By HENRY AKUBUIRO
Saturday, November 27, 2010

Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section

Despite pockets of dissenting voices, the political bonding of the South West along ethnic definition has become proverbial. In the heydays of the defunct Action Group, led by the late Yoruba political sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, most of the winners, from the councillorship to the governorship, have an AG hue.

It was no surprise, therefore, that when the military despotism became a thing of the past in Nigeria and a new democratic dispensation was born in 1999, the Awo political structure easily morphed into the AD (Alliance for Democracy).
Given the political precedence of yesteryears, many believed that the AD would repeat the AG feat. There was little surprise, as the party, with the support of former governor of Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige, easily swept the South-West states. To political observers, it echoed the trite that what breeds in the bone would surely come out on the flesh.

For the then president, Olusegun Obasanjo, a Yoruba, who, however, emerged from the Peoples Democratic Party, the resounding trouncing suffered in the hands of the AD was one too many. If allowed to repeat itself, as he sought re-election in 2003, that would translate into an endgame for his political ambition and, more especially, a recipe for loss of confidence.
To forestall the looming debacle, Obasanjo rapped South West leaders to give him massive support for the presidency. Blood is thicker than water: the South West fell prey to the cliché; thus, the Ota farmer garnered massive votes from the region. It was a dice that gave birth to unexpected contraries: AD lost all the states it hitherto controlled, in 2003, except Lagos, to the PDP. How is the mighty falling?

But the political dynamism in the South West couldn’t stop following a wavering course. Just when the PDP was cutting a carper across the plain of invisibility, the losers were strategising to scupper the status quo. First, the PDP surrendered Ondo State to the Labour Party after a nerve-racking legal tussle. Thereafter, the PDP lost Ekiti State to the AD. Just yesterday, it lost Osun State to the AD, leaving only two states to the PDP.

While the bells of political supremacy toll by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the ingenuity of former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, cannot be talked about in hushed tones. He not only sponsored most of the governorship candidates from his party, but kept rallying round them when they seemed to be going down hill. With the highflying triumphs by the ACN, permutations as to how the pendulum would swing in the 2011 is unfolding.

The question is: Where does this leave the PDP in 2010, especially against the backdrop of Obasanjo’s open presentation of President Jonathan as the candidate of the South-West?
With ACN almost in control of South West, the endorsement of Jonathan may just be a fluke, as supporters of the party would stand behind its presidential candidate in 2011. Also, the party would press to win over Ogun State, where the state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, is having a running battle with Obasanjo and others over who would be the next governor. The case of Oyo is also dicey, as the former governor, Rasheed Ladoja, has vowed to unseat Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala. The ACN wants to claim Oyo, to complete the coup de grace.

Taking all these together, it is becoming obvious that before the next general elections, in 2015, after next year’s, the South West may just return to its old way of being in the opposition, which has seen Yoruba supporting parties that are not in control of the Federal Government.

Welcome to area fadas and sons politics of the wild, wild west.
Chop, comot make I chop and quench politics.
No election necessary.
Just wait for 4 years, dig up old cases against the incumbents, then rule against them.

Hey, the world is a stage. Play well thy part.

If the regional parties eventually take over the SW, they can as well say bye bye to ruling Nigeria even as a speaker of the house. Only a truly national party can lead a country such as Nigeria and that was what Obj did for the SW, bringing them from the obscurity of regionalism to the limelight of nationalism. Now they are taking themselves back to square one.

You guys don't understand what is important. If you are not regionally accepted by your people there is no way you can help forge national unity. Three reasons why:

1. If you don't represent your region's interests then you are going to be forcing other people's interests, couched in national unity talk, down their throat. What they have being calling national unity, to which OBJ sold his soul, all these years was actually domination by the northern oligarchy. There was never any interest in national unity. If it were so, the northern oligarchy would not engage in actions that damage the fabric of national unity more than any other.

