A member of the House of Representatives representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in Kano State, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has sparked debate over Nigeria’s power history, insisting that the North has ruled longer than the South.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, Jibrin argued that Nigeria’s political reckoning should begin from independence in 1960, not from the return to democracy in 1999.
According to him, while the South has held power for 28 years, the North has been in charge for 39 and a half years. He described it as “an insult” to past northern leaders when anyone dismisses their tenure by suggesting Nigeria began only in 1999.
He highlighted the leadership tenures of past northern heads of state, including Yakubu Gowon (9 years), Shehu Shagari (4 years), Muhammadu Buhari (2 years as military ruler and 8 years as president), Ibrahim Babangida (8 years), Sani Abacha (5 years), and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (3 years).
“Do we recognise Babangida as a former president? Yes, we do. Do we recognise Abacha as a former Head of State? Yes, we do. Do we recognise Buhari as both a former Head of State and later president? Yes, we do,” Jibrin stated, dismissing arguments that Nigeria’s history began with the Fourth Republic.
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