DerideGull:

That is my point exactly. When I wrote unusual, I meant unexplainable rapport between Igbo and Ijebu-ode chaps too. I am talking of personal experience. The sudden and unsolicited friendship between the Igbo chaps and the ones from Ijebu-ode, Akure or Owo got me thinking when I lived in Yoruba land.

Pukkah:

What a laughable, baseless and unsubstantiated claim.

Honestly, this thread has become a joke.

bokohalal:
Do not know if the British did. The natives and Edos called it EKUE. Some still do.
Infact,the Edos call an Akure indigene EDO N'EKUE ( Edos of Akure). We do not see them as Yorubas.

DeLaRue: It is interesting to see some folks, already sharing imaginary spoils in the event of a strengthened Federal structure. Hmm...I laugh. I laugh because these people who I guess are probably from Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos State think we are back in the 60's when Ondo (including Ekiti then) got a raw deal.

Katsumoto or some other person in another thread about the status of Kwara in a new federating structure had it nicely laid out in their heads how Akure will be the 'educational capital' of a new SW, with Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta being the commercial, administrative, and industrial capital. Someone else rubbished the idea of Akure as a potential new capital of the new structure, saying' for where?' I laugh again.

These self -centred and myopic comments typify why many in Ondo State decided during the last guber election to stick with Mimiko against the ACN candidate. One of the campaign strategies of the Labour party was to cast the ACN as a party of people who would come to Ondo State to take their resources in order to develop Lagos, Ogun etc. And Labour plastered the airwaves (radio in particular) with jingles reminding the people how Ondo state produced the Cocoa but 'these people' built Cocoa House in Ibadan. Uni of Ife was located in you know where, and Ikeja, among other places were developed with 'their' cocoa money.

At the time I thought this was just silly, ridiculous, and underhand. But guess what, when you see how some folks are already dismissing the goose that will lay the golden egg in any new SW states, you begin to wonder.

And I say this as someone who while not particularly interested in Nigerian politics has some sympathy for the ACN/APC, and respect immensely the astounding accomplishment of Mr Tinubu in rescuing the SW from the 'other' party.
I am also someone who can't understand why Mimiko continues to show little interest in SW integration agenda, and can't wait for his term to run out.

That said, I will say this, Akure will have to be the SW capital in every sense of that word or nothing else. All this nonsense about it being the 'education capital' - what does that mean? The argument in support of Akure is solid:

In any SW region/federating structure Ondo State will bring the following to the table:

- The region's only proven and producing oil reserves providing immediate access to oil and even potential foreign echange income

- The region's only and proven gas reserves providing a basis for powering the new region's economy to new industrial height

- The region's only immediate (from day 1) source of external revenue - Cocoa, Nigeria's current 2nd or 3rd largest foreign exchange earner

- One of the largest and soon to be one of the most successful single industrial parks in West Africa - OLOKOLA - with Dangote's refinery and associated cluster industries - another potential big foreign exchange earner for the new region

- One of the most naturally conducive water fronts in the region

-We also offer the first line of defence to your great Lagos, Ogun and Oyo. Is it not Ondo state people that will first defend you against any invading army from your perceived enemies in the East?. You want to be enjoying yourselves in Eko Atlantic, while our people are paying with their lives repelling your enemies

- I am not even going to talk about the 2nd largest deposit of heavy crude oil in the world. I'm not talking about it as I believe it may never be commercially possible to exploit it. So, it's probably not worth much at this point

- Compared to Ibadan, Lagos, and Abeokuta, Akure is compact enough to be developed into a befitting capital without the geographic and human complications of Lagos and Ibadan. Also, I suspect (I could be wrong) Akure is not as old as the other 3 places. One gets the impression that provided you have the compensation to pay, you can flatten half of Akure without much difficulty ( no insult meant to the indigenes of Akure). Also there is so much virgin land around. All of this will cost less than half what a similar exercise will cost in even Ibadan.

The above is what Ondo state brings to the table. When the time comes and we are all sitting at that negotiation table, you will have to tell us what your state brings to the table, and then we discuss.

