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Moghalu reveals major cause of poverty in North


Kingsley Moghalu, the presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the 2019 elections, has identified the major cause of ‘failing’ poverty in the northern region of Nigeria.

Speaking on Sunday at the Ra’ayi Initiative for Human Development (RIHD) annual lecture in Kano, Moghalu wondered why the region remains “the headquarters of poverty in Nigeria” despite northern elites and political leaders produced from the region.

Moghalu revealed that the selfishness of the northern political class remains the major cause of poverty and under-development in the region.

The former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said while “the problem with the north is the north versus itself”, efforts to reposition the north would begin with changing the people’s mindset.

“Rather than put in adequate measures to address poverty in the region, northern elite have been focused on their selfish and political aggrandizement.

“Selfishness of the northern political class remains the major cause of poverty and under-development in the region.

“Northerners should prioritise human capital development as there is a great need to fight youth unemployment, drug abuse as well as empower women in the region.

“The north must be modern. Nigeria and the northern Nigeria will not make progress until Nigeria is constitutionally re-structured,” he said.