During the British colonial rule, the agitation for independence was largely a southern affair. The southerners who had the earlier benefit of western education courtesy of the noble activities of the missionaries largely spearheaded the agitation for self rule. The first broad based political party – Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) was founded by Herbert Macualay in 1923 in Lagos which was the hot bed of the nation’s political activities. Franchise was limited to Lagos and Calabar because the colonialists were aware of the nationalism springing up from these two cities especially in the former. The Nigerian Youth Movement which was founded in 1934 and ended the dominance of the NNDP in 1938 by winning all the seats in the Lagos council elections that year, the National Council for Nigeria and the Camerouns (NCNC) co founded by Macualay and Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1944 and the Action Group founded by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1951 were all southern parties.

There were only two northern political parties in pre-independence Nigeria – the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) which was founded by Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello and the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) founded by Alhaji Aminu Kano. The former was for the conservative elements in the then northern region while the latter was for the masses of the north. Both weren’t nationalistic in outlook. In fact the NPC blocked the independence motion in 1953 when Chief Anthony Enahoro of the Action Group moved the motion for it for 1956. The indirect rule which the British adopted worked best in the north and so when independence came in 1960 it was the reward time for them. The cunning Brits ensured that the north based on its population size had half of the seats in the parliament which made it impossible for either the Action Group or NCNC to win without a coalition government. The mistrust between Zik and Awo made it impossible for any of them to become the nation’s Prime Minister when the Union Jack was lowered on September 30th that year.


The north had the distinction of a non nationalist becoming the country’s prime minister and the sense of entitlement when it came to the issue of political leadership sprung up. The slogan ‘born to rule’ soon emanated with many northerners carrying on with the swagger of 19th century warlords. They have ruled the nation for most part of independence with the irony of being the least developed zone in the country especially the North East which has been badly hit by the boko haram insurgency. When Buhari came to power in 2015, he allegedly plagiarized a line ‘I belong to everybody and to nobody.’ His apologists screamed to the High Heavens that he was non tribal and a reformed democrat who had consistently contested elections four times before his surprise victory in defeating an incumbent. Action speaks louder than words the age-long aphorism goes and it wasn’t long before Sai Baba as he is fondly called began to reveal his true colour.

The appointment of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was widely celebrated not only by the stakeholders but by many Nigerians in general. He had his Masters and Doctorate Degree from the world’s best educational institution – Harvard and was a topshot in America’s largest oil and gas company and one of the nation’s largest international oil companies, Exxon Mobil. Barely a year after, he was eased out of the government owned corporation for a northerner, Maikanti Baru. The immediate past Boss of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Babatunde Fowler revolutionalized the tax administration in the country. He increased the revenue base from three trillion annually to over eight trillion a year. He expanded the tax net to include the taxation of companies operating in the digital space which were hitherto left untaxed. What was his reward? An infamous query by Abba Kyari, the powerful northern chief of staff who is arguably one of the most visible faces of the cabal and his replacement by Muhammed Nami, a northern tax consultant. Dr. Muiz Banire SAN, a cerebral legal luminary and former academic was the Chairman of the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON). He combined both town and gown as he was at home in politics and legal practice. He was also the legal adviser to the APC. When his tenure came to an end, he was replaced by a northerner, Edward Adamu. After the resignation of Mrs. Kemi Adeosun as the minister for finance, she was replaced by a northerner, Zainab Ahmed. Not only that the finance ministry was expanded to include that of budget and national planning vacated by another southerner, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma. After the controversial and unceremonious sacking of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen from office, a northerner, Justice Tanko Mohammed immediately succeeded him despite the presence of many southern Justices of the Supreme Court who were eminently qualified. Most of the service chiefs are from the north as well in spite of the fact that many southern military officers have performed creditably well in foreign peace keeping missions and could be the solution to the boko haram insurgency that has defied all solutions at the moment.

The northernization agenda has given the verve to secessionist agendas most notably that of the Indigenous Peoples Republic of Biafra (IPOB) being spearheaded by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who was forced to jump bail and flee abroad on a self imposed exile. There are cries for an Oduduwa Republic though not as loud as that of IPOB. The former Niger Delta militants have threatened to return to the creeks to take up arms and the entire nation is in a gargantuan mess because of the fear of ethnic domination. I make a loud call for Buhari to critically and urgently review his appointments as they aren’t reflective of the federal character which the 1999 constitution enshrines to ensure balance. He shouldn’t give the impression that his region is the best while the others should be contented with the crumbs that fall from the master’s table. To forestall another needless ethnic agitation, he should do the needful by being fair and just in the spread of his political appointments. We have so many challenges on our hands; we can’t afford another clone of IPOB to pop out from marginalized groups.

