₦airaland Forum

Rochas Okorocha if he does well, may carry the Igbo mantle.

How many PDP members are from the South West for them to be so rewarded with the Speakership? The South East worked the hardest for the PDP and the Presidency and should be amply rewarded. GEJ, I am disappointed that despite the PDP's rejection of the regional zoning formula which if upheld you wouldn't have been able to contest, you are now adding a religious element! Haba! Next thing, we will be adding gender, then tribe ,

There’s a popular Igbo proverb that says, “E kee nku ukwa, a mara ndi akporo ugwo i.e. When the breadfruit firewood is shared, then we will know those who are hated most….Ndigbo ntoo unu! It is a well-known fact that after elections, political booty (positions), like spoils of war, are shared according to what each area/components contributed to the electoral victory. But ours in the South East has been more than an irony, or say mockery. They said we continued to "vote" for PDP while we don't get anything in return for it. We are the least considered in terms of federal projects, yet we are regarded as a PDP "territory." My heart truly bleeds for my dear Igbo nation. It's rather unfortunate how Ndigbo have continued to be humiliated under the PDP and still we can't learn our lessons. In 2007, we were demoted from Senate president to a non-elective, ordinary party chairmanship. Now in 2011, we are being demoted further to ordinary Secretary to Govt of the Federation (SGF). This completes the insult on us and possibly means that we don't exist anymore in the political equation of Nigeria. We are always made the scapegoats and sacrificial lambs to be slaughtered "politically" and in reality at the slightest (or non) provocation. It's no more news that it's only positions held by Igbos that the occupants are tossed about from time to time since 1999. While others will be stable in their positions, Igbos are removed at the slighted excuse. It’s rather unfortunate that David Mark who masterminded the astronomical increase in the emoluments of the National Assembly is still considered and favored to get the Senate Presidency again. Only God knows who shall rescue us from the political "abyss" that we've found ourselves. I don’t think we need not be in any so-called "national" party that has continued to impoverish us. We need a NEW voice and platform that will help us negotiate for political gains. We need to liberate ourselves from the shackles of PDP that has not done us any good. The South Westerners have taken the bull by the horn to liberate themselves from the roguery and backwardness that has become associated with PDP. Oh, what a pity for the Igbo nation! We have become pawns on the political chessboard of Nigeria that anybody can toss about. We have become the political “nobodies” of Nigeria. I challenge every young Igbo to take a deep breath, think about this misnomer, rise up and be counted for the battle to reawaken our political consciousness against the so-called “illustrious” sons & daughters of Igboland who use us to go and negotiate for contracts in Abuja. Who shall rescue us from this pathetic situation?

It would be most unfair to rob the Southeast the position of either the Senate President or the Speaker of the House. Senate President has always come from the same political zones (north or south) as the President (Obj/Wagbara/Ayim/Nnamani) and (Yaradua/Mark). so what is the problem here. GEJ remember you word that you will be fair to all part of the country. I am sure if the tenet of democracy is allowed in the NASS during the election of the principal officers, those in majority will carry the day and the members from the southeast cannot be pushed aside. So let democracy and fairness prevail in the sharing of the positions. This way we can expect a very vibrant NASS who it is believed would have learnt a bitter lesson to always be on the side of the people to earn their trust and confidence. There is always election time and thank God for Jega who has promised to restructure INEC for real credible elections in future. God bless Nigeria.

I had said it in the past that Igbos sold their souls to the devil, sorry, the PDP for the 2011 elections and would pay dearly for it. Rather than rally around their kinsmen and strategise how to capture power come 2015 or 2019, they pretended they were part of the inner caucus preparing the soup and national cake as elections for 2011 was playing out. The only easterners who listened to the flute and danced to sweet tunes were those in Imo state who decided to chart the path for emancipation and voted in a tested patriot and person with acumen and vision. Between Rochas Okorocha and Peter Obi of Anambra, the east should begin to look to these achievers as people who can liberate them in the struggle for power at the center as they are proven men and can push the Igbo agenda come 2015 (Obi) and in 2019 (Okorocha). Easterners should avoid the mentality of slaves and liberate themselves - its in their hands, never the hands of others. When your leaders prove themselves, the world will stop to listen and you will be counted.

