Kwankwaso Says Jonathan Is Incompetent

Governor Rabi'u Kwankwaso of Kano state says Nigeria is drifting towards

calamity because the serving President lacks the competence and guts to

manage the affairs of the country appropriately.
The governor, who stated this during a meeting with the leadership of

Northern Elders Forum at the Government House in Kano, on Tuesday night,

said despite advice and observations from respected leaders and leaders

from within and outside the country on how to put Nigeria on the right

track, the presidency has been insensitive.
“When we met with the president, as Northern Governors, he told us that

the former US Secretary of State, Lady Clinton, told him that as President

he has to look at the issue of the North very critically. She noted that

there was an imbalance in terms of patronage, appointments and sharing of

resources.
“He assured that he was looking at those comments and that was why he was

delaying appointments into boards and so on. Since that meeting, we have

not seen anything or changes so it is my conclusion that the President

lacks the capacity and courage to do the right thing”, the governor

stated.
He lamented that the federal budget is heavily tilted in favour of one

section of the country, pointing out that a situation where one section of

the country is suffering from illiteracy, underdevelopment and misery

while the other section has more than enough is not good for national

unity.
The governor maintained that a situation whereby a section of the country

is given priority over other areas is not in the best interest of all,

pointing out that it is high time for the Federal Government to be

sensitive to what is being felt by the international community.

“We have had enough crises in this country and it is not right to plant

seeds for crisis in the future. Look at the North East that was allocated

N2 billion in the current budget. N2 billion is what Mr. President

allocated to non-APC states for supporting him, while N111 billion was

allocated to the South East and South-South. This is not close to

fairness”, the governor argued.
Stressing that his position on current national issues is not premised on

religion, ethnicity or sectionalism but stems from the desire to see that

every Nigerian, irrespective where he comes from is treated without

discrimination, Kwankwaso asserted that it is time for members of the

National Assembly to come out and oppose injustice that is perpetrated by

the government.
The governor noted that what is happening in the country in terms of

poverty, insecurity and joblessness in the North today should not be

happening in civilized societies, appealing to the Federal Government to

listen to the voices of reason so as to move the country in the right

direction.
Turning to the Northern Elders, Forum, Governor Kwankwaso said he and its

members are like minds that are not sleeping comfortably because things

are not moving well in the country. He pledged to continue to work with

all people of good conscience to bring about good governance in Nigeria.

Earlier, in their separate remarks, the chairman of the forum, Alhaji

Yusuf Maitama Sule, Danmasanin Kano and his deputy, Wanteregh Paul Unongo

explained that they are not satisfied with current political developments

in the country, especially as they affect the North.

They said the visit to Kwankwaso was to identify with his achievements and

sterling leadership qualities as well as to look at several issues that

will bring about responsible governance, unity and even development of the

country.