2. Power is temporary as OBJ is finding out. Once they are done using you on one end they kick you to the curb, and then your people will take their revenge. The northern oligarchy used OBJ to thwart what the SW desired as resolution of the June 12 imbroglio, and set a zoning trap for their messenger. See where we are today! Today, OBJ is neither trusted in the SW (for good reason) or by the North (they are done with him) - he is fighting back with all he has got - eating crow in the SW & after the way Yar'adua turned on him, he is prepared to damn the oligarchy's wishes!

3. Lastly, I have always said that Nigerian unity would only occur when each region has virtual autonomy. There is no need for seccession. That would be almost impossible. Virtual autonomy comes from electing good people and giving your region a sound, strong economy. The northern oligarchy has imposed its political autonomy on the rest of us over these many years. They fail to realize that the best autonomy is economic - for which good governance is a requirement. I predict that whichever region achieves measurable economic autonomy will eventually rule Nigeria - it won't matter what region. Awolowo was on the path to economic autonomy for the SW, but was cut short because he unfortunately& reluctantly attempted to play "national" politics. Ojukwu made the mistake of declaring complete independence before achieving any form of real autonomy in the SE - under duress I might add - still in spite of a disastrous civil war he is revered in most of the SE because he acted, the wisdom of which may be questioned, on behalf of his people.

Bottom-line: Seek ye first economic autonomy and yours is the kingdom of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the SW or any other region must stop selling out in the name of non-existent national unity. The SW would rather have good regional leaders (aka Awolowo) than bad national representation (aka OBJ).

Blazay:

Welcome to area fadas and sons politics of the wild, wild west.
Chop, comot make I chop and quench politics.
No election necessary.
Just wait for 4 years, dig up old cases against the incumbents, then rule against them.

Hey, the world is a stage. Play well thy part.

igbobuigbo:

If the regional parties eventually take over the SW, they can as well say bye bye to ruling Nigeria even as a speaker of the house. Only a truly national party can lead a country such as Nigeria and that was what Obj did for the SW, bringing them from the obscurity of regionalism to the limelight of nationalism. Now they are taking themselves back to square one.

koruji:

You guys don't understand what is important. If you are not regionally accepted by your people there is no way you can help forge national unity. Three reasons why:

1. If you don't represent your region's interests then you are going to be forcing other people's interests, couched in national unity talk, down their throat. What they have being calling national unity, to which OBJ sold his soul, all these years was actually domination by the northern oligarchy. There was never any interest in national unity. If it were so, the northern oligarchy would not engage in actions that damage the fabric of national unity more than any other.

2. Power is temporary as OBJ is finding out. Once they are done using you on one end they kick you to the curb, and then your people will take their revenge. The northern oligarchy used OBJ to thwart what the SW desired as resolution of the June 12 imbroglio, and set a zoning trap for their messenger. See where we are today! Today, OBJ is neither trusted in the SW (for good reason) or by the North (they are done with him) - he is fighting back with all he has got - eating crow in the SW & after the way Yar'adua turned on him, he is prepared to damn the oligarchy's wishes!

3. Lastly, I have always said that Nigerian unity would only occur when each region has virtual autonomy. There is no need for seccession. That would be almost impossible. Virtual autonomy comes from electing good people and giving your region a sound, strong economy. The northern oligarchy has imposed its political autonomy on the rest of us over these many years. They fail to realize that the best autonomy is economic - for which good governance is a requirement. I predict that whichever region achieves measurable economic autonomy will eventually rule Nigeria - it won't matter what region. Awolowo was on the path to economic autonomy for the SW, but was cut short because he unfortunately& reluctantly attempted to play "national" politics. Ojukwu made the mistake of declaring complete independence before achieving any form of real autonomy in the SE - under duress I might add - still in spite of a disastrous civil war he is revered in most of the SE because he acted, the wisdom of which may be questioned, on behalf of his people.

Bottom-line: Seek ye first economic autonomy and yours is the kingdom of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the SW or any other region must stop selling out in the name of non-existent national unity. The SW would rather have good regional leaders (aka Awolowo) than bad national representation (aka OBJ).

