₦airaland Forum

lol, this article might be late already.

In any case, the Obasanjo angle is interesting.

[size=16pt]Why Bakare must say no[/size]
People & Politics Jan 31, 2011

By Ochereome Nnanna

IT did not sound real.     When I read in the papers that the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari, was considering Pastor Tunde Bakare as his presidential running mate, my mind did not dwell on it for more than a few moments because I thought the General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly and Convener of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) would quickly call a press conference and give an emphatic answer: “No”.

Instead, what I heard from his quarters left me feeling sorry for a cleric who has already taken a withering hit as a result of his failed prophecies but remains largely intact due to his patriotic advocacies for a saner Nigeria. He reportedly told his congregation that he was hearing “voices” which were obviously nudging him to say “yes”.

I want to counsel the man of God to steer clear of the offer (if indeed there was one). Yes indeed, this is the right time for all well-meaning Nigerians to get involved, one way or the other, in the political process to ensure improved leadership. As Chief Ojo Maduekwe would put it, politics is too serious a game to be left to politicians alone. The question of whether as a full citizen of Nigeria he is eminently qualified does not even arise. But just because one is qualified under the Constitution to embark on a venture does not necessarily mean he should do it. One should still study the critical auguries before deciding. I have done a cursory surmise of the Pastor Tunde Bakare phenomenon, and have come to the conclusion that he should stay out of partisan politics.

First of all, he will lose credibility if he abandons the pulpit and the SNG socio-political advocacy project and become a political candidate. When he convened the SNG and championed the many protests that led to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua cabal allowing the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan assume power in the continued absence of his boss, Pastor Bakare started being seen in some quarters (rightly or wrongly) as the Nigerian version of Reverend Martin Luther King. Some saw him as another Gani Fawehinmi, the social crusader. Yes, SNG has gone ominously quiet since Jonathan climbed into the presidential seat, thus leaving questions on many lips. But it is still a group that will be listened to if Bakare and his cohorts continue to use it to mobilise Nigerians for the common good.

If Pastor Bakare should accept to be Buhari’s running mate, he would be deemed to have embarked on the SNG venture as a platform to feather his political nest. He will no longer be able to have serious listeners when he speaks on Nigeria’s ills after the race, especially if he fails. He will become another Pastor Chris Okotie – irrelevant both as a cleric and politician. I learnt an important wisdom from fairly unlikely quarters years ago. Prince Yormie Johnson, the Liberian warlord who personally slaughtered the late dictator, Samuel Doe of Liberia, later wrote a book, which he insightfully entitled: The Gun That Liberates Should Not Rule.

I do not understand the calculations that the Buhari camp must have made before arriving at Bakare as his viable and sellable running mate. Perhaps, he wants to use a pastor to dispel the view of him in some quarters as an Islamic “fanatic”? Or perhaps, he wants to use Bakare to bring the votes of Southerners and Christians to counterbalance the criticism that his CPC is concentrated in the Muslim North? Either way, the math does not add up. Christians would not vote for Buhari because of Bakare. Christians once voted for a Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket in this country even though Muslims annulled the election. Even if a Buhari/Bakare ticket wins in 2011, will Northern Muslims vote for a Bakare/Muslim ticket later on, what with their difficulty in getting Muslims in Kaduna to support Governor Patrick Yakowa to replace his boss, Vice President Namadi Sambo? No pastor or imam will be president or vice president of Nigeria in the foreseeable future.

Besides, I do not think that Nigerians in general will seriously consider a Yoruba presidential or vice presidential ticket so soon after eight years in power. It has to “go round” first. Otherwise, emergent political leaders from Yorubaland, such as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would have taken up the presidential race. He knows the time is not ripe, so he supports a Northern candidate. In the same vein, Igbos knew their time is not ripe, so they ceded the contest to President Jonathan and the North. This is the mainstream direction.

A North/South West ticket will not sell at this moment. But a North/South East or North/South-South or South-South/North ticket will be look into.

