₦airaland Forum

Ebunoluwa2020:
By Babafemi Ojudu



https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10161569198784689&id=820579688

This is the REAL kind of Yoruba politician that I grew up respecting. People like Bola Ige, Beko Ransome Kuti et al. Fearless and principled. Without firing a single bullet, they drove the millitary back to the barracks.

TheRealestGuy:
Don't understand why you're talking about PDP and APC when the fact remains that most Nigerians, especially northerners, seem to abhor even the idea of an Igbo man being president, maybe the issue of 1966 is the reason but is it good enough?

Time will tell as it does for all things.

I can only tell you from my personal experince this is not the case. I attnded an FGC and as such my old class mates cut across the entire nation from North to South. Just yesterday we were discussing this very topic and the 2 names that constantly came top were Osinbajo and Umahi. What's interesting is that the SE members of the group, actually kept quiet and allowed the rest of us to debate it out. Trust me there is a hunger out there in the country for COMPETENT leadership. If the SE can put forward candidate(s) with proven track record of competence, I can assure you they will be received well across the land.
PS that means no Orji Kalu or Pius Anyim O!

TheRealestGuy:
First I will ignore your victimhood statement as it lacks any substance.

As for the main body of your comment, you have a very good point although using Atiku as an example is way off cos I'm talking about other ethnicities actually voting an Igbo man for president.

And when I'm talking here it's from the angle that of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, an Igbo man has never been elected president in the history of Nigeria.

I agree to an extent that maybe it does depend on political alliances and strategy but that does not give the whole picture.

Using your Atiku example, do you think Obi would have garnered more than a few thousand votes in the North if here were to be the one running for President and Atiku his vice?

I think an Igbo man can do very well in the North, if he has a good VP candidate AND has built a network of influential supporters. I admit it won't be easy, the legacy of 1966 still runs VERY deep in the North, but time has moved on, and Buhari has been such a massive failure to the extent that many northerners are now ready to vote for anyone who is going to provide competent leadership.
My further advice to the SE, is to focus on the PDP. ACP will never give the ticket to the SE, it's either going to the SW or staying in the North. PDP is a diffrent matter. The SE have paid their dues in that party and can rightly demand that's its now their turn. They should make it clear to the North, that if the PDP ticket is zoned to the North, the SE will NOT vote PDP in 2023.

TheRealestGuy:
I ask this question cos it is bewildering and quite shocking to see the reactions of a lot of Nigerians whenever the question of an Igbo presidency is brought up.

Bear in mind that historically, Igbos have voted for a Yoruba man for presidency (Obasanjo in '99 & '03), an Ijaw man (GEJ in '11) as well as twice for core Fulani men (Yar'adua and Atiku). Therefore, any accusations of hate of other tribes by Igbos is laughable and obviously untrue.

Furthermore, Igbos can arguably be said to be the most integrated ethnic group in Nigeria since there's no LGA or Town in the country where you won't find a sizable number Igbo people most likely engaging in business, paying taxes and adding their quota to the economic and social development of the state.

Now I know the issue of the 1966 coup might come up but remember that this was a military affair which cannot be blamed on the average Igbo man and that the coup plotters weren't solely of Igbo origin. Also, those involved in the coup have written several books as to the reason why it was carried out (e.g. Why We Struck by Col. Ademoyega) hence, ruling out any idea that it was an ethnic cleansing.

Finally, it is on record that an Igbo officer was the one who foiled the coup and arrested the officers involved (even though he could have handled it much better by meting out justice asap). Also, if the 1966 coup were to be the reason for the irrational distrust, haven't Igbos paid the more than enough price for Nzeoguwo and Co's mistakes?

Last thing I can think of is that they are afraid that an Igbo president will push for referendum to be reinserted into the constitution. Question is how is that a negative thing? Remember that the right to self determination is something that every progressive country should have and in a democracy, all discussions no matter how sensitive must be allowed as that is how a democracy matures - it is tested continuously.

EDIT: Issues of being boastful and denigrating to other Nigerians in towns and cities where Igbos conduct their businesses have come up. While I agree that the average Igbo man's big ego is a weakness that can cause him to be disliked by others, I do not believe it is a cogent enough reason to perpetually refuse to give them a chance at steering the affairs of a country where they form one of the major ethnic groups.


So I'm asking directly - If you're one of those vehemently opposing the idea of an Igbo president, can you give a good/cogent reason for this decision?