The best will be for the regional parties to hold sway at the state levels while each region must try to play national politics at the federal level. In Nigeria, if you do not ask (play  Abuja politics) you do not get. The SW should know this having played regional politics between 1960 and 1998.

I agree with the first part of your statement. However, it is my opinion that what they have being calling national politics is nothing more than the imposition of northern oligarchic interest on the rest of us - other regions must represent their own interests at the national level as well.

No region has ever played any "national" politics. Virtual autonomy doesn't mean that you don't get involved in national politics, but each region cannot be represented by those who are not carrying with them the interest of that region in their hearts.

igbobuigbo:

The best will be for the regional parties to hold sway at the state levels while each region must try to play national politics at the federal level. In Nigeria, if you do not ask (play  Abuja politics) you do not get. The SW should know this having played regional politics between 1960 and 1998.

Koruji

Pray, tell, what is the SW interest? Is it different from the average Nigerian (national) interest?

Many things are certainly the same, but the different histories & cultures of Nigeria's ethnic groups imply that we also have areas where our interests differ.

An area of interest to the SW, which should also be of equal interest in the rest of Nigeria, is education. However, Nigeria has not attached the same level of priority to education as Awolowo did. The unitary approach to doing things that followed Awo's pathbreaking era has ensured that despite enduring interest in education in the SW, we are not better-off and may be worse-off than other regions at this point.

National politics cannot be the imposition of a single region's selfish politicians interests. At this point we have certain states implementing Sharia in ways contrary to the constitution - like funding a Sharia police with Federal funds. Similarly, we have a senator of the Federal Republic marrying a 9 year old and saying that he doesn't care about the constitution as long as he is in line with some religious edict. OBJ's attempt to show national credientials led him to rig elections in the SW - you would think someone trying to promote national unity would find good people to work with him. No, almost all the governors were rotten. We haver Yar'adua's men ridiculing then entire nation just because power must remain in their hands. This type of "national" politics does not deserve any region's participation.

igbobuigbo:

Koruji

Pray, tell, what is the SW interest? Is it different from the average Nigerian (national) interest?

koruji:

Many things are certainly the same, but the different histories & cultures of Nigeria's ethnic groups imply that we also have areas where our interests differ.

An area of interest to the SW, which should also be of equal interest in the rest of Nigeria, is education. However, Nigeria has not attached the same level of priority to education as Awolowo did. The unitary approach to doing things that followed Awo's pathbreaking era has ensured that despite enduring interest in education in the SW, we are not better-off and may be worse-off than other regions at this point.

National politics cannot be the imposition of a single region's selfish politicians interests. At this point we have certain states implementing Sharia in ways contrary to the constitution - like funding a Sharia police with Federal funds. Similarly, we have a senator of the Federal Republic marrying a 9 year old and saying that he doesn't care about the constitution as long as he is in line with some religious edict. OBJ's attempt to show national credientials led him to rig elections in the SW - you would think someone trying to promote national unity would find good people to work with him. No, almost all the governors were rotten. We haver Yar'adua's men ridiculing then entire nation just because power must remain in their hands. This type of "national" politics does not deserve any region's participation.

Everybody desires to be educated but certainly not everyone can get educated, for different reasons

On sharia, do they implement it with fed funds or funds allocated to them of which they have a right to use as they deem fit? Just like Kalu and Gbenga Daniel used theres to do juju and force people to swear oaths before appointments.

Thus, are we christians not suffereing from our fellow christians, will all the deception in the Nigerian type of christianity?

Why are the christian governors not suing the sharia states up to the supreme court for interpretation of the constitution on the matter?

Are you saying that aside Obasanjo no election rigging takes place in the SW, even at LGA level?

I'm in almost 100% agreement with Koruji. Solid analysis.

igbobuigbo:

If the regional parties eventually take over the SW, they can as well say bye bye to ruling Nigeria even as a speaker of the house. Only a truly national party can lead a country such as Nigeria and that was what Obj did for the SW, bringing them from the obscurity of regionalism to the limelight of nationalism. Now they are taking themselves back to square one.