An igboman will never change. just of resent you insult the notheners, calling them all kind of names after giving all your vote to pdp not apga. so now is payback time, you give the vote we get the position so go back to your classroom to find out who is the fool now.

The Igbos don't just get it. Loosing the PDP chairmanship to the North East that did not even vote for Jonathan. The South West and South East don't just understand. For any region to succeed in this illegitimate marriage called Nigeria, neglect the necessary evil called the North at your peril. These Northerners have been in this deceptive game called politics for as long as Nigeria existed. Imagine, getting away with the PDP chairmanship, Vice presidency, Senate PresidencY etc when they voted overwhelmingly for the opposition. The South East with their 99.99 percent vote, getting away with only deputy senate presidency and Secretary to the Federal Government. Na wawo!!!

These are some of the comments I have come across by people voicing their views on the issue.

Did i not tell you all to beware of this Jonathan man? A man that is so weak and soft that his entire ministerial list will be fill up of ObJ's men, the Governors pick and party cronies? Jonathan is too too soft for leadership. That is how he will just stand, mopping and other people we never voted for will be dictating the tone and in 2015 he will not have done a single thing, una go see.

The more I hear from this man, the more I like him. Let him bring APGA to the rest of Igboland through his leadership, if he does a wonderful job in Imo state. We are all watching.

Seems like he has overlooked us. Now what are we going to do about it? Or should I say, what are Ndigbo political leaders going to do about it. This was the worst case scenario that was fearing. And it indeed happened. I do not know who I am more angry with, Obasanjo, Jonathan or Igbp political leaders. This is a situation that the Ndigbo could have avoided. That is why we need Igbo leaders like me, who will only care about their people and nothing but their people.

The DUMB ARSE Ndigbo. . .

Okorocha’s victory, people’s power – ACN youths

By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa – The national youth leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Ebikibina Miriki, has lauded the election of Mr. Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, as the governor-elect of Imo State, saying it was an indication of the people’s power to elect leaders of their choice.

Miriki, a former chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, in Bayelsa State and former state chairman of the ACN, in an interview in Yenagoa, said Okorocha’s victory at Imo supplementary election was a clear warning to other non-performing incumbent governors that the electorate had the power to dislodge them from office.

Describing the recent changes recorded in some states where the incumbent governors were swept out of office by the people’s power as a political watershed, the ACN youth leader commended the steadfastness of the electorate in voting out incumbent governors who failed to live up to their electioneering promises.

He said: “Our political culture is gradually evolving to a level where the people’s power counts. It shows that where the electorate are determined, their will cannot be wished away.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/05/okorochas-victory-peoples-power-acn-youths/

SEFAGO:
I like Chi Chi a lot, she is definitely one of the smartest people though not as smart as Achebe. Achebe is just pure genius. Me thinks he has a bit of Yoruba ancestry in him to be honest.

rhymz:
The las sentence is hilariously teasing, expect to hear from Ezeuche and co. .lol

I almost fell for this bait that he left me. It was quite teasing to see this, but I managed to fight back the incredible urge to fire back at SEFAGO. At least SEFAGO understands the brilliance of both Chimamanda Adichie and Chinua Achebe. With time Adichie will find her place amongst the African literary giants before her. She is still quite young and has time on her side. Any man will by lucky to marry such an Igbo gem.

namfav:
says the igwe of generalization

As an Igbo defender, nothing is sacred when it comes to assaults on the dignity of my people. You do the same thing if your people are attacked. However, when I encounter a person from another ethnicity, I do care what group they represent, I focus on their character. I do not think you are truly a bigot either, compared to others. In many ways, I see you as similar to me, what is something that I am willing to admit.