I think there is a massive sense of victimhood among the Igbos. Everything is about people 'doing something to them' The simple truth is there is nothing remarkable about the fact that an Igbo person has not yet won the presidential election in NIgeria since 1999. If we look at from the angle of the 6 geo political zones, it is not only the SE that have not produced a president, the same is the case for the NC and NE.

The SW took a strategic choice to align with the SW and it paid off for them. The SE did the same and aligned with the NE in 2019 but it did not pay off. If Atiku and Peter Obi had won in 2019, the SE would not be complaning today. Politics is a zero sum game, you win or you loose. The Igbo should stop taking it personal, stop being emotional and instead look to build the right aliances that will get them what they want.

As usual the North fails to address the problems within their mist, that are of their own making. By refusing to accept population control, by refusing to end the awrful Alimajari system, be refusing to ensure that their young people are educated, they are creating a massive population set of illetrate paupers. This population set then makes up the fertile recurting mass for Boko Haram, Bandits and other neferous groups. Untill the North face their own problem within, there will never be peace there. Rather the region will just continue to slide into anarchy and lawlesness. There are currenlty over 10 milliion northern kids not in school, any expert in security and conflict will know what that means for the future.

RisenJoe:
Hypocrisy, ethnic and religious politics is the bane of this mighty nation.

People know the truth about this man but will turn blind eye, it was a Yoruba man in the person of Fela Kuti who warned Nigerians about this man called Buhari far back in the 90's but it was the same Yoruba people that voted for him en masse, all because their god father endorsed him.

Buhari's misrule has been a real eye opener for a lot of Nigerians. There is no way they will vote for a questionable candidate again. I agree there will always be a degree of people who wil simply vote based on ethnic condiserations, but the majority have had enough of that and are looking for competent leadership.
Tinubu has way too many skeletons in his cupboard to be the next president of this country. He can spend as much as he wants, it's just not going to happen.

How can a Nobel laurette endorse a man who:

Is not listed in the records of ANY secondary school in Nigeria
Is not a member of the old students asscoication of ANY school in Nigeria
Not a SINGLE Nigerian has come out to say they want to with 'Bola Tinubu'

No sane person will vote to hand over the Nigerian treasurey to such a man.

Like Kalu, he's waiting for the presidency to be zoned to SE. He go wait tire!

With the North, we are seeing another Afganistan in the making. It's truly sad, as most Northerners are simply wonderful, kind people, but sadly they have total monsters as leaders.

Amachi is definitely a dark horse. From APC I think its between him and Osinbajo

Why cant you set up cattle ranches in Ondo and the south west?

Elbinawi:
Activist @xeephlex Tweet:

"Whenever i hear people saying the insecurity issue in Zamfara is being tackled i just listen and smile, coz more is happening than what is reported, it's not a political propaganda against the government it's just the truth, we need help in Zamfara."

Me:

What this female Activist from Zamfara State said here about her State is the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth. Unfortunately, the Governor of Zamfara State, @Bellomatawalle1, since he defected to the ruling party became totally useless to the suffering people of Zamfara State. He arrogantly thought with that move his reelection is done and dusted as security forces will help him rig the election.

Today the suffering people of Zamfara State are in need of a hardworking Governor like @ProfZulum of Borno State.

And the Youths of Zamfara State MUST rise up to defend and protect their besieged, brutalized and dehumanized communities from these murderous terrorists.

Pray For Zamfara State!

#ElbinawiTweets

Iam an Edo man, and I pray my brothers and sisters in Zamfara can overcome these terrible challenges. Insecurity anywhere, is insecurity everywhere.

Nigerians dont know it, but they have actually been having it good for a long time in terms of tax. Due to the fact the economy is oil based, in the past govt has only relied on this revenue. As oil revenues continue to decrease, government will start to find new sources of revenue hence new taxes.

Does this one know where he is? Benin City of all places is where you go and be making stupid comments about our Oba. Useless person.

I beg Mali is just cover story. They are putting finishing touches to GEJ's defection to APC

Dartilo:
You claim Otamere and I just laugh my name is Eguavoenobaghoghoyi....that name alone in full details should tell you alot....From ibiwe to ugbowo,from Ekenwan to ugbiyoko.....from third to idogbo...from Ikpokpan to boundary and from sapele road down to Ologbo....I hope now u blv am a truly a Benin boy.....we have no connection with Yoruba...Oduduwa himself was not even from Yoruba in the first place if we are to start plz this is a new year I am not in for insult but constructive reasoning

No wahala my brother, I have no doubt you are a son of the soil . I will never argue with a fellow Bini on social media. Have a wonderful day, and remain blessed.

