If Chief Oliver Akubueze, President of the Lagos State Chapter of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo took to heart the recent admonition of President Goodluck Jonathan on how to win Lagos State in the 2011 elections, he did not say. But it was more than implied that the heretical thesis propounded by Jonathan on December 19 in Ibadan had crossed Akubueze’s mind. During the meeting with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates at Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the president had moaned that if Lagos was lost again in the next elections, the PDP would continue to be tormented. More, said Jonathan ominously and subversively, “…The figure of supporters I have of other ethnic groups in Lagos show that PDP can beat any other party. I assure you that we are committed and I encourage you to work harder to win Southwest clearly, especially Oyo, Ogun and Lagos,” At the time analysts excoriated the president for seeming to insinuate ethnic politics into Lagos life, perhaps out of desperation. It was understood that the president was asking other ethnic groups in Lagos to vote only PDP, even if the Yoruba continued to vote for the state’s ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

No one could explain why the president felt other ethnic groups supported the PDP only and resented or distrusted the ACN; or why he thought even if other ethnic groups numbered so significantly as to affect election outcomes as he imagined, they must invariably vote for the PDP. Well, we needn’t wonder for much longer. Chief Akabueze underlined the president’s ethnic hypothesis a few days ago when he gave the population of the Igbo in Lagos as four million. This huge figure, which he concluded formed over 40 percent of the state population, could vote in one direction in 2011, assuming they all voted. That direction, he solemnly warned, could be opposed to that of the ACN if Governor Babatunde Fashola failed to appreciate the contributions of the Igbo in the development of the state or continued to relegate them in the scheme of things. He didn’t expatiate. But just in case anyone doubted where he drew inspiration from for his deductions, Akabueze echoed Jonathan’s perspective by suggesting that whichever party the Igbo voted for would win the election in Lagos.

When Jonathan made his ethnically-inspired extrapolation, and was roundly condemned, few thought anyone would thoughtlessly latch on to it so soon, especially considering our political history, recent events in Jos and the general conflagrations that have accompanied ethnic rivalries since the 1960s. But politics is not often conducted with the best of sobriety. Apart from the fact that there are no reliable figures of Lagos’ ethnic mix, interest groups ought to by now recognise what dangers resorting to ethnic politics constitute for everybody. A better approach would have been for opinion moulders and interest group mobilisers to educate the electorate on the advantages of voting for candidates with the best progressive and developmental agenda. Sadly, Jonathan did not advise himself well on the matter of Lagos politics. Akabueze made it worse by lighting a fuse under the incendiary statement; for as everyone knows, instigation is a double-edged sword.



http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/editorial/hardball/23661.html

Hmm, hmm. I definitely did not catch this statement by GEJ at all.

Alj Uche:

Akabueze made it worse by lighting a fuse under the incendiary statement; for as everyone knows, instigation is a double-edged sword.   

Indeed. Instigation is a double-edged sword. Sometimes statements you make can come back and bite you in the @ss.

May everyone in the SW hear GEJs words and consider them and their meaning, and respond appropriately.

eku_bear:

Hmm, hmm. I definitely did not catch this statement by GEJ at all.
Indeed. Instigation is a double-edged sword. Sometimes statements you make can come back and bite you in the @ss.

May everyone in the SW hear GEJs words and consider them and their meaning, and respond appropriately.

The guy (GEJ) is an ethnic chav! He wants to create ethnic violence so he can gain power? What a president. May Almighty God remove him and PDP from power. The SW should get their acts right by voting against this tribalist!!!

eku_bear:

Hmm, hmm. I definitely did not catch this statement by GEJ at all.
Indeed. Instigation is a double-edged sword. Sometimes statements you make can come back and bite you in the @ss.

May everyone in the SW hear GEJs words and consider them and their meaning, and respond appropriately.

Not surprising if one considers that it is the same Jonathan that stood nodding in approval while Tony Anenih threatened SS delegates with 'repercussion' if they dare vote for a Northerner against GEJ. Jonathan is just a vacuous and cynical opportunist. At every stage , he has shown a distinct lack of principles allied with total selfishness. We are all seeing the real GEJ now and it ain't a pretty sight at all.

and this is the same person people are fighting for

makes no sense at all

Like they need any help?
Sheeeeeeeesh!
They can do bad all by themselves.

Tsk!

Ooooops! An Alu-Hareem thread?
Too late now!

OUT>>>>>>>>>>>!!!!!!!