The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the 2023 election and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has alleged that there are efforts from Lagos aimed at colonizing the northern region.
Kwankwaso made this claim during a speech at the convocation ceremony of Skyline University in Kano, asserting that Lagos has been central to the ongoing disputes over emirates in Kano State.
The former governor of Kano State expressed his concerns about the numerous challenges facing the North, including economic crises, insecurity, poverty, hunger, and various diseases, emphasizing that the situation is detrimental to the nation.
“Let me highlight our situation here in Kano and, indeed, northern Nigeria,” Kwankwaso said. “The emir has become merely a puppet during this challenging period, especially in our region.”
“Clearly, there is a concerted effort from Lagos to colonize our part of the country. Lagos now imposes its influence on our choice of emir, dictating who leads us in Kano.”
Kwankwaso also addressed issues of tax collection, stating, “We are aware that young people from Lagos are aggressively pushing to levy taxes from Kano, diverting our revenue to Lagos.”
“Even the telecommunication services registered here in Kano face efforts to channel their taxes to Lagos.”
“Many of our sons and daughters, who have established factories and banks in Kano and the North, are being pressured to relocate their headquarters to Lagos due to tax incentives that favor Lagos.”
He further lamented the growing disparity between the rich and the poor, saying, “We see efforts by some to further impoverish the poor while enriching the wealthy, a trend that poses serious dangers to society.”
Kwankwaso urged northern lawmakers to be vigilant and ensure that the region is not disadvantaged.
“I call on all National Assembly members to remain alert so they do not partake in actions that could betray the interests of the people of northern Nigeria, particularly here in Kano.”
“We remember the events of 1999 to 2000, where our National Assembly members were bribed and coerced into accepting substantial sums to support detrimental legislation. That decision dealt a significant blow to our economy not only in northern Nigeria but across all states.”