I am not qualified to question Pastor Bakare’s gift as a prophet. But I remember that in 1999 he prophesied that former President Olusegun Obasanjo would not win or assume the presidency. Instead, he predicted that someone from Adamawa State had been decreed by “Heaven” to be president. This obviously hyped up former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition to frantic levels. Obasanjo not only became president, he even ran for two terms and tried a third as if to rub salt into Pastor Bakare’s wounded pride.

Bakare should fast and pray that once again, he is not hearing the voice of deception. He is too important to us as a preacher of the Word and social crusader. I know one man who would desperately be wishing that Bakare takes up the tempting offer from Buhari. His name is General Olusegun Obasanjo, former President, Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As soon as Pastor Bakare takes up the Buhari offer, Obasanjo will gleefully announce to airport correspondents:

“I dey laugh o!”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/01/why-bakare-must-say-no/

GEJ will get Igbo votes. Simple.

The "initiated" knows what this deal is. The man is his brothers keeper.

Posted by: Kenifeh

I can stake my head for Soludo anytime, anyday. But, we shouldnt attack personalities and forget issues. This is fundamental. The difference between Soludo and Sanusi is that while Soludo is an academic authority, Sanusi is an ideologue. Without ideology your knowledge come to zero.

Posted by: Ibime

Knowledge without ideology is nothing - Nice one Kenifeh!

lol I was thinking that Soludo is the one with THE ideology. Here is the definition of ideology:

Definition of IDEOLOGY
1
: visionary theorizing
2
a : a systematic body of concepts especially about human life or culture
b : a manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an individual, group, or culture
c : the integrated assertions, theories and aims that constitute a sociopolitical program


Soludo it is who envisioned a socio-political and economic position and role for Nigeria through the strategic initiative on the Naira by envisioning a Naira as the currency of reference in sub-saharan Africa. And he did not just theorize it, he put CONCRETE measures in place to achieve that, the main one being the building up of forex reserves and growing the size of Nigerian banks to enable them fund private investment. Essentially his ideology was to create a HUGE international confidence on the Nigerian economy and currency, which would make Nigeria an attractive destination for FDI.
The man wanted Nigeria to move from being a consumer economy to a producing economy. In fact under Soludo, Nigeria was actually growing in all sectors of the economy. Now our reserves are dwindling, as the so called risk reduction in the banks have scared away foreign investors. Nigeria is losing both reserves and FDI at a time of huge oil boom.

Was there a need for more risk management? Of course YES. But risk management is just ONE aspect of economic management. In fact it is even the job of the national assembly to create laws that regulate the sector.

As for this controversy, Soludo had to react, and I suspect he has come out to take on anybody to defend his records and ideas by having a televised debate. The best response Aganga or anyone in current team can give is to accept that debate.

Too many charlatans have played us for too long. It is time to separate the wheat from the chaff.

^^
And you have a life? 

Brain dead Eko agbero.

^
If you followed my response, you would notice what I stated about the idiocy of current Igbo politicians in PDP and ACN and any other party that is not APGA.

You are not even intelligent enough to see that I'm agreeing to some extent with you.

Once you saw that your thieving and evil brother OBJ was called out, your 1diotic bile chewed off your brain.

What specie of an animal are you sef?

^^
Agwo tagbukwa gi anu mpama!

My prayer is for someone like Rochas Okorocha to win in Imo and become the next governor, then APGA will add a new political warhorse who knows how to play at the national level, and wittle down Peter Obi's influence and power.
I am not comfortable with Obi and Victor Umehs style in APGA (unless they prove me wrong later).

This coming election is really important for APGA. I just don't know who the party is fielding in governorship contests throughout Igboland.

I am hopeful in Imo and Ebonyi.  I don't know about Abia and Enugu.

Until Igbo politicians understand that our long term (2015 and beyond) relevance depends on APGA's performance at the coming polls, nothing will change for Ndigbo.

^^

Nna gi anuofia! hahaha hehehe!

^^

The article is right on the failures of Igbo politicians to see the vision Ojukwu was trying to create from 1999 till APGA was formed.

