Beaf:

Nobody is against Northerners, so lets avoid simplistic arguments.
Those "leaders" in the class of Tanko Yakasai, Isa Yuguda, Yerima, IBB, Kanti-Bello etc DO NOT represent the average Northerner. Those men and their type represent all that is corrupt, backward and wicked about Nigeria. In the 40 years they have been in power, what have they achieved even for their own people? Everyone knows that the North is the poorest and by far the most deprived of Nigerian regions; yet all young progressive Northerners and other future detribalised leaders have been witch-hunted, criminalised, hounded into jail, or forced into exile (in a democracy ). Masari, Ribadu and El-Rufai easily come to mind.

The North is more of a hostage to these men than Nigeria in general (judging by the incredible degree of backwardness they have levied against their own people). At this point in time, the North actually needs the South to save it from the bloodsuckers, paedophiles and vampires that have siezed her instituitions of power and are plotting ways to extend their territory across the country. The North deserves a fresh and better set of rulers, leaders and opinion shapers than they currently have. . . Nobody deserves the likes of Yerima and his 13 year old "bride".

I bet you have been taken out of this place and been given a job by jonathan,i observed u have been away for awhile.

How good is jonathan and his crew as regards salvaging nigeria if at this point in time the know prolific thieves are still part and parcel of governance without any heat,except for the likes of ibori?

There are so many iboris walking free in the system and still deciding the faith of civil nigerians.

Beaf:

Nobody is against Northerners, so lets avoid simplistic arguments.
Those "leaders" in the class of Tanko Yakasai, Isa Yuguda, Yerima, IBB, Kanti-Bello etc DO NOT represent the average Northerner. Those men and their type represent all that is corrupt, backward and wicked about Nigeria. In the 40 years they have been in power, what have they achieved even for their own people? Everyone knows that the North is the poorest and by far the most deprived of Nigerian regions; yet all young progressive Northerners and other future detribalised leaders have been witch-hunted, criminalised, hounded into jail, or forced into exile (in a democracy ). Masari, Ribadu and El-Rufai easily come to mind.

The North is more of a hostage to these men than Nigeria in general (judging by the incredible degree of backwardness they have levied against their own people). At this point in time, the North actually needs the South to save it from the bloodsuckers, paedophiles and vampires that have siezed her instituitions of power and are plotting ways to extend their territory across the country. The North deserves a fresh and better set of rulers, leaders and opinion shapers than they currently have. . . Nobody deserves the likes of Yerima and his 13 year old "bride".

fugocisse:

i think all south should support jonathan come 2011. is there any thing wrong for a ND man to lead our country since almost all the wealth of nigeria comes from there( though we igbos have much of the oil too). but then jonathan has shown some qualities which seems a step towards right direction. please for GOD sake all i want is nigeria to become great! look at how other countries are making fun of us! can you imagine ghana and south africa, now they have join other countries in making fun of our great nation nigeria. hausa/fulani should wait and see what nigeria will turn into with jonathan on the sit come after 2011.

Kobojunkie:

Why exactly should ALL the south vote for this man at this point?

A) Because he is a PROVEN leader?

B) Because he is a southerner?

C) Because he is the BEST Nigerian for the job?

Which? Please prove FACTS to support claims made

bk/babe97:


D. Because Ojukwu doesnt support him!


And u know anyone/anything the Ibos go against is always the best choice!!!

sjeezy8:

You are an IBB boy- im sure you will go to your hometown with an IBB poster and shirt

"a vote for IBB is a vote for ndigbo in 2015" lol

Abagworo:

I have ignored you for so long but will soon draw my sword.You seem to think Igbo is a small village or something.Igbos can never ever be ruled by one man.We all have equal opportunities to air our views and that is why we remain the only true democracy in the world.Our women do not bow down to greet men nor do our men bow down to any living man as our overall king.We are all born as potential kings.

Abagworo:

I have ignored you for so long but will soon draw my sword.You seem to think Igbo is a small village or something.Igbos can never ever be ruled by one man.We all have equal opportunities to air our views and that is why we remain the only true democracy in the world.Our women do not bow down to greet men nor do our men bow down to any living man as our overall king.We are all born as potential kings.

Echidime:

Many of you here do not know which KALU that is speaking,Is not Orji Uzo Kalu the former Governor, this is Chief Onwuka Kalu IBB's Right man he was the one that Organise the first children of Africa which Micheal Jackson refuse to attend,while he and IBB shared their Billion of Dollars,later IBB used him to transfer Nigerian oil money abroad,then [size=14pt]as an Ibo man, he cornered the cash to himself[/size] which lead to IBB Arresting him and detaining him for years,and later release him.

Here they come again,naija should watch out

otondo55:

Kalu ke ? HISS

Messing abia the more.

Aba is an eye-sour.

Echidime:

Many of you here do not know which KALU that is speaking,Is not Orji Uzo Kalu the former Governor, this is Chief Onwuka Kalu IBB's Right man he was the one that Organise the first[size=13pt] children of Africa [/size] which Micheal Jackson refuse to attend,while he and IBB shared their Billion of Dollars,later IBB used him to transfer Nigerian oil money abroad,then as an Ibo man, he cornered the cash to himself which lead to IBB Arresting him and detaining him for years,and later release him.