What you forgot to highlight is that the failure of PDP on a national level will give ACN and other oppositions th needed catalyst to penetrate to a national level.
AD was successful till 2003 when it hd leadership problem that made pdp RIGGED itself into power in the region.Edo state ,a south south state is already an ACN state and there are reports that Rivers and Akwa Ibom may likely boost the party's relevance in the coming election.A strong regional party allows for definite objectivity for a particular which other regions' objectivtity would be harnessed as the party grows from a regional party to national party.
Pdp was able to achieve a national status because it involve all nigerians that were fighting the military administration.pdp won't have been successful without the military struggle.

DapoBear:

I'm in almost 100% agreement with Koruji. Solid analysis.

Yours is a no brainer; not when you are still a Yoruba. Who no like him mama soup, even if na water water soup?

igbobuigbo:

Your is a no brainer; not when you are still a Yoruba. Who no like him mama soup, even if na water water soup?

Heh. I don't think it is that clearcut; I've thought about both sides and think regionalism is the way to go. As you say, regionalism might lose you national power and cause you to be in disfavor with the federal gov't. But to be quite frank, as long as we get whatever federal allocations are due to us, what else will we really be missing from the federal gov't?

What does the federal gov't provide to the SW that they will withold once the PDP is kicked out of the SW?

~Bluetooth:

What you forgot to highlight is that the failure of PDP on a national level will give ACN and other oppositions th needed catalyst to penetrate to a national level.
AD was successful till 2003 when it hd leadership problem that made pdp RIGGED itself into power in the region.Edo state ,a south south state is already an ACN state and there are reports that Rivers and Akwa Ibom may likely boost the party's relevance in the coming election.A strong regional party allows for definite objectivity for a particular which other regions' objectivtity would be harnessed as the party grows from a regional party to national party.
Pdp was able to achieve a national status because it involve all nigerians that were fighting the military administration.pdp won't have been successful without the military struggle.

Well if ACN comes to Rivers and other non-yoruba areas, it is no longer a regional party and will hence not be in any position to pursue  any regional agenda. If it takes over the fed govt, it means the Yoruba of ACN are no longer playing regional politics as ObJ wants. They have to remain regional  or they are as good as PDP, a federal party. An ACN under Tinubu as president with another SWner as VP is doomed because no Igbo or hausa will look at them more than once. If Ribadu becomes the president under ACN, it is still the North in charge, SW agenda kaput. Looks like the so-called SW agenda is flimsy and all-weather, no?

I did mention how OBJ's governors, rigged-in in the name of "national" politics, are corrupt. Still, you cannot compare corruption to setting up a Sharia police or cutting off people's hands. Corruption is an individual act that must be punished and eliminated, but no state has set up a body to promote corruption in direct violation of the constitution.

I am not talking about the freedom to practice a religion, but it must adhere to modern & sensible laws. Maybe Kalu & Gbenga Daniels are herbalists, but I don't see how government funds comes into that. If a state doesn't desire to have such people lead them then we must have free and fair elections that allow the popular wish to be expressed.

Your last line hints at what should happen. The question is why it is not happening? The answer goes to my point that regions are being represented by compromised people, who in the name of "national" politics have sold their region's interests. For example you talk about everybody desires education, but fail to realize that for the first time in the history of Nigeria we have a Boko Haram whose main aim is not only NOT to get western education, but to force others to do the same. What kind of nation do you get when some people only want to go to religious schools - which is their right - and force others to do the same (a no no). And they have taken up arms - arms built on top of western knowledge. We have to say enough at some point, otherwise your neighbourhood would be next. OBJ, afraid of his northern backers, avoided the Sharia issue until those fanatics were ready to stone someone to death - he wasn't playing "national" politics, he was dancing to the tune of his masters.

igbobuigbo:

Everybody desires to be educated but certainly not everyone can get educated, for different reasons

On sharia, do they implement it with fed funds or funds allocated to them of which they have a right to use as they deem fit? Just like Kalu and Gbenga Daniel used theres to do juju and force people to swear oaths before appointments.