However, only one man is responsible for APGA's failures at the polls - Olusegun Obasanjo!

He rigged out APGA and imposed PDP thieves on Igboland.

Secondly, the entire process that produced current political scene was designed by him. Even the North could not stop him imposing a sick Yar adua as president.

So, if we are talking about CURRENT IGBO POLITICIANS BEING !DIOTIC by not joining APGA en-masse and making it a nationally relevant party; then, yes I would agree.

Peter Obi is only one man, and he is operating as he pleases in APGA because no one is challenging his leadership yet.


If anyone wants to blame someone for current Igbo political position in Nigeria, look no further than Otta farms!

Soludo is in a class of his own. There was never a need for comparison.

In a country where progressive thinking actually dominate policy making and implementation, Soludo would still be heading the CBN and still double as the chief economic adviser to the president.

Goldfish has no hiding place.

I'll be watching this one closely.

I really think that this thread was derailed by Obiagu and Ezeuche.

This Gabon thing should be a new thread on its own.

I ain't leaving Nigeria for anyone, rather I would even expand more in Nigeria.  

All I need is to be strong and courageous.

If I get a functioning international airport in Enugu from Jonathan's presidency, I would take it and wait for my turn.

Time has a way of favoring those who wait.

Akunyili speaks for me and will get my vote! She understands the duty of a public servant.

Thanks Dora.

[size=16pt]I don’t need your votes, Akunyili tells fake drug dealers[/size]

By VINCENT UJUMADU
FORMER Minister of Information and Communications and senatorial candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for Anambra Central in the April 2011 election, Professor Dora Akunyili, has said that fake drug dealers who are allegedly threatening to deny her their votes during the forthcoming election for her role as the Director-General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, were wasting their time.

Since picking the ticket of APGA for the zone, comprising Anaocha, Dunukofia, Njikoka, Awka North, Awka South, Idemili North and Idemili South local government areas, some of the drug dealers in the commercial town of Onitsha, who reside in the senatorial distrcit, had been bragging that they would use the election as a pay back time for Akunyili who, they alleged, put many of them out of business in her quest to sanitize the nation’s drug market.

But the former NAFDAC boss said in an interview in Awka at the weekend that she did not owe any apology to anybody for what she did as the director-general of NAFDAC, adding that if she had another opportunity, she would even do more, provided it was in the best interest of the nation.

She said: “Those people that I stepped on their toes are criminals and criminals have no power as long as one is doing the right thing. If they had the kind of power they claim, I will not be alive today.

“Sometimes, people ask what of the votes? My response is, I don’t want the vote of a killer. I don’t even need 100 per cent votes to win the election.

“Even at that, the drug counterfeiters know that I did the right thing and some of them that changed from being murderers to being normal human beings appreciated our work. Those of them that have refused to change are too insignificant for me to worry about. I only worry about their remaining in the business and killing our people, not because of the votes I will get from them.

“If I need to change my stand so as to win, then let me not win. I want to say that I want to win, but it is not a must that I must win. It is this I must win attitude that causes election rigging, electoral malpractice and all kinds of vices.

“I want other politicians to embrace that culture of ‘I want to win and not that of I must win’. If it is the will of God and the wish of my people, I will win. Anybody can win, but I want to win so that I can serve my people and give them the kind of representation they have never had before.”

“Some people in the fake drug business felt that because I am Igbo like them, I should overlook certain things. If you are a regulator and you don’t close your eyes to relationships, regulation will collapse.”

Akunyili said further that her near -fanatical attitude on issues concerning Nigeria was due to the fact that the country has given her so much, adding that she would never get tired of serving her.

According to the APGA candidate, her parents never paid school fees throughout her educational career as she was on scholarship from the secondary school to the university, adding “because Nigeria has pampered me so much, I should continue to serve her with all my heart.”

She also said that unlike the belief in some quarters, she started politics at the lowest level, having been a supervisory councilor in her local government area between 1994 and 1996 and later became the coordinator of Better Life for Rural Women before working as the South East zonal coordinator for the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF,.