Here they come again,naija should watch out

SKYPO:

My advice to Goodluck is to obey the zoning formula of PDP because an Agreement is agreement full stop. or let those gentle men come together discard the zoning formula as they agreed before.

How will you feel if somebody disappoint you?. Just said the truth and forget sentiment.

SKYPO:

My advice to Goodluck is to obey the zoning formula of PDP because an Agreement is agreement full stop. or let those gentle men come together discard the zoning formula as they agreed before.

How will you feel if somebody disappoint you?. Just said the truth and forget sentiment.

Onlytruth:
. . .
What is so hard about abiding by a simple convention (a gentleman's agreement)? Why do we always risk being the scapegoat for trying to do the right thing? There is a good chance that Ndigbo may decide to back Jonathan, and he may win in that scenario, but at what cost?
. . .

Beaf:

So where did South South fall in that "agreement?" Also, if not for the fate, where does the ND fit in the "agreement"? Are they only good for providing oil and not good enough to rule?

metal-gong:

So you are now a PDP member, right? Nigerians will never cease to amaze me. . . .  It is quite ironic that most southerners are now PDP members just because their brother ascended to the helm of Nigerian affairs , the same PDP they are calling the worst thing that ever happened Nigeria. This scenario playing out has also exposed the tribalistic tendencies of most Nigerians,especially how it has been turned into anti - north sentiment.

In referrence to the issue of the agreement, it was simply based on North - south rotation. However, we should always try to clarify that this is a political party's gentleman agreement and not Nigerian constitution.

Beaf:

Gentleman's agreement? No.

The zoning arrangement seen its true light is nothing but the pinnacle of treachery and skullduggery. It was a crude mechanism put in place to pacify the Yoruba after the anullment of the June 12 elections and the prolonged arrest and death of the winner, M.K.O Abiola. That is all it was and it has been fulfilled with the Presidency of Obasanjo.

Senator Kanti-Bello one of the leaders of the cabal has said in print that he wouldn't mind for zoning to be scrapped after 2015 (after a Northerner ahs been in power from 2011). So where does that leave the Southern gentlemen in the gentleman's agreement? Nowhere.

sjeezy8:

yes Southerners are PDP members when it befits them ODE

I want a NDeltan to be president so im PDP for now- in 2015 ohhhhh im AC - FASHOLA FOR PRESIDENTT!!!!!!

Onlytruth:

Frankly, this is one of those issues that define a people and their character. As the saying goes, "the true test of character is not what one does in convenient times, but rather what he/she does in times of difficulty."

It is far more convenient for Ndigbo to throw their weight (whatever it is worth) behind Jonathan next year, afterall, this is politics. But, even politics have conventions, which is part of why Ndigbo keep having problems in Nigeria.

What is so hard about abiding by a simple convention (a gentleman's agreement)? Why do we always risk being the scapegoat for trying to do the right thing? There is a good chance that Ndigbo may decide to back Jonathan, and he may win in that scenario, but at what cost?

It is easy to argue that Nigeria is an immoral nation where words don't mean much, but what right do we have to complain when we get bad leadership? Are immoral people entitled to honest leadership? Of course not!

Before now, I would have insisted that Jonathan contests, but please notice that I can only support him when he has reassured the injured parties -in this case the northerners- that he means well. The cost of treachery is steep!
Treachery destroyed the East -West (Igbo-Yoruba) political synergy for ever.

My position: I would only support Jonathan if he fairly convinces the PDP (not through arm twisting like he did with Ogbulafor) to drop the zoning convention for ever. In that case, we southerners must never complain in the future if a northerner corners power for a prolonged and inordinate tenure. He who goes to equity must go with clean hands.

Let us carefully consider this challenge.

Summary, I would only support him if he fairly convinces stakeholders in PDP to drop the PDP zoning convention.

metal-gong:

So you are now a PDP member, right? Nigerians will never cease to amaze me. . . .  It is quite ironic that most southerners are now PDP members just because their brother ascended to the helm of Nigerian affairs , the same PDP they are calling the worst thing that ever happened Nigeria. This scenario playing out has also exposed the tribalistic tendencies of most Nigerians,especially how it has been turned into anti - north sentiment.

In referrence to the issue of the agreement, it was simply based on North - south rotation. However, we should always try to clarify that this is a political party's gentleman agreement and not Nigerian constitution.

Onlytruth:

I really would like to believe the bolded, but I think that Jonathan can help clarify things. That guy has achieved more for Nigeria within few months in office than the years of Yar adua (and even OBJ). So, it is very easy to support him. I remember very well during Obasanjo's failed constitutional conference when the debate about zoning was raging. The north insisted it must be on the basis of north and south, while the south east and south south canvassed for a geopolitical arrangement for zoning. The north being in power (never believe that Yoruba ruled through Obasanjo, they didn't ) had their way and even Obasanjo could not change it which is why he picked Yar adua after his 8 year tenure. So, when elements in the north argue that Obasanjo deliberately picked Yar adua in order to expeditiously return power to the south, they seem to have a case.

I really think that Jonathan's presidency presents us with a rare opportunity -when none of the major tribes are in power- to address things like zoning once and for all. Of course it must not stop at zoning, it must also address things like quota system and federal character. Cherry picking will not work this time. So I say Jonathan should take on ALL these issues head-on. Only after then can anyone talk of a sensible resolution.