I see Obasanjo as one of the biggest threat to Ndigbo aspirations in Nigeria. The Igbo political elite need to find some way in neutralizing him, because he still has the ear of President Jonathan. Zoning is dead and positions should be given based on support of PDP and merit. All of these zoning schemes based on religion and tribal affiliations is proving to be a distraction to PDP. It shows that PDP has no political ideology, but is simply a national party that is trying to keep power in the center. I see PDP as a bulwark to factionalism, but this infighting can prove disastrous for PDP in the future.

What Ms. Chimamanda Adichie was discussing was true. There is a lot of danger in a single story. We as Nigerians are more prone to believing a single story. Maybe we need to get rid of these prejudices and focus on the individual. If we look at someone from the individual basis, we can get a better understanding of that person, instead of judging them by the group they are born into. I also liked how she stated that she refers to herself as an African, instead of being simply a Nigerian or an Igbo woman. This was a wonderful discussion.

Yes, but the violence that occurred in the North was regrettable. The elections were hailed as credible by most NGOs and other states around the world. It is just some people are crying rigging due to the fact that there party did not win. Mainly these people can be found in the North, but I believe the rigging was kept at a minimal. These elections by far were the best I have seen in my lifetime. Look at how ACN was able to sweep the S/west. Look at how the APGA candidate was able to defeat Ohakim in Imo state. These elections were quite credible and it bodes well for the Democratic processes of Nigeria.

This is how the business world works. I do not understand why people cry unfair treatment. Create your own cartels, and battle the Ndigbo in the field of business. You never know, you may win. That is why I love my people's business acumen. Igbos not only compete with other groups in business, we also compete amongst ourselves. Many of the Igbos that you see in other parts of Nigeria and Africa, are the ones who could not compete with their brothers in Alaigbo. But the skills that they gained from their competitions with their brothers in the South-East has allowed them to perfect their skills against the businessmen of other groups. I love the entrepreneurial spirit of the Ndigbo.

AjanleKoko:
@OP,
This one is old.
Though I can immediately predict how this particular thread will play out:

- The Igbo chaps will claim her immediately, as proof of how intelligent the Igbos are, and how dumb the others, especially Yorubas, are.
- The Yorubas will bounce back by listing 10 other Yoruba chicks who also write, sing, or act, while immediately dismissing Chimamanda as a mere pop tart, plus also remind everybody how a Yoruba man is the only Nobel Laureate.
- The dudes from the Romance section will applaud her frontals.
- The conspiracy theorists will move the thread in the direction of how the white man has suppressed our great authors like Chimamanda.
- The NL intellectuals will start a debate regarding which school in the US she attended, and how well it compares to the one they currently attend, and throw in a lament of how Nigerian education has gone to the dogs. Plus an analysis of what her IQ is likely to be, whether or not she's a member of MENSA, and so on.
-Maybe Musiwa might throw in a map of her ancestral home, plus the waypoints to where she currently lives.

Nobody will bother to discuss the talk itself.

I cannot argue with this synopsis. Wonderful job you have done. This would be hilarious if it wasn't true. But this is the way Nairaland operates. Maybe we should move on from these tribalistic postings, because it is not helping the Politics section. However, I doubt people would agree with me, because I know many Nairaland posters enjoy the ethnic battles. Even though there is not much different between us, many people tend to focus on the small things that are different and then act like their is wide separation between the various groups that live in Nigeria. It is sad but true.

Onlytruth:
Posted by: EzeUche_
The bolded can be easily remedied. This election will provide us with all lessons we need going forward, because we spoke with one voice for the very FIRST time.
How Igbo politics evolve going forward will largely be shaped by the outcome of current politicking. As a majority tribe in Nigeria, we have a lot of power (though latent). We can regain our position by simply playing cut throat politics like others. Whoever thought that doing the right thing can bring pains. Well, like the saying goes in some countries, "no good deed goes unpunished".