Akunyili agreed that politics in Nigeria is murky, but argued that that was what some criminals had used in the past to scare good people from venturing into politics.

“Good people should go into that murky water of politics to salvage the situation. I have decided to go there and Nigerians will see what will happen if God decides and if it is the wish of my people,” she said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/01/i-dont-need-your-votes-akunyili-tells-fake-drug-dealers/

Posted by: EzeUche_

Let us be honest with ourselves. Igboland is too small for the Ndi Igbo. We need to expand. My Aro ancestors set up communities in all directions. Even in Cameroon, there are Aro settlements.

We Igbos are always on the move. It is because our region is too small, that we seek to expand in all directions. Gabon will be the perfect for living space.

And I already speak French fluently

Frankly this is one of the biggest lies myths I know.

Each time I travel from Onitsha to Enugu, to Abakaliki and Nsukka I see so much space that current Igbo population WORLDWIDE cannot even fill.

I challenge you guys saying this to go home and try drying along Enugu PH expressway and Enugu/Onitsha, Abakaliki roads, you will come back far wiser.

Igboland is largely undeveloped.

My interest in Gabon is ONLY for strategic reasons.

I like mental exercise a lot. That is all this Gabon talks represent for me.

If I'm EVER doing the implementation, I would simply approach Gabon to negotiate a federation agreement with them (like Becomerich and Yorubaland) hehe!  . The terms of the federation will be first ironed out and agreed upon before approaching the UN for recognition. Once that is completed, we can start using Gabon for production while Africa will be the market.

The capital can remain in Libreville while Gabon will become an instant African power because of our resourcefulness.

That is only option B for me in case Nigeria remains stupid.

Posted by: alj harem

Obiagu1, i am going to Gabon tomorrow and tell them about your ideas, if i survive 1 week, it means it is self for ndigbo to move there but if i do not comment tomorrow, it means i have been killed because of your ideas

but yes i am ready to do it for ndigbo,.,, ,.,. i am ready to die for ndigbo Angry

it is better i take the risk before any igbo lifes is lost Angry

Obiagu1, i am the sacrifice for the greater igbo nation

dis alhaji no go kill me I swear! hehehe!

@dem_people & alex101

Ndigbo are a majority, resilient and even "dominant" tribe in Nigeria. That will continue.

Nigerian presidential politics is not big enough to change our destiny as a great people, especially when none of the other groups that have held that position are better than us in terms of human development index.

My interest in the "Gabon theory" is mainly strategic.

Imagine if Gabon had a powerful navy in 1967; do you think their support for Biafra would not have played a decisive role in the war?

We have the population to do that without loosing our majority status in Nigeria.

And I believe that Nigeria is yet to be resolved. Another war is not off the table completely; we would need a powerful African country (partly built by us) to support us.

Here's the map op the gulf of Guinea.

Again, our existence has not been threatened by anyone yet. So all these talks are what I call "scenario examination".

Obiagu, I support having a strong presence in Gabon such that Nigeria will be overtaken by Gabon in many areas (from sports to military might) as we show our mettle as a people. Even Gabonese people would welcome that if we show them how this can happen. But we will keep our advantage in Nigeria (our properties in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of Nigeria),. We can stop building Nigeria and focus on Gabon because our assets would not be attacked by jealous lazy folks.
Above all, we would have a powerful ally very close to the bight of Biafra and in the gulf of Guinea.

I know a few Igbo folks that can invest billions of dollars in Gabon to start these.
No matter what we do, we will keep our gains in Nigeria, and fight anyone who tries to steal our assets.

I guess a breathing space from the asphyxiating jealousy in Nigeria is very much welcome.  

At this point I have to say that Ndigbo are [size=16pt]NEVER LEAVING IGBOLAND [/size]for anyone.

We are a majority tribe in Nigeria and will remain a majority tribe in Nigeria for ever.
God is not a fool for placing us in that part of the world.

All these talks are just like the Becomerich "Yoruba join Benin Republic" rant.

Let the talks continue. . .