You can't ask us to put all these on the table and and share with the rest of our people then turn round to say you want the capital in Ibadan. I[b]t won't happen[/b]. Ondo State will be better off forming a region with Edo, if they are interested. Ah, but then kidnapping,,,crime! We can remain with Ekiti! We do not all have to be in the same region to prove our Yorubaness.

History and location is not an excuse. London is to the far south within the United Kingdom, yet it is the capital. The fact Ibadan is central adds nothing to the debate.


We love you! Honest. But we know what we are entitled to. And in the Omoluwabi spirit, we are ready to share our resources with you without asking for special derivation. But you must make serious concessions to ensure that Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti all develop and are not laggers to Oyo, Lagos, and Ogun. Otherwise, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, should form their own region. Ondo and Ekiti (but Ekiti people and their petitions and political thuggery!) can form theirs. Maybe a West West region made up of Ondo and Edo states. Benin and Owo are ancient kingdoms who used to fight a lot in ancient times, but we have no problems with our Edo brothers.

Anything other than domination and manipulation by Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun citizens will be better. They either come to the table with fairness or they can bugger off with their Yoruba region. We will form our own Yoruba region too.

Desola:

It is true!

Tilapia? Sorry, Tpia confirmed it. She is an authority as she has carried out an empirical research all over Yorubaland most especially Ogun state, even though she hails from Ondo.

tpia@:


You see them as edo or some such?

Pukkah:

Don't go too far.

Who founded Akure? A prince from Ile Ife did.

What's the meaning of 'Akure'? It came from 'akun re', meaning the beads have cut or broken.

It got its appelation of 'oloyemekum', shortened to 'oyemekun' following the incident in which one of the chiefs caught a tiger alive.

Akures are Yoruba people.

DerideGull:



I make bold to say you are very ignorant about the facts of federalism or fiscal federalism. To further bolster your ignorance on the subject matter, you were thrilled to conjure the following craps, “Heck,yorubas didn't join the civil war until the biafra army got to Ore,which is in Ondo state,if we don't see you as one of us we might has well turn a blind eye”. In fact, you are a dimwit or a blind ignoramus.

bokohalal:
Do not know if the British did. The natives and Edos called it EKUE. Some still do.
Infact,the Edos call an Akure indigene EDO N'EKUE ( Edos of Akure). We do not see them as Yorubas.

bokohalal:

You are to tell us how to see them?

Pukkah:

How do they see themselves?

Are they Yorubas or not? Provide evidence of what you're saying or stop confusing people.

Is it the way you see them that matters?

bokohalal:

Edos see them as EDO N'EKUE!

grafikii:
Bro let me follow you laugh small, i guess its safe to say Imo would join the south west in the end since they are in the opposition (APC) and the way the rest of the south east threat them (anambra).

There are also strong rumours that Ebonyi is going with the north central. This is getting interesting.

Pukkah:

How do they see themselves?

bokohalal:

Edos see them as EDO N'EKUE! Let me see you overcome that.

Pukkah:

What of the people that the Akures see as 'Akue N'Edo'?

Desola:

It is true!

Tilapia? Sorry, Tpia confirmed it. She is an authority as she has carried out an empirical research all over Yorubaland most especially Ogun state, even though she hails from Ondo.

DeLaRue: Sorry everyone, I started the thread and appeared to disappear. I didn't mean to be rude. I ran out of juice on my laptop and was hoping it would be back but up till now, nothing. I had someone over to fix my gen, but when I got home it still didn't work. As a final act of desperation, I thought to try a DIY on it, and presto, it worked!

And no surprise, I see I have been attacked by the usual suspects. We shall see when the time comes!

Just to clarify again, I rarely get involved in the usual e wars (though I've taken the bait occasionally), - check my records.

All I am saying is that there is no reason why Akure cannot be the capital, in every sense. Lagos and Ibadan cannot keep taking and taking while Ondo and Ekiti remain behind.

Bringing the capital to Akure will ensure that Akure, and hopefully Ekiti get accelerated development - surely this wiull be to the benefit of everyone, including our great Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo people.

Of what good is Lagos and Ibadan, if everything around them remain more or less as they were in the 70's?