Let's keep watching the games. 

I am worried about the bolded response. We can continue to watch the games, but at a certain point, we are going to need to involve ourselves in such games. The Ndigbo need to do better in politics. It is as simple as that. My eyes are not only on President Jonathan, but our so called Igbo leaders. It is their time to rise up and show that they finally have realized that in order to move our region forward, we need to play the same "tribal" games that the other groups have been playing for 50 years. If they do not hold their ground against the elites who are trying to rob the Ndigbo of position that we rightfully earned, then those leaders need to be voted out like what happened in Imo state with Ohakim.

[quote author=dem_people link=topic=662884.msg8283208#msg8283208 date=1304914704]You guys have made some fantastic points here but we shouldn't resort to alarmist views. All these news we read on paper are just what they are; news. We do not know the mind of GEJ. He's not silly to allow things to work out as described in the papers. He must have some surprises.

Will GEJ and PDP honestly want to live with the thought of massive decamping of Ndigbo to APGA and the overall loss of support from Ndigbo coupled with the return to the fractious relationship with the SS? No. If they've been fools all along, they wouldn't be on this one. The writing is on the wall.

Ndigbo, with a resurgent APGA, are too HUGE to be ignored in the scheme of things. Any unwise move from GEJ/PDP could signal the implosion of PDP. If such happens and there's massive decamping then ACN and APGA could form an alliance in both houses making PDP a minority party thereby leaving GEJ as the sole figure of PDP which, if he's not careful, could get impeached with the possible APGA-ACN-ANPP-CPC alliance. No, this isn't a thought they're ready to entertain.

Perhaps the most important outcome from all this is, to know whether we're really dealing with Obasanjo's third term in full gear or a fresh presidency from GEJ.

Chill out. Ndigbo's political calculations haven't yielded deficits yet![/quote]It is not about being alarmist, because I clearly stated that I remain optimistic about the current state of Igbo affairs. However, I am still wary of Obasanjo's influence over President Jonathan. That is why we, the Ndigbo must prepare for a worst case scenario. If we are disregarded in our vote of President Jonathan, then there should be consequences for that disrespect. I would Igbo leaders are discussing the current affairs of the Ndigbo and make sure that stand united against such an event. You can never be too sure what PDP and the elites from other parts of Nigeria are capable of. The problem with the Ndigbo are that we are too trusting of others. We have been like that since Nigeria gained its independence. Nnamdi Azikiwe trusted the North, Ojukwu trusted Awolowo etc The list is endless and we the Ndigbo have suffered dearly for our trusting nature.

Onlytruth:
Believe me, the whole problem is from SE. We need to show that we are serious in Nigeria. We cannot keep accepting any scenario. There is a time to say enough. This may be that time.
We have many options, ranging from simply realigning politically, to plans for outright secession.
But, knowing Nigeria well, secession will get us a long way. Whether we leave depends on Nigeria.
From the return to democratic dispensation in 1999 till today, all I see are sustained attempts to keep Ndigbo down.

If we don't show that we are serious, WORSE things are in store for us.

Agwo emeghi ihe ojiri wuru agwo, umu aka achiri ya n'aka.

It is time to pull our resources together and go get our due.

I feel that we are 10 years too late, but it is better late than never. We definitely need to show the rest of Nigeria that we should be taken seriously. Hopefully, our so called leaders have began to realize this. As a majority group, it is pathetic how others do not take us seriously. Even in our own sphere of influence, some of the smaller groups mock us. It is unbelievable the amount of disrespect that we receive daily. Enough is enough should be our new mantra. I am tired of the Ndigbo being pushed around. I am tired of our leaders selling us for the highest bidder. I just hope that President Jonathan does not disappoint us, because I was starting to believe in Nigeria. If he disrespects our support of him, by giving a region that does not even support PDP such a position, there will be problems. And I know many of our brothers and sisters in Alaigbo will feel the same way. There is only so much disrespect one can take, before we turn to other means.