Posted by: alj harem

ok brother, i know there are large igbo populations in Gabon and other african countries

i really do think that obiagu1's idea is going to make the natives of the country anti-igbo,,, brother do you see

Not if we avoid the Nigerian mistake of trying to rule the country there. If we leave them alone to continue ruling, while we mind our business, a time will come when they would see us as valuable leadership assets and call on us to lead.

Nigeria is evil in the sense that hardwork and excellent are seen as bad and attacked. I don't think that other countries are like that.

Posted by: alj harem

onlytruth, please do not tell me you are buying to this idea

The guy has some interesting ideas. As a potential good leader, I must listen and actually think about his ideas.
He could be right.  

One thing is sure, Ndigbo are growing restless in Nigeria.

Part of my mission is to ensure we do not jump from frying pan to fire. That's all.

@Obiagu1

What about the land of our ancestors?

Nna akuru m ntu na naija! ( I nail for ground for naija!).

However, I love the idea of having another African country with large Igbo population; a country where we can show our ingenuity as a people (Equatorial Guinea is already challenging Nigeria's leadership in African female football because of some Igbo babes in their team). I want a country that will actually become really powerful because of our contribution to its greatness, and a ready powerful ally in case of a fight in Nigeria. That is only as far as I can go.

The question then is, how do you achieve that without encountering a similar or worse situation?

@Obiagu1

Bros, let's hear your plans for Gabon. Who knows, I could be sold to it.

BTW I just looked at the google map of Nigeria and I can see that Igboland is the most developed part of Nigeria at least in terms of roads. No other region beats us, unless google satellites are lying.

@Obiagu1 and EzeUche,

I must say that you guys have completely lost your marbles.

How can you, in your right senses, believe that Ijaw of about 8 million people could supplant Ndigbo of about 35 million people in a highly tribalistic Nigeria?

If it ever boils down to we vs Ijaw, do you really believe that they stand a chance? REALLY?
Why must it be Ijaws fault that Obasanjo chose Jonathan instead of Odili, when I remember clearly that Ndigbo rejected VP position?

So, suddenly, because Jonathan would rule Nigeria for 4 years or 8 years, Ndigbo are finished politically?
What about afterwords? What happens then?

Believe me, these characters you are exhibiting are why some minorities are scared of majorities.

Suddenly, you are concluding that Ndigbo must now move en-masse out of Nigeria to Gabon. lmao.

Anyway, I like the part about establishing Igbo presence in nearby African countries because we might need it when we deal with Nigeria, though the idea sounds so much like Becomerich. . .hehehe!

I ain't leaving Igboland for nobody. In fact I am warming up to capturing more Nigeria territories when another war comes.

I'm only setting the records straight because dubious elements are about stoking fires of hate between neighbors hoping to move in for the kill when the fires start burning.

Any Igbo who was suckled properly by his mother would easily see these silly plots and side step them.

The president will always enjoy my support. 

He may be a thief, but hey the rest of them are!

The day Nigeria decides to start electing upright people, I will change.

Ubochi isi ka akpuo afu onu ( we shave the beard on the day appointed for shaving the head as well). 

Posted by: Abagworo

Just google it and read every other article related to that Clarke vs Odili war and the reason for the war.You seem to have forgotten when Clarke openly declared that Odili cannot take the South-south slot on the grounds that Odili is an Igbo.


personality to be an effective number two man to a governor colleague.  Although Obasanjo was said to have maintained his grounds that Odili  should be the vice presidential running mate, citing the need to calm the Niger Delta militants, among other issues. But the governors were said  to have maintained that the militants wrecking havoc in the Niger Delta  are Ijaws and if they must be pacified, then one of them should take the  vice presidential slot. Another issue said to have worked against Odili  was his alleged political maltreatment of Rufus George, former Rivers  State governor who had appointed him (Odili) deputy. The contention  was that if he did not treat his former boss well, why should anyone then be comfortable around him. When Yar'Adua, rather than announce Odili' s name said consultations were still on, supporters of the Rivers  governor knew the game was over. At this point, Jonathan's name was  said to have featured on the cards alongside that of Maj. Gen. Owoeye  Azazi, the chief of Defence Staff and another Ijaw man who they argued,  could be compelled to resign his commission to seek the number two  job.


http://www.sudanvisiondaily.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=17023

I'm still looking for that scene where the Igbo competed with Ijaw for VP position.

