Patience Jonathan may not be wrong to label northerners ‘almajiris’ –Sanusi

Shahida Sanusi, daughter of the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has like her father criticised happenings in the northern region and suggested that wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, may have been right to describe northers as ‘almajiris’.

Shahida stated this when she represented her father on Friday in Abuja at the maiden lecture to commemorate the abduction of over 200 school girls in Chibok, Borno State on April 14, 2014.

She became the first non-titled individual to represent the emir at a public event and she made use of the opportunity to decry the poverty and education level in the northern region of Nigeria.

She said, “When Patience Jonathan called those of us in the North almajiris, we got angry, but come to think of it, is that not what we really are? We give birth to children and just abandon them. There are no schools for the poor. There are no hospitals for the poor.”

She further revealed that though it has always been the desire of her father to become the emir, but that he would not take because he is now the emir and refrain from saying the truth.

“My father had always wanted to be an emir, but that does not mean that he will now shy away from the truth. He was once suspended as CBN governor and he is not afraid,” she said arguing that nothing in life lasts forever but ephemeral as only God enthrones and dethrones kings.

The daughter of the Kano Emir, therefore called on northern elites to desist from getting agitated over critics of the region, but do more to change the plight of the people.

Read also: Whether they like it or not, corruption fight will go on –Magu

Meanwhile, Sanusi in a video message to the inaugural anniversary lecture of the abducted school girls reiterated that he will never allow himself to be cowed into silence over issues of poverty, or disease among others confronting the North.

There have been attacks on the emir following his non-stop criticisms of northern political class on different issues affecting the region.

He said, “These attacks are aimed at diverting attention from the issues raised and all of us who are involved in this struggle must remember a few things. We are dealing with an anti-intellectual environment, and with people whose failure has bred a sense of insecurity which leads to incomprehensible, almost insane, reactions to simple advice.

“There has been a lot of noise about my recent interventions in the public space, but I am not worried. I am used to it, but I am worried because of the dimension it has taken. It is a distraction”.

 

 

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