When a single malam can have 25 kids from multiple wives, what do you expect!

Dartilo:
I am an Edo man and a Benin Man


We have no connection with the Yoruba with due respect to everyone

Otemere, I am a Bini man like you, but you are wrong on this one. The Bini and the Yoruba are closely related this is a historical fact. The open question is who is the 'Original'. On this point there is a lack of clarity and conflicting accounts.

Reality3080:
This was d same thing i was trying to explain to a moniker IGBOSON1 today,he just keeps rewriting history n changing narratives to suit himself.

Igbos have to realise they are part of the problems we have in Nigeria n look for ways to correct their wrongs so the people can change opinion about them but they keep repeating d same mistake n keep shouting

"They hate us"
"They envy us"

They will not accept that the first coup was an Igbo coup
They will not accept that Zik is the one that prevented seccesion clause being included in the constitution
They will not accept the fact that that it was Ironsi that created the unitary state
They will not accept that in 1999 the presidency was zoned to the whole south, not the south west

They really need to park their egos,and reach out and work with other groups, if they are every going to achieve their goals.

The road to 2023 will see many new alliances formerd. Previous enemies will suddenly become friends and vice versa.

If the APC pick GEJ, it's very likley the PDP will go with a Northerner. Where does that leave the SE and SW? I would humbly suggest that should be the time for those 2 zones to FINALLY see sense and understand that no condition is for ever. If after 8 years the APC double cross the SW and after 24 years PDP do not give the SE the ticket, then surley that is the time for the SE and SW to unite in a new party. The SW should support the SE for the presidency, with a christian vice from the North Central (Yes it should be a Christian/Christian ticket, the NW and NE wil already be shared between PDP and APC no need to try and appease them)
This aillance can clear the North Central, SE and SW and also some parts of the NE like Adamawa and Taraba. The SW should be promised the Senate Presidency and some specific ministries.
If the SE and SW do not find a way to work together, the North will contiune to play them off against each other, while the North will be ones to keep gaining

sweetjohn:
The Yorubas did not know what they have caused for themselves under a self centered Tinubu. No region in the south including some sw states like Edo will want to associate with them. We have all known them for who they are, enemy and sabotuers to the south. Not even the north will support them, infact, the north over the years enjoy using and dumpng them

Please Edo is NOT SW. We are Midwest with our brohters in Delta state. I agree with you though we no send Tinubu at all, as shown during the Edo election. Edo no be Lagos

2023 is going to be sooo sweet. As an Edo man, na front seat with pop corn I dey, to watch the other zones battle it out between themselves!

BJanta:
And fill up its armoury with a mass of fake weapons. Those who buy from China and Russia do so because they no choice. Every nation wants to buy from the US or West. But they don't sell to every nation without appropriate conditionalities.. Check out Saudi Arabia and others.

Where is your evidence that China and Russia sell fake weapons? You do realize that ALL the freedom figthers in the 60's and 70's (Cuba, Angola, Namabia, El Savador...) where all using Russian and China weapons. The AK 47 remains till this day the most realiable automatic machine gun in service.

RodgersAkpafu:
Just zip up
US and Russia are always the go to for countries (and rebels too) who seek to acquire weapons
China does not even come close to these two wild animals
If you are as knowledgeable as you claim
You should have known that

Exactly what have you said? You are making no sense. You say US and Russia go for countrries that seek to acquire weapons. I agree no argument there. Where we disagree is I am telling you that Russia do not put any conditions of the use of those weapons once they are sold and the US dose. I've asked you to please show me a SINGLE example where Russia has placed restrictions on weapons it has sold to any country and of course you can't provide any such example. Just another empty head who comes online to spew ignorant nonsense. I beg go park well guy, you don't have the intellectual ability to engage me in debate.

Tpharell:
Makes you wonder why Nigeria did not approach either Russia or China for the military hardware, which would clearly have been cheaper than those of the Americans. Are you curious yet?

Very curious. The US must have applied preasure on them. Remember must of their loot is stored in the West/Dubai. Easy for the US to track down if needed.

