from both national and state assemblies, Emir’s of Kano, Gaya, Karaye, top government officials, opinion leaders and other various critical stakeholders.
The post Kwankwaso accuses FG of lopsidedness in infrastructural devt appeared first on Vanguard News.