Thus, are we christians not suffereing from our fellow christians, will all the deception in the Nigerian type of christianity?

Why are the christian governors not suing the sharia states up to the supreme court for interpretation of the constitution on the matter?

Are you saying that aside Obasanjo no election rigging takes place in the SW, even at LGA level?

DapoBear:

Heh. I don't think it is that clearcut; I've thought about both sides and think regionalism is the way to go. As you say, regionalism might lose you national power and cause you to be in disfavor with the federal gov't. But to be quite frank, as long as we get whatever federal allocations are due to us, what else will we really be missing from the federal gov't?

What does the federal gov't provide to the SW that they will withold once the PDP is kicked out of the SW?

You will of course get your statutory allocation and that is about all. Other things people get by lobbying or by having someone in Abuja such as award of roads, electricity projects etc will be lost. Plus imagine a Nigeria in this 21st century with no Yoruba among the 6 highest positions as they used to be during Awo days.

koruji:

I did mention how OBJ's governors, rigged-in in the name of "national" politics, are corrupt. Still, you cannot compare corruption to setting up a Sharia police or cutting off people's hands. Corruption is an individual act that must be punished and eliminated, but no state has set up a body to promote corruption in direct violation of the constitution.

I am not talking about the freedom to practice a religion, but it must adhere to modern & sensible laws. Maybe Kalu & Gbenga Daniels are herbalists, but I don't see how government funds comes into that. If a state doesn't desire to have such people lead them then we must have free and fair elections that allow the popular wish to be expressed.

Your last line hints at what should happen. The question is why it is not happening? The answer goes to my point that regions are being represented by compromised people, who in the name of "national" politics have sold their region's interests. For example you talk about everybody desires education, but fail to realize that for the first time in the history of Nigeria we have a Boko Haram whose main aim is not only NOT to get western education, but to force others to do the same. What kind of nation do you get when some people only want to go to religious schools - which is their right - and force others to do the same (a no no). And they have taken up arms - arms built on top of western knowledge. We have to say enough at some point, otherwise your neighbourhood would be next. OBJ, afraid of his northern backers, avoided the Sharia issue until those fanatics were ready to stone someone to death - he wasn't playing "national" politics, he was dancing to the tune of his masters.

I find it hard to believe that Tinubu, for example, is not involved in election rigging. Meaning that not only PDP rigs elections.
Boko Haram is only slightly different from the illegal kidnapping of people in Aba, Uyo, Benin, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Warri, and the illegal bombing of oil installations in Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Delta.

igbobuigbo:

You will of course get your statutory allocation and that is about all. Other things people get by lobbying or by having someone in Abuja such as award of roads, electricity projects etc will be lost. Plus imagine a Nigeria in this 21st century with no Yoruba among the 6 highest positions as they used to be during Awo days.

That is fine. Hopefully electricity gets privatized, so we can negotiate directly with a private company for electricity and pay whatever it costs, rather than begging the federal gov't to do it. Otherwise we could also collaborate and provide electricity as a joint project among our states.

Roads we should probably build and fund ourselves anyway, say through some combination of loans, private investment, and tolls.

I don't care if any Yoruba are among the top 6 positions federally in Nigeria, so long as our region itself is economically sound. Hausa man has had lots of representation federally, but his region has nothing to show for it.

igbobuigbo:

Well if ACN comes to Rivers and other non-yoruba areas, it is no longer a regional party and will hence not be in any position to pursue  any regional agenda. If it takes over the fed govt, it means the Yoruba of ACN are no longer playing regional politics as ObJ wants. They have to remain regional  or they are as good as PDP, a federal party. An ACN under Tinubu as president with another SWner as VP is doomed because no Igbo or hausa will look at them more than once. If Ribadu becomes the president under ACN, it is still the North in charge, SW agenda kaput. Looks like the so-called SW agenda is flimsy and all-weather, no?

the party used to be Action Congress until it began to grow itself by absolving other parties with their own ideologies;thereby streamlining its own ideology with that of the other parties to achieve a national objective.
Ribadu,[b]a northerner [/b]is the party's candidate in next year.does that still reflect regional politics ?

