In the wake of election malpractices and irregularities in the country, former governor of Lagos State and leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has opined that Nigeria is not yet a nation.


Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Speaking at the 84th birthday and book launch of former governor, Old Western Region, General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo in Lagos yesterday, Tinubu reiterated that until Nigeria reaches that stage where one man, one vote is entrenched, it cannot be regarded as a nation.

Tinubu noted that it calls for concern that Nigeria is still fighting poverty in the midst of plenty.

He said there is urgent need for electoral reforms to save the country from anarchy and chaos.

Tinubu, who was the chairman of the occasion, said having fought tirelessly for the liberation of Nigeria during his active days, Gen. Adebayo by now should be reaping the fruits of a developed nation, but it’s unfortunate that the “country is rather sliding into doldrums.”

“We are still fighting poverty in the midst of plenty. Please forgive us and don’t be ashamed of the country you worked for. Just encourage us because we have no nation yet. We would have been better if there is one man, one vote.

“We put agencies together to entrench one man, one vote, but what we are getting is one man, many ballot papers. INEC is wallowing in logistic problems. There is no database. And our electoral system is getting to a point that the more you look, the less you see. But even if the ruling party continues to short change the majority, we will not give up,” Tinubu stressed.

He added that the country’s judicial system is under siege “because the ruling party has embarked on witch-hunting of jurists, just like in the case of Justice Salami. Are we not giving the nation to dogs and inviting chaos?”

Tinubu, however, called on the celebrant, Gen. Adebayo and other concerned Nigerians to fight for the reinstatement of Justice Salami.

Speaking on the topic ‘Rebranding Nigeria Through Elections’, Professor Justus Shokefun reiterated that the most accepted election in the history of Nigeria was held in 1993, adding that even the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua once said he was not proud of the election that brought him into office.

In his own remarks, Gen. Adebayo said: “Today is a great one for me. I’m overwhelmed. The future is more relevant than the past. I have done my best in the past and now I’m handing over to those younger, particularly those who passed through me because we want the future to be better than the past…but it appears those who are looking for positions in the future are not focused on development.”

He therefore suggested that INEC and the police should be truly independent and impartial, adding that INEC chairman and resident officers shouldn’t be appointed by the president of the country.

“There should also be a specialised court for election matters,” he concluded.

Some of the dignitaries who attended the birthday an the launch of a the book titled ‘Electoral Reforms In Nigeria’ were Chief Olusegun Osoba, General Mobolaji Johnson, Prince Tony Adejuyigbe and former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, to mention a few.




http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/03/09/we-have-no-nation-yet-says-tinubu/

A thief can still say the truth

Nor will we ever have one. . .

@POST


It is unfortunate Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not under the difference between a nation and country. The entire scene is laughable because a congregation with Gen. Robert Adeyinka Adebayo and Gen. Mobolaji Johnson is embodiment cowardice.

We have what late Chief Awolowo called a "geographical expression", a group of disparate nations lumped together. Building a true nation called Nigeria will take several more decades.

HNosegbe:

We have what late Chief Awolowo called a "geographical expression", a group of disparate nations lumped together. Building a true nation called Nigeria will take several more decades.

so you are praying for this dungeon to become a nation.

HNosegbe:

We have what late Chief Awolowo called a "geographical expression", a group of disparate nations lumped together. Building a true nation called Nigeria will take several more decades.

It does not have to take decades.What is required is the provision of a shared direction and all other things will follow.
Unfortunately, boko haram precludes this at the mo, but as Nigerians, we can find something that would truly bind us as one in thought and aspiration.

Beaf:

It does not have to take decades.What is required is the provision of a shared direction and all other things will follow.
Unfortunately, boko haram precludes this at the mo, but as Nigerians, we can find something that would truly bind us as one in thought and aspiration.

Beaf, is it not clear we are not one nation ? For how long do we continue to deceive ourselves ?

Although we love each other too much for a complete split, so is SNC the best option ?

Today we have Mend, OPC, Boko Haram, Arewa, Ohaneze, Afenifere, Massob, Massop, this youth that youth, with each fighting the wind.

It is best we split the country into 5 zones and boundaries adjusted.

if that is done everyone would be happy

The Niger-delta can export their oil and live large

The Yorubas can do their own thing

The Igbos can have more states

The Core northern governors can wake up

The middle belt can do their own thing

Niger-deltans would be the riches and that is my wish for them, God has bless them and let no man put sand for their garri. It is time they enjoy their land

Please tell GEJ to support SNC, if not this country might be heading for a civil war

@Okosodo, yes, my earnest prayer is for Nigeria to attain nationhood so that we can fulfil our potential.

@ Beaf, I disagree. A nation is built when a group of people develop a collective sense of togetherness, a common identity and common purpose. We clearly have not developed these attributes, primarily because we have been beset by leaders who have always told us that the Hausa man is different from his Igbo brother, and that the Ijaw man should regard the Kanuri as an alien.

Our apparent lack of nationhood is a thing of the mind. It will take decades of cultural and mental evolution for the concept of "One Nigeria" to truly sink in, where a man from Oyo State will see himself first as Nigerian before being Yoruba.

For now, our best shot at development is to encourage regional integration, whereby our various regions will be autonomous and productive, not depending on economic rent from centrally-controlled oil earnings.

HNosegbe:

@Okosodo, yes, my earnest prayer is for Nigeria to attain nationhood so that we can fulfil our potential.

@ Beaf, I disagree. A nation is built when a group of people develop a collective sense of togetherness, a common identity and common purpose. We clearly have not developed these attributes, primarily because we have been beset by leaders who have always told us that the Hausa man is different from his Igbo brother, and that the Ijaw man should regard the Kanuri as an alien.

