North must face leadership challenges seriously – Prof Ango Abdullahi

From Mohammed Ibrahim, Kaduna

Elder statesman and Spokesman of Elders Northern Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi yesterday said there is no democracy and good leadership in Nigeria.
According to him, until the country enjoys good leadership it can never develop as a nation.
Professor Ango who disclosed this at the One day conference organized to commemorate 52 years anniversary of killing of northern political leaders like Ahmadu Bello and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, held in Kaduna, said lack of democracy and good leadership is a serious problem that must be addressed.
He explained that northerners are part and parcel of their problems, saying they created most of the destruction in the country.
The former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University added that 70 percent of Northern problems can only be solved by in the north, as he urged the younger generation to be ready to take over leadership of the country.
“At the moment there is no democracy, there is no good leadership in Nigeria. Whether anybody wants to say it or not I’m saying it here no democracy and no good leadership and I think we have to face these challenges seriously.
“We can continue to complain and do this kind of conference. The solution will not be found like this. Let me, however, congratulate the organizers for consistency.
“We don’t have good leaders and political class, if we still talk about the destruction we suffered in the last 50 years.
“In fact what I want to say, we are complaining in the north, we are complaining as northerners; but we should be honest to say that a lot of destruction that has taken place was created by northerners themselves – from the military to other form of services,” he said.