Politicians Behind Most Nigeria’s Problems – Sultan

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Saturday said most of Nigeria’s problems plaguing the country were caused by the political elite, just as he warned that he was irrevocably opposed to the quit notice issued by Arewa youths on the Igbo living in the North.
Speaking when the World Igbo Union leader, Dr. Mishack Nnanta, accompanied by resident Igbo chiefs, paid Sallah homage to him at his palace in Sokoto, the Sultan said, “They come to you during campaigns, promise you heaven in your house, air conditions on all roads and milk entering your mouth hourly without any effort from you. As soon as they win and go to Abuja, they start planning comfort for themselves while those from the rural areas move to state capitals, abandoning those who voted them.”‎
On the quit notice on Igbos, the Sultan reiterated his position, “If anybody or group of persons plans negative attack on Igbo, he or they should attack me first because I am against the so-called ultimatum issued by the Arewa youths that Igbo should leave the north.”
Harping on the need for “adjustments here and there for equal accommodation of all and sundry in Nigeria for equity and fair play religiously, socially and economically,” the Sultan warned against disintegration, warning that balkanization “cannot solve any of the problems facing the country. Dividing Nigeria into many parts is not the solution for the married of problems bedeviling the nation because this will lead to towns and villages clamouring to become independent.”
He agreed that there are genuine complaints on marginalization and called for a round-table dialogue among Nigerians, instead of armed struggle, to move the country forward.
Nnanta had earlier said that Igbo were peace-loving people are major stakeholders in the Nigerian project and declared that the union was prepared to work towards ensuring proper integration, reconstruction as promised by General Yakubu Gowon.”