Ademiluyi wrote from Lagos.

Lalasticlala,

https://m.guardian.ng/opinion/the-northernisation-of-nigeria/

Speechless

You yorubas only cry and drag others into your lamentations when you are falling out with your northern lords.

But when all that is supposed to come to the south goes to you alone, you'll defend the regime, and shout down anyone who crying of marginalization and proclaim 'Are Igbos the only one who is marginalized? Other 600 ethnic groups are marginalized too.'

No one is fooled. Buhari is doing very well.

LabDNA:
You yorubas only cry and drag others into your lamentations when you are falling out with your northern lords.

But when all that is supposed to come to the south goes to you, you'll defend the regime, and shout down anyone who crying of marginalization and proclaim 'Are Igbos the only one who is marginalized? Other 600 ethnic groups are marginalized too.' No one is fooled. Buhari is doing very well.

frustrated writers often end up in publishing. I 'm from Ohio in imo state

Epistles just cos of appointments.

Cheii

All this will be a reminder when power returns back to any southern region. Abi Karma don stop to dey exist?

Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Ngige are not deaf and dump...

.

Una never see anything. Please make una de endure. It remains 4yrs minus few months to go.

helinues:
Epistles just cos of appointments.

Cheii

All this will be a reminder when power returns back to any southern region. Abi Karma don stop to dey exist?

Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Ngige are not deaf and dump...

When South west collected VP and speaker u laid the foundation for all this
South west have proven they would be worst than north

U guys were screaming u only eat where u worked not knowing u were setting yourself up for north

U gave north 55% of your vote ...they have given u appointments for 4 years 4 months that seems fair enough

In the last election take out all the vote APC got from the south ..buhari still won

North only work based on your greed ...if tinubu had worked with 2 others from south east n south south ...made sure they became speaker and another post now he would have leg to stand

North made him believe he could dominate the south ...that he didn't need the southern brothers

In 2023 Igbo's need to make sure a Yoruba man becomes speaker ....they should fight for that ..let's raise a new Yoruba leaders that would work with south not like tinubu that's greedy

mrvitalis:
North only work based on your greed ...if tinubu had worked with 2 others from south east n south south ...made sure they became speaker and another post now he would have leg to stand

North made him believe he could dominate the south ...that he didn't need the southern brothers

In 2023 Igbo's need to make sure a Yoruba man becomes speaker ....they should fight for that ..let's raise a new Yoruba leaders that would work with south not like tinubu that's greedy

Igbos don't owe yorubas anything. They've had more than their fair share.

For tinubu to think he can dominate the south is laughable, even powerful than him find the SESS too republican to dominate and control.

The only figure who is doing something close to that is Nnamdi Kanu. Even some yorubas are agreeing with his truth nowadays but are too ashamed to admit it.

LabDNA:


Igbos don't yorubas anything. They've had more than their fair share.

For tinubu to think he can dominate the south is laughable, even powerful than him find the SESS too republican to dominate and control.

The only figure who is doing something close to that is Nnamdi Kanu. Even some yorubas are agreeing with his truth nowadays but are too ashamed to admit it.

The main enemy is Fulani never forget that ...Yoruba's some are with the south ,some are against the south ....if we can make the reasonable ones leaders of Yoruba's ...we can confront Fulani's as a united south ...with northern minorities its an easy fight.

Win restructure the country ...every region control their own way of life

mrvitalis:

The main enemy is Fulani never forget that ...Yoruba's some are with the south ,some are against the south ....if we can make the reasonable ones leaders of Yoruba's ...we can confront Fulani's as a united south ...with northern minorities its an easy fight.

Win restructure the country ...every region control their own way of life

And who told you yorubas really want restructuring. They've been in power, yet couldn't implement it, they are closer to power yet no longer cry about it.

They only use it to blackmail a SE or SS president or employ it to drown out the clamour for seccession or establishment of Biafra.

During the height of IPOB protests, yorubas became professors of restructuring as an alternative to break up. They were on TV, radios, newspaper, social media shouting about it. Today they've all become mute.

My guy, I've studied this country keenly and I can predict with 99% accuracy the temperament of all major regions as regards political issues.