PointB: lol,

Ondo/Ekiti versus the rest of South-West. The Op is laying is bare for all, no to parasites in the new republic.

He doesn't want Ondo people to be asked to "go back to their villages/caves" in a future Yoruba country. Abeg let me take a VIP seat and watch as the fisticuffs ensue. It should be very interesting.

By the way @Op, your yorobaness is already being questioned, over to you!

bokohalal:

Edos see them as EDO N'EKUE! Let me see you overcome that.

DeLaRue: I expect they will question my Yorubaness. But that changes nothing. And you having a field day thinking Yorubas are at war with themselves changes nothing too.

There is no need hiding our concerns for fear that Igbos or anybody else will say we are disunited. If anything, this is meant to be an intellectual discuss.

The bit about Ondo exiting the Southwest was just to draw attention. What is absolutely clear though is that we will not allow ourselves to be treated the way we were previously.

We want a fair prosperous Yorubaland where every child, wherether s/he is based in Ogbomosho, Ikere Ekiti, or Ifon has equal economic and social opportunity, and social justice which is at the core of Yoruba values, prevail.

In this scenario, there is no room for one group of people to lord it over others.

Desola:

Why didn't you make a case for Akure being the capital city with grounds for your demands; from the onset? Rather, you came out baring your biceps showing your tiny muscle and asking for anyone to come and see if they measure up.

Your approach was very wrong indeed.

I am a Lagosian, but I make for Ibadan to stay as the capital because of not rich heritage and accomplishments. Now, this is not saying that Akure hasn't achieved similar feat but it does not boast of similar size and diversity as Ibadan. More so, Ibadan's dialect is standard and easier to understand.

tpia@:


I am not from ondo dear.

And neither am i going to engage in the vulgar back and forth you're known for, i have no time for internet cowards, find your level, i am not it.

If an igbo man dumped you thus you want to deny any comity with igbo people on account of your crappy nature, too bad, doesnt mean a thing.

Desola:

Is this an avenue to settle scores abi what? Moreover, what has okoro madu got to do with this now? Are you ovulating or pmsing or better still suffering from the effects of menopause? Because I no just understand this cattiness tonight o.

If you are not careful, I will b1tch slap and defang you tonight.

Who died and made you statistician for ijebu a supposed inter marriages?

Oponu ayirada

django1: Let me help this op, you see in the case of a break up and an o'dua nation is formed, the first thing that would be done (I believe) is to build a high speed train network within the major cities, once that is done there won't be any need for this jittery, sebi

tpia@:
Desola

Abeg sharap, you like to run mouth as if someone made you a spokesman for anywhere.


Rubbish, its your type who will run cap in hand to the igbos you say you're abusing, in your usual pretentious manner.

Pukkah:

In addition to this, the beauty of talking together is that people have the freedom to belong to wherever they want. There's no force or coercion.

The study of development has shown that it is not all countries rich in natural resources that are developed. Also, it is not all developed countries that are rich in natural resources. Landlocked countries can be developed and access to the ocean does not guarantee development.

The good thing about this thread is that people are ready to voice out their fears and emotions. And if push comes to shove, the South West really has nothing to fear because it has the landmass. Oyo state (27,460 sq km) alone is just slightly smaller than the total (33,664 sq km) of Abia (5,420 sq km), Enugu (12,440 sq km), Imo (5,430 sq km), Ebonyi (5,530 sq km) and Anambra (4,884 sq km). Add Oyo to Osun (10,245 sq km) and you get 37,705 sq km.

There is no part of Nigeria that doesn't have the resources and the people (especially the South) to develop. And even for those who don't have the people, they can always bring in outsiders.

This thread is a good development. I prefer a small, developed country with happy people to a big for nothing, under-developed country with miserable and hate-filled people

DerideGull:

That is my point exactly. When I wrote unusual, I meant unexplainable rapport between Igbo and Ijebu-ode chaps too. I am talking of personal experience. The sudden and unsolicited friendship between the Igbo chaps and the ones from Ijebu-ode, Akure or Owo got me thinking when I lived in Yoruba land.