Would anyone here vote for a Ibo man for governor of a traditionally Yoruba state, or Yoruba man for Rivers or Akwa Ibom state governor?

Why do you guys think [ethnicity] matters so much in a democratic government in Nigeria?

If you can allow a Zimbabwean or a Tanzanian to enter Aso-Rock and be your President, then what you are talking about will hold water.

Personally, I have no problem with Bill Clinton coming to Nigeria to be our president, but the issue is that most people might not be sure about where his loyalties lie. We might be afraid that he'll promote American insterests rather than ours.

This may be the same reason why it's difficult for an Ibo man to become the governor or a Hausa state. How? Well, the Hausa people will be concerned that the Ibo man would create policies to favor "his own people" and not the Hausas. This ethnicity issue is a big problem in this country that cannot be easily solved.

Arnold Schwazzenegger is Austrian, but he is the governor of California. I'll post more on this topic when it has grown a bit, I have some really controversial views...

Ethnicity is a serious issue in Nigeria, and Africa at large . We have not yet grown to the level where we can practise the type of democracy practise in the civilised world.

What will happen if all the governourship seats for the South-East were captured by the Yourbas? Or will their not be anarchy if all the governorship seats for the South-West were captured by the Hausas? Think on these and you will see why such a thing cannot happen in our own part of the world.

Personally I see no problems with it. I think if we were to have different ethnicities governing in different states, it would be a sign of growth in our country. Thats one thing that was good about the military regime.

Unless we start viewing all of us as Nigerians, we'll continue to have the problems we have.

Ethnicity is a big factor in Nigerian politics in general. The reason is partly due to diversity of language. Multiethnic nations where this is not a problem have a predominant language. Until we form a lingo that is acceptable to all, ethnicity will continue to be a factor in governance.

What are the short comings of pidgin English as a common language in Nigeria? Already, it is the unofficial lingo...why are we deceiving ourselves with this queens english that is only well spoken by few?

Ethnicity is a big problem in this country, so, I don't see the feasibility in that; at least, not at this stage of our nascent democracy.

Talk of one state, you talk of many dialects, that alone is causing problems in some states not to talk of another man from another state entirely.

@Chxta you have to recall that most americans are only seven generations removed from immigrants. Schwarzenneger will never become president of north korea even if he becomes a citizen. I will never become prime minister of Japan and You will never rule Germany, whatever you may think. thats life. It is only possible in Lagos and other cosmopolitan areas. personally, I don't advise it.let's not create needless strife.

kodewrita, don't you think as all nigerians we should be able to exercse our dreams and skills in every part of the country?

@obong, I buy your thoughts but you should know that in Nigeria it cannot work at least not yet.

Hmmn, it can never be possible in Nigeria so far ethnic/religious racism is concerned. Imagine what has been a "rumour" of islamizing the whole country if given the slightest opportunity. If such rumour is tested and proved real, do u think igbo (christains) can give themselves islamic ticket; leaving Islams to rule them thereby islamizing them? Vice versa?

Untill we have come to deattach the value we 've attached to religion/belief, we can never have such dream actualize.

This is the reason why in civilised countries where there is little significance in one's religion or belief, people from northern part can rule in the southern part.

To make this come to pass, we must see ourselves as brothers and sisters, knowing that the religious aspect is just mere decision one takes. After all, every creature was from Adam and Eve.

i think that one should become governor of a state that he/she was born and or raised in or have been resident for quite some time. This is one major way to reduce "tribalism" (hate that word).

The constitution provides that anyone can assume any political post irrespective of tribal affiliations as long as the person was born or domiciled in that environment for a certain number of years (10yrs? not sure).

The fact is that Nigerians are tribal by nature and irrestive of where you were born, you do not belong as long as you have a different tribal heritage.

Ethnicity should not matter, but it does and I think Nigerians are not ready for what the constitution says.

Forget about Ibo vs Yoruba, even Yorubas from Ondo will not accept Yoruba from Ekiti state. Its just bad. As long as we see this state or that as Yoruba, or Hausa or Ibo we have already inadvertently coded a message "it belongs to the sons of the soil".

So, in conclusion, with the present reality in our polity, Ethnicity matters, even down to the level of councillors and local goverment chairmen.

Tall Dream

A very tall one but thats how it should be. If a Bini man born and bred in Benue wants to run WHY NOT?

@udezue thats the ideal case. however it wont happen in practice for now. Besides, it does not really matter who's there. They are all rogues anyway (except fashola)

obong:

Would anyone here vote for a Ibo man for governor of a traditionally Yoruba state, or Yoruba man for Rivers or Akwa Ibom state governor?

Why do you guys think [ethnicity] matters so much in a democratic government in Nigeria?

pls, is Igbo n Ibo

Pappy:
i think that one should become governor of a state that he/she was born and or raised in or have been resident for quite some time. This is one major way to reduce "tribalism" (hate that word).

I agree