A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has fired back at the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over his comment that despite being considered the poorest region in the country, the Northern region still feeds Nigeria and should be proud that the richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote, is from the north and not the south.

Speaking at the Northern Youth summit organized by Northern Hibiscus Initiative in Kaduna on Saturday, El-Rufai had said:

“We are being considered as the parasite of the federal economy, even though, that is not entirely true. Because northern Nigeria still feeds the nation. The richest businessman in Nigeria is still Aliko Dangote, not someone from Southern Nigeria, thank God for that.”

He further stated that:

“Nigeria consists of two countries; there is a backward, less educated and unhealthy northern Nigeria, and a developing, largely educated and healthy southern Nigeria. We have to speak the truth to ourselves and ask why is it that northern Nigeria has development indicators similar to Afghanistan, a country still at war?

“We have the largest number of poor people in the world, most of them in northern Nigeria. Nigeria also has the largest number of out of school children, virtually all of them in Northern Nigeria.

“So, we still have a lot to be proud of. We should be proud of our culture and tradition, as well as unity. You hardly can find someone from northern Nigeria convicted of 419 or being a Yahoo boy. That is something we should be proud of.

“We are generally considered to be more honest and less corrupt than other Nigerians. That is something we should be proud of.”

Countering the Governor’s claims, Fani-Kayode tweeted via his verified  Twitter handle @realFFK and said if any Nigerian gets the kind of support Dangote has received from the federal government, such person would be the richest man in the world.

He tweeted:

“The richest businessman in Nigeria is still Dangote not someone from Southern Nigeria,thank God for that”- @elrufai.

Any southern businessman that received the kind of support that Dangote received from FG’s over the last 40 yrs would be the richest man in the WORLD today.

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) July 9, 2019

His tweet sparked reactions on Twitter with many Nigerians corroborating his claims, while others faulted his opinion.

 

See some of the reactions:

Such divisive comments from a supposed Leader is very dissapointing, especially at a time that the country is boiling from ethnic sentiments, El-Rufai ought to know better.

— Uch (@Huggy2Huggy) July 9, 2019

Is the 40years inclusive of when MKO who was then richest. Because i heard he was one of the richest if not the richest. Then know one knew dangote. It is turn by turn. Lets support those whom God allow to be in authority irrespective of tribe.

— Stanley Okwu (@StanleyOkwu) July 9, 2019

No, Dangote reached that feat cos he is a true Nigerian, hard working and devoid of bigotry. Checkout the demography of his employees you find Nigerians of all ethnic and religious stocks. But bigots & demagogues like FFK will always miss the point

— MD Umar (@UmarMDee) July 9, 2019

The case of IBETO Cement.
If Dangote was the owner of INNOSON MOTORS, FG would have made his cars compulsory for Government Agencies

— 勝利者 (@fastsnipes1) July 9, 2019

Well said sir,if INNOSON Motors get half of the support given to Dangote he will be de richest in the world ?..Sir keep telling them..

— Dannychizzy (@Dannychizzysm) July 9, 2019

Dangote should be in his late 50’s or 60’s now.
With your 40 year claim , government supported him when he was a non entity.
We know about his uncle dantata.
He has shown shrewdness and humility even as the richest man.
You are just being you sir. Playing on d mind of some ppl

— AJIBOLA BABS ?? (@haiamkophee) July 9, 2019

You are so right. Why do they have this slavery mentality in the north? When they don’t engage their reasoning senses. I was in the North and I saw that the children are not just interested in schooling or development

— Chris Legend (@Kaylegend7) July 9, 2019

If FG gives Innoson, Coscharis or IBETO such support as they give to Dangote, @BillGates & Jack Mã will never smell becoming the richest person on @Forbes @elrufai himself knew this fact & this is why FG under @MBuhari era always go against Ndigbo economically

— Comrade DonKatchy (@MoreGrace11) July 9, 2019