ABUJA — Abdulmumin Jibrin, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, has insisted that Nigeria’s power-sharing history must be counted from independence in 1960, not from 1999.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Jibrin argued that dismissing the years before the Fourth Republic is a distortion of history and a “direct insult” to former Nigerian leaders from the North and South who held office before 1999.
“The North has had power for 39 and a half years, while the South has held it for 28 years. Nigeria started from independence in 1960,” he declared.
He faulted those who insist on measuring leadership rotation from 1999, saying such claims are unfair and misleading.
“You can’t count power from 1999. Whoever you are, I can tell you it’s unfair — and you know the danger in it. It’s an insult to former heads of state when a northerner goes on national television and says Nigeria started from 1999,” Jibrin said.
Listing past leaders, he stressed that they remain part of Nigeria’s political history: “Gowon was Head of State for nine years, Shagari was president for four years, Buhari two years, Babangida eight years, Abacha five years, Yar’Adua three years, and Buhari again for eight years.
“Do we recognise Babangida as a former president? Yes. Do we recognise Abacha as a former Head of State? Yes. Do we recognise Buhari as both a former Head of State and later a president? Yes. That has never been in contention in this country.”
Jibrin maintained that any conversation on power rotation or zoning must acknowledge the full timeline of Nigeria’s leadership since independence, rather than “picking and choosing from 1999.”
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