How can some folks decide to pacify the Ijaw (and they never envisaged Jonathan could be president one day ), and suddenly it means Igbo "was defeated"?   Dude, like huh?
Frankly I can't believe that an Igbo person would reason this way.  

Ndigbo never asked for the VP position in the first place in 2006/7. How can you lose what you never asked for?

Even MEND did not support Jonathan in 2006.

MEND supported Buba Marwa.

So how could Ijaw have defeated the Igbo by installing Jonathan?

Some of my Igbo brothers should just stop commenting on our affairs.

They frankly sound like our enemies. 

Can someone please show me where the Igbo was competing with Ijaw in the article, and later "defeated the Igbo".

It is really unfortunate that people are fretting over something that never existed.

Even until this year, Ndigbo reject the VP position.

I decided to post the entire article referenced in abagworo's link above:

[size=16pt]Yar Adua Picks Jonathan to Pacify Niger Delta[/size]

The reason adduced to the surprise selection of the Bayelsa State Governor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan as running mate to the PDP presidential candidate is to pacify the Niger Delta folk, who have been contending issues ranging from resource control to environmental degradation. The echelon of the PDP figures that its chances of winning the 2007 presidential elections would only be improved with an Ijaw native on the presidential ticket as VP. The Ijaw, reputed to be the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria have been in the forefront of the contentious, often violent, issues of resource control and environmental degradation.

Only two weeks ago, leaders of the notorious Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) had lent their support to Buba Marwa, former military governor of Lagos state in his bid for the PDP presidential ticket. At the time, Jonathan was not on the radar for consideration in the presidential race and so was a non-issue. Now that he has been picked by Yar Adua, and Marwa has lost the PDP presidential ticket, it is unsure how MEND and indeed the entire Niger Delta will take it. Speculations had been rife of Cross River state governor, Donald Duke or his Rivers state counterpart, Peter Odili winning the VP slot after the PDP convention last Saturday, alas both contenders were disappointed.

It is understandable that Odili did not get the nomination, given the ongoing investigation into allegations of financial impropriety leveled against his government. Duke, on the other hand has been hailed severally as Mr. Clean and for various accomplishments of his government. This leads to the question of whether Jonathan is not being rewarded for the insurgencies playing out in the Niger Delta mainly by the Ijaw? (Never mind that his wife is under investigation by the EFCC for money laundering, a story for another forum) If this is the case, then it is a dangerous precedent that might encourage other aggrieved ethnic groups to take up arms to further their causes.

If one thinks about it, perhaps this precedent had already earlier been set long before the Obasanjo regime came into power. It was the Yorubas who were most vociferous about the lost mandate of June 12, 1993 denying Abiola, a Yoruba native from ascension to the presidency by the military juntas of Babangida and Abacha. With the auspicious demise of the evil Abacha and Abiola in 1998, pundits agree that the Obasanjo candidacy was a consensus to pacify the Yorubas for the lost mandate of Abiola. If this is the case then we might soon see a resurgence of the Biafra movement of the Igbos over the next few years should they not produce the president (an extremely high improbability) come 2007. Igbo jingoists like Ojukwu, Kalu, Uwazurike and Nzeribe should be watched.

The remaining 200-plus odd minority ethnic groups can only watch this ethnocentric regional politics play out as they decipher with which of the major ethnic groups to pitch their tents to maximize their benefits. The challenge for the new president after May 27, 2007 will be how to manage this rambunctious, party-pied, ethnocentric polity for order while maintaining a fair balance of justice and equity for the various interest groups that make up the complexity that is Nigeria.

http://nigerianpolity..com/2006/12/yar-adua-picks-jonathan-to-pacify-niger_18.html

SE/ SS meets NC today.