Former Kebbi State Senator IBN Na'Allah has alleged that the high illiteracy rates in Northern Nigeria stem from deliberate post-civil war policies rather than regional leadership failures.
Speaking on MIC ON PODCAST, Na'Allah accused a certain section of the country of manipulating the civil service after the Nigerian Civil War. "Unfortunately, we fought a war in this country. After the civil war, the Civil Service of this country was hijacked by a section of the country," he said. "Deliberate efforts were made to make sure that their people are empowered, and deliberate policy was put in place to keep another section perpetually distant from the civil service of this country."
While critical of these actions, Na'Allah directed his criticism at policy decisions rather than regional leaders. "They betrayed the thinking of our heroes past, who believed in the unity of this country and who wanted to see a strong, united Nigeria," he stated.
The former senator challenged the common narrative about Northern leadership's responsibility for the region's education crisis. "It's not the failure of the leaders. Education is not something you pick on the street; it is a resource-backed enterprise," he argued. "Can you honestly say that, in terms of resources, wise, the North had an opportunity to have the resources that will turn the North around educationally?"