Our apparent lack of nationhood is a thing of the mind. It will take decades of cultural and mental evolution for the concept of "One Nigeria" to truly sink in, where a man from Oyo State will see himself first as Nigerian before being Yoruba.

For now, our best shot at development is to encourage regional integration, whereby our various regions will be autonomous and productive, not depending on economic rent from centrally-controlled oil earnings.

thank you. Nicely put

Lets first access ourselves

Even though you are one of them that make the life miserable for ordinary Nigerians today. Thank God you still admit the truth here. Mr tinubu please be patient, God is about to send a young revolutionary messiah who will wiped out all of you together and safe Nigeria from this precarious situation.

This guy should stop talking.

So many Nigerians coming to terms with reality now, all good though.

Hhhmmm! Hear saint Asiwaju speak. Nonsense!

Dede1:

@POST


It is unfortunate Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not under the difference between a nation and country. The entire scene is laughable because a congregation with Gen. Robert Adeyinka Adebayo and Gen. Mobolaji Johnson is embodiment cowardice.

Dende,

Why dont you tell us your mission on Nairaland is to murder us with your Nnewi Yinglish.

Whats the meaning of the statements in bold?

Go back to school and stop shooting us on NL, Awujale went back to school at over 80yrs

If I remember correctly OBJ did an SNC with no results. Its one thing to clamour for an SNC, its another to hold one that truly reflects the minds of the average Nigerian and not the elite class from the different tribes.

Instead of an SNC why not these noisemakers come up with relevant bills and rally support for their passage in the NASS. Funny thing is whatever resolutions or outcome the SNC comes up with, the NASS will still have to be the ones to pass it into law, so why bit around the bush.

We just like deceiving ourselves in this country. The North and South can never disintegrate peacefully so why bother. Come up with true Federalism bills encouraging a bottom-up approach to development and IGR instead of the present Up-bottom national cake system we are presently practicing.

Nigeria, is a LIE and will continue to be a LIE. meaning, its a British experiment and will continue to be so.

To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done! Some people forget easily, and I think many are manifesting signs of madness. A war of Nigerian unity was fought, claiming millions of lives. Some write on this forum showing how happy they are that people died. Next minute, Nigeria cannot be one. This is share madness. We shall live together till date do us part! Some people are already killing everybody up north. Na turn by turn.

With retardeen distributing cars to those that have money to get one will we never have a nation, 1.3 billions and mama cook never advise him with her world bank cut your coat according to your size.

when acn wins the presidential election, he will then be telling us that Nigeria is a great nation and that Nigeria is moving forward. Yeye Old Man

every great things start small is what they say, but i must say that I'm disappointed. today you say Nigeria is not moving forward and with the same mouth you cry Nigeria will never be a nation tomorrow and you wonder why you're wallowing? if you can't get your mind straight how can Nigeria progress? of course not cause your tiny little witty brain can not recall you're Nigeria and you're what make Nigeria-Nigeria, if you are not part of the solution you are definitely part of the problem it is as simple as that init?

Asiwaju, how much did GEJ paid you ,2 days before the presidential election,you were flown to ASO rock for negotiation.How much is Fashola paying you every month? Wicked thief. Reaping the fruits of NADECO.You were lucky Abacha target you with hit man.

he is really reaping the fruits of nadeco efforts with all these isakole's.

A drug dealer talking about Nation building?


Only in Nigeria.

Tinubu has given us the truth. The are many nations within Nigeria as we are divided along many lines: cultural, religious and many more. The strongest of these division being between the elite and masses, spiced by our strong sense of no-wrong in corruption.

.

TRUTHTELA:

Nigeria, is a LIE and will continue to be a LIE. meaning, its a British experiment and will continue to be so.

it is no British experiment.

Tinubu telling us that we dont have a nation yet. Hmn, is it not obvious?
He is among the prominent character that contributed to the dysfunctional system.Why reminding us?

Chienke me' nekwa Tinubu o,

Only in Nigeria will d likes of Tinubu be roaming free, he ought to be going through what Ibori is going through in the Uk right now,

Asiwaju Tinubu, you might be right by saying we are not a nation. But d truth remains that had we been enlightened when d protectorates were merged together, we would have abort the plan now see what it has cause us today yet we still celebrate those that cause us this pain. Lets wise up had biafra been allowed to be a republic our problems would have been lesser. lets split up and each and every one of us face their business squarely

Iolo:

If I remember correctly OBJ did an SNC with no results. Its one thing to clamour for an SNC, its another to hold one that truly reflects the minds of the average Nigerian and not the elite class from the different tribes.

Instead of an SNC why not these noisemakers come up with relevant bills and rally support for their passage in the NASS. Funny thing is whatever resolutions or outcome the SNC comes up with, the NASS will still have to be the ones to pass it into law, so why bit around the bush.

We just like deceiving ourselves in this country. The North and South can never disintegrate peacefully so why bother. Come up with true Federalism bills encouraging a bottom-up approach to development and IGR instead of the present Up-bottom national cake system we are presently practicing.

It was a national conference not an SNC, though with not much difference, the only difference was the the national confab did not have a say on the unity of the country, they made it non negociable,

Meanwhile asking for a bottoms up approach to revenue generation is what people like alh harem interprete to mean asking for breakup of the country,

Those asking for SNC should know that its not only to ask for SNC, if the aim it to get lazy parasites in our mist to sit up, remember that thier numbers at the SNC will be more, hence they will use their numbers to ensure that the parasitic leeching continues, just as it happened at the national confab