An elder statesman, Tanko Yakasai says Nigeria should be on the same level of development as China but a lack of foresight and commitment is hampering the nation’s ascendancy.
He disclosed this while commenting on the state of the nation on the occasion of its 60th Independence Anniversary.
Yakasai, 93, said that China got to the level it did largely due to its huge population.
According to him, Nigeria has made appreciable progress in 60 years but would only be able to match China when the citizenry displayed foresight and commitment.
In a chat with Daily Trust, the Kano-based retired politician said that Nigeria’s appellation as “giant of Africa” was deserved.
“Nigeria is truly the giant of Africa.
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“With a population of over 200 million people, no other nation can claim this endowment from Almighty God and our other natural endowments.
“We have all sorts of mineral deposits and the human size itself is capital.
“If you look at the change that happened in China within the last 60 years, just about the same time that we started to become what we are, it is tremendous.
“Sixty years ago, China was far below on the list of developed countries.
“Today, it’s the second most developed country in the world and it is their population that made it possible – but a population with foresight and commitment.
“This is what Nigeria is lacking.
“But we are still the giant of Africa; we can change the situation for the better within a relatively short time,” Yakasai said.
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