NIGERIA PRESIDENT: Why Igbos Must Wait a Little Longer

By Ike Anthony Abaelu

Igbo people are individualism nature just like late Novelist Chinue Achebe described in his book, “there was a country”. They are born never to defend or rely on anyone for success, and unfortunate this has been used against us severely since the amalgamation of Nigeria especially in the political space. But our people from their actions appeared to have chosen to focus on the positive side of the strange nature instead of being held down by it. Although I'm not going to dwell on the past but to share my little political experience from 1999 till date and the permutations.

I was a young man still in secondary school in 1998 when one of my friends in the village told me about the registration of new political parties and he suggested we should join but blatantly told him I was not interested. Then I knew there was APP and PDP as two most popular political parties in Nigeria and of course AD in the Southwest. APP would later change to ANPP, they later split into two and Buhari’s faction registered CPC. Like l said earlier, I will not dwell so much in the past but to give a brief foundation on the journey of the Igbos especial from 1999 to date and why they might find it hard to support APC overwhelmingly as we are approaching to 2019 elections.

It was no longer news that Igbo leaders also played major roles In the formation of political parties in 1999 and when PDP won 1999 presidential election and retained power in 2003 it became obvious they were going to stay in power a little longer, so the remaining majority of Igbos who are “business people” with one single interest to protect their businesses massively joined the ruling party, whilst those who are not interested in politics sponsored many political candidates all to protect their interests. Therefore from that 2003 to 2013, 10yrs the PDP has managed to retained power Igbo politicians has invested so much in the party therefore couldn’t have joined the formation of APC.

You know; average Igbo man is not thinking about the political equation and games to play to capture power in few years like the Yoruba and Hausa, instead our major focus has always been how the government of the day policies would affect our businesses irrespective of who is in power that’s why whenever I overheard people complaining that Igbos was not part of the formation of APC I laugh because “I have never seen where any reasonable businessman would join forces with new rival company he has little or no stake in to bring down a company he has invested his time, money and energy to build”. Moreover, even those who formed APC never knew they were going to win 2015 presidential elections that was why they didn’t deemed it necessary to share positions with binding agreement with all the parties involved and the result of that negligence was what we have been witnessing happening in their party.

Talking About 2019 Election and the Political Future of Ndi Igbo;

I would sincerely state this even in my sleep that Southeastern Nigeria will only have the opportunity to step close to power sooner than they can imagine if they vote against and mobilize votes against APC in 2019. It is very clear truth and anyone who thinks otherwise should challenge me with clear facts counter the ten facts I am going to state below;

Fact One: When the formation of APC took place there was no top and reputable Igbo person who was involved in the discussions like they actively participated in the formation of political parties in 1998.

Fact Two: The only Igbo Leader who would later joined APC was Gov. Okorocha, and even as APGA Governor then he couldn’t convince a bulk number of parties member on the need to join forces with APC instead he managed to joined them few of those loyal to him in his state, therefore cannot be said there was something he brought on the table.

Fact Three: There were indications that in terms of structure and financial supports which are two major bedrock of establishing APC were provided by mainly political leaders from North, Southwest and few from South-south, thereby leaving Southeast with no stake in the party. Those Igbos you have now are late arrivals.

Fact Four: There were claims that the zoning of presidential position between North and South was the making of PDP; but APC authenticated it when the queued up to that zoning and presented a Northern candidate in 2015 presidential elections. The same position they have zoned back to North for 2019 presidential election. So zoning between north and south has overwhelmingly been adopted by Nigerians.

Fact Five: PDP and most political parties preparing to present presidential candidates in 2019 election has also zoned the position to North in their respective parties confirming the fact that the next president is 90% likely going to come from the North but on which of the political platform is an issue for another day.

Fact Six: Forget the political intrigues going on now in the country; the game is not about 2019 but 2023. APC has successfully brought in some Igbo leaders to the party and the new song was Igbo President 2023, in fact Igbos in party were singing it like a poem. They were becoming influential holding rallies and meetings for Buhari as if there was an agreement written or verbally said that President would come from Southeast after Buhari. While on the other side, Tinubu and his group as at last year were a step away from APC; the hand writing was boldly written and all the political pundits could easily predict that they were moving out from APC. In fact I have been expecting a third force that would challenge 2019 presidential election, never from Obasanjo’s group but actually from Tinubu’s group. Sometime last year my former boss called me on the phone to remind me of my prediction after 2015 election that Buhari’s brothers would want to frustrate Tinubu out of APC and events appeared to be going towards that direction then.
But just like a miracle, it appeared like someone tapped Buhari and asked him to wake up from the sleep or that he (Buhari) had pre-planned events. Suddenly, he realized it was time to mend fence with the west bloc of his party and he did it so perfectly, brought in their leader Tinubu back, took him along on travels, held meetings with him abroad evidently to strategize for 2019, only God knows what they promised Tinubu perhaps 2023 ticket? I won’t be surprised because many top APC members has started speaking, even on National Television that after Buhari that power is moving back to Southwest. I’m not even surprised at all.

Fact Seven: There are few people, experienced Journalists that I like reading their columns on different national dallies and few of them are close to the seat of power and that most times compels me to believe their apologues. From what I have read so far, it appears truly that power would move back to Southwest after Buhari but that is if APC would retain the seat of power in 2019 presidential election and Tinubu no doubt will be one of the major aspirants. (Trust me an election Tinubu contested in will mark the return of June 12, he will win with landslide). Look in as much as I hate the sound of this, but I still can’t hide the truth from myself. (I’m cooking up a special article for this).
Fact Nine: 2019 Presidential election will go a very along in determining the fate of Southeast in the Nigeria political arena. If APC retain power in 2019, it will take Igbos nothing less than additional 20yrs before Igbos would have the opportunity to produce president; because after Buhari’s second 4yrs term, power will shift to Southwest for 8yrs and back to North for another 8yrs; then return to south possibly east would grab it.
But if PDP win 2019 presidential election; Igbo will have the opportunity of producing Vice President as I heard it has been zoned to Southeast and produce president after 8yrs of a Northern candidate of PDP.

Fact Ten: Finally this is for Southeast and West regions; politics is a game of number, it is like an equation if not accurately solved would not give you the desired answer and unfortunately for Ndi Igbo Yorubas understand this game far better than us and they have been planning, plotting and preparing for 2023 since 2013, this is a clear truth some of you don’t know. If I must tell myself the truth I do not see Igbos producing a president in 2023 but in 2028 if we can get our acts together in 2019.

But someone would want to ask; what if Buhari and North are actually deceiving Tinubu and Southwest just to get their support and votes for 2019 and eventually push them away for Southeast in 2028 not just for love but for equity and fairness?
My Response; in as much as it sounded very interesting but still not convincing. But in politics especial in Nigeria everything possible.

Y

Until they know what they want,either Nigeria or Biafra,siimple

What's special if an Igbo man rules Nigeria?

Igbo has been trying hard to match up with Yoruba since 1960s. Watching the South West closely but they're no match for them.

APGA AND PDP can jointly defeat South West na... Why are Igbo people thinking of presidential slot in Apc they have lampooned so MUCH? Moreover is the Igbo that always sells the power to the Northerners even when a Northerner and Southerner are in contention for the presidency.

I just pity Igbo politicians in APC,okorocha and co who are nursing presidential ambition.They are oblivious to the fact that they are pawns in the game that APC is playing.Fact 3 of the write up attest to this.If they think serving the party by mobilising votes from southeast will make them worthy of consideration for presidential candidacy,they are in for a rude awakening.Let me not just not talk too much, their eyes will open in 2023