~Bluetooth:

the party used to be Action Congress until it began to grow itself by absolving other parties with their own ideologies;thereby streamlining its own ideology with that of the other parties to achieve a national objective.
Ribadu,[b]a northerner is the party's candidate in next year.does that still reflect regional politics ?

Therefore the SW has no regional party and it is a wasteful exercise canvassing a SW agenda since Ribadu, the party's candidate, is a northerner and one that Tinubu is not sure of manipulating. In any case Ribadu/ACN cannot win the election next year.

What do you mean by SW agenda kaput? What SW agenda? This is the SW agenda - Security of life and property, all the freedoms stated in the constitution, education, equality under the law, etc. Otherwise, I have no idea why if Ribadu wins SW interests would be compromised.

Truly unifying national politics will incorporate the interests of all regions. It is when corrupt & selfish politicians dominate a region and manage to impose it on the rest of us in the name of "national" politics that we are all losers for it. A strong Nigeria is going to depend on strong regions.

igbobuigbo:

Well if ACN comes to Rivers and other non-yoruba areas, it is no longer a regional party and will hence not be in any position to pursue  any regional agenda. If it takes over the fed govt, it means the Yoruba of ACN are no longer playing regional politics as ObJ wants. They have to remain regional  or they are as good as PDP, a federal party. An ACN under Tinubu as president with another SWner as VP is doomed because no Igbo or hausa will look at them more than once. If Ribadu becomes the president under ACN, it is still the North in charge, SW agenda kaput. Looks like the so-called SW agenda is flimsy and all-weather, no?

igbobuigbo:

Well if ACN comes to Rivers and other non-yoruba areas, it is no longer a regional party and will hence not be in any position to pursue  any regional agenda. If it takes over the fed govt, it means the Yoruba of ACN are no longer playing regional politics as ObJ wants. They have to remain regional  or they are as good as PDP, a federal party. An ACN under Tinubu as president with another SWner as VP is doomed because no Igbo or hausa will look at them more than once. If Ribadu becomes the president under ACN, it is still the North in charge, SW agenda kaput. Looks like the so-called SW agenda is flimsy and all-weather, no?

The SW agenda is a good economy, good government and fair elections. It isn't about Yoruba ethnic supremacy, or something. After all, if it were, then why is Benin ACN?

In any case, ACN in rivers/sokoto/kaduna will have a slightly different flavor than in the SW. That is absolutely fine, so long as we can maintain substantial  common interest.

DapoBear:

The SW agenda is a good economy, good government and fair elections. It isn't about Yoruba ethnic supremacy, or something. After all, if it were, then why is Benin ACN?

In any case, ACN in rivers/sokoto/kaduna will have a slightly different flavor than in the SW. That is absolutely fine, so long as we can maintain substantial  common interest.

Those are the hopes and aspirations of every other Nigerian. So why appropriate what is apparently a national agenda?

koruji:

What do you mean by SW agenda kaput? What SW agenda? This is the SW agenda - Security of life and property, all the freedoms stated in the constitution, education, equality under the law, etc. Otherwise, I have no idea why if Ribadu wins SW interests would be compromised.

Truly unifying national politics will incorporate the interests of all regions. It is when corrupt & selfish politicians dominate a region and manage to impose it on the rest of us in the name of "national" politics that we are all losers for it. A strong Nigeria is going to depend on strong regions.

You see the north as the only corrupt and domineering ones, right? Yet Ribadu is a northerner. Sounds ironical

DapoBear:

It isn't about Yoruba ethnic supremacy, or something. After all, if it were, then why is Benin ACN?