RodgersAkpafu:
You THINK russia (china is even out of it cos they have no levels) will sell weapons to you with no conditionalities?
I laugh
The only solution is to manufacture your own weapons
Unfortunately black man is too mentally lazy to do that

Yes they do actually.
Your post is so devoid of intelligence it almost does not warrant an answer. I can tell you that when it comes to arms sales, it is only the US and European nations that impose all sort of conditions on the sales based on 'Human Rights'
Now if you have diffent information , that shows either Chian or Russia putting conditions on the deployment of arms they sell, please share with us.
BTW your comment about china 'Not having levels' is beer palour level gist. China recenty tested a hypersonic missle, which has totally spooked the US, as they are at least 5 years away from developing similar capability. Try and keep up with what's happenig in the world, rather than livining in ignorance.

ajagidiagbo1:
There are global practice for use of such in your territories. They are not taking the order from the manufacturer.

Not Global, Western. Stop seeing US and European practices as the only ones to be followed. China and Russia have strict non-interferance approaches to their dealings with other countries. It's strictly based on trade.

It's a total joke that a nation will spend Millions of dollars to buy weapons, and then have to get clarance from the seller, before deploying. This was the same US that refused to sell GEJ weapons when he needed to confront BH, becasue Hillary Clinton and Obama refused to designate BH as a terrosit outfit. How can we be realying on such people for our defense needs? We need to only deal with realiable sellers, who will not put any strings on the deal.

Politics is dynamic not static. The SE simply do not know how to play the game. It's not about sentiments, it's all about interests. In 1999 the SW voted massivly agaisnt OBJ, by 2003 it reversed and they voted en mass for him. Why? Interests. If GEJ were to contest in 2023 he will not be needing SE support. His contesting will be a Northern tool to secure the presidency in 2027, hence the North will vote en mass for GEJ, as will the SS.
The Igbos need to STOP, telling diffrent people not to contest. it's embarassing and pathatic. They need to face some quick facts. They do not have a foothold in ACP and will never get the ticket there. You can't reap, where you did not sow. PDP is thier best bet. They need to consolidate around one candidate in PDP(Peter Obi?) and start full mobilisation and networking for that canidate. Right now in PDP Atiku, Saraki, Wike are all working, I hardly hear from Peter Obi. Presidency no be moi-moi. Tinubu and Atiku have been working for it for over a decade. You can't just sit in your living room and be shouting to others 'Do not contest it's our turn'. No be so!

No serious counrtry will purchase weapons from someone who will be controlling how you use them. In future Nigeria should focus it's arm purchases from Russia and China. Once we have paid and taken delivery of the weapons, it is up to us to decide how to deploy them.

HacheNoire:
If past leaders had made hays while the sun was shining, it would never had been this bad.

Buhari had his faults, but if Nigeria moved at the present pace in last 20 years, it would never had been this bad

Vey true. Buhari has achivied more in terms of infrastructure than all the presidents since 1999 combined. He deserves kudos for this, even if we rightly attack him for failng in other areas

BeeBeeOoh:
https://dailypost.ng/2022/01/01/2023-therell-be-no-election-if-you-fail-to-release-nnamdi-kanu-in-2022-ohanaeze-warns-buhari/

We have heard all this noise before. Nobody takes you guys seriously. Did elections not hold in Anambra despite all the noise? Come 2023, Igbo politicians, desperate to have a seat at the sharing table, will ensure elections hold.

oyatz:
My stand is a capital NO to involvement of religions in Government.
It only became a great issue after 1986 when Nigeria joined the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and it hasn't brought us any good at all.


In the old Western Region, Awolowo and his deputy Premier and chosen, successor, SLA Akintola were both Christians.


In the Second Republic, Gov Lateef Jakande and Deputy Gov Rafiu Jafojo were both Muslims and nobody raised any eyebrows. Their Administration is the best in the history of Lagos State.


Gen Gowon and his deputy, Admiral Adewale Wey were both Christians.


1983 Dec 31-1985 Aug-27: Gen Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Gen Tunde Idiagbon were muslims.

In the 1979 presidential election, Awolowo & Emeadu ran on the plateform of the UPN and nearly won the election if not for the Judicial intervention with it's 12 two-third controversy.

Indeed there was a time religion did not play a big role in Nigeria politics, but sadly events like taking us into OIC and the adoption of sharia in the North have changed all that.