Sounds like the real, albeit covert, SW agenda. , one that will kaput with Ribadu as the president. Perhaps Benin (EDO) is just a fall guy state (so to speak) in the agenda?

The regions don't necessarily have to have regional parties, but whoever gets elected must be the free & fair wishes of the people, who have the right to shift parties if better candidates are on offer.

Take the example of the U.S. - it is well-known that the Southern U.S. is dominated by the Republicans, but in reality many of these states play staggered politics. They generally allow each party to take turns at governing the state as long as the candidate presented is good for the job. For one, it discourages parties from getting complacent. Second, the problems a nation faces require different approaches at different times making a Republican suitable at certain times & Democrats suitable at other times.

igbobuigbo:

Therefore the SW has no regional party and it is a wasteful exercise canvassing a SW agenda since Ribadu, the party's candidate, is a northerner and one that Tinubu is not sure of manipulating. In any case Ribadu/ACN cannot win the election next year.

igbobuigbo:

Those are the hopes and aspirations of every other Nigerian. So why appropriate what is apparently a national agenda?

That isn't really the hope of all Nigerians, to be honest. For example, some are pro Sharia (which leads to unequal gov't, and imo a bad one.)

Also, while it may be the hope of many Nigerians it isn't necessarily the hope of Nigerian political parties (e.g., the PDP.)

If PDP truly believed in these worthy aspirations, there would be no need for the ACN. But it does not.

igbobuigbo:

Sounds like the real, albeit covert, SW agenda. , one that will kaput with Ribadu as the president

Heh, you need to tell that Edo State, then. Or the people who have AC representatives outside of the SW.

In any case, I don't think Ribadu really has a real chance of winning. If he does and then completely shifts to become like the rest of the Northerners, then that would be quite surprising.

igbobuigbo:

You see the north as the only corrupt and domineering ones, right? Yet Ribadu is a northerner. Sounds ironical

Err, think through your statement. If I believe that among group X, there is tendency Y, does that mean ALL members of group X have tendency Y? Obviously not.

DapoBear:

That isn't really the hope of all Nigerians, to be honest. For example, some are pro Sharia (which leads to unequal gov't, and imo a bad one.)

Also, while it may be the hope of many Nigerians it isn't necessarily the hope of Nigerian political parties (e.g., the PDP.)

If PDP truly believed in these worthy aspirations, there would be no need for the ACN. But it does not.

ACN may well behave like PDP when/if they get there. Tinubu was gov of Lagos and things were not different in Lagos as in Kwara, for e.g.,  under him. Fasola is working because of himself, not because of ACN. Afterall, the same Tinubu head of ACN almost destabilized Fasola's govt recently.

igbobuigbo:

Therefore the SW has no regional party and it is a wasteful exercise canvassing a SW agenda since Ribadu, the party's candidate, is a northerner and one that Tinubu is not sure of manipulating. In any case Ribadu/ACN cannot win the election next year.

Pdp votes would be split in next year election and no doubt that an organized opposition if it truly gets its home in order;liase well with other oppopsitions to canvass for their votes cum a free and fair election will defiintely win if it capitalize on all these.
In 1999,obj had about 18 million vote while falae had about 11 million votes through alliance of APP,AD and other smaller parties was able to achieve that feat.compare this impressive results with that of yardua's election in 2007.

igbobuigbo:

You see the north as the only corrupt and domineering ones, right? Yet Ribadu is a northerner. Sounds ironical

You are revealing certain biases now. It is undeniable that the northern oligarchy has imposed on Nigeria for much of its existence (note the difference between "the northern oligarchy" and "the north" - the people of the north have been victims of this selfish politicians like the people of the SW have been victims of OBJ & his cohort). As for corruption, I just stated in a couple of replies ago that OBJ's rigged-in governors were rotten - I was talking about the SW governors.

Ribadu is fighting the "northern oligarchy" at this point and that is why his would be a unifying presidency, if he wins & follows through.