₦airaland Forum

EzeUche22:
Igbo should be broken down to someone whose forebears spoke the Igbo language with similar cultural characteristics. (That does not mean the same)

My Aro people are probably more mixed than some of these people running away from their Igbo identity, yet we still consider ourselves Igbo.

Thank you for saying this.
That proves that politics played a big role in all these Igbo denials.
Early Igbo politicians like Zik tried to united us under one party -NCNC but he did not complete that unity project before the Nzeogwu coup of Jan 1966, which threw a huge spanner in the works.
We are just recovering now with Uwechue leading Ohanaeze.

EzeUche22:
It is not up to them to decide what they claim. If they speak my language, have my culture, that makes them an Igbo.

It is not up for them to decide. If they want to stop being Igbo, they better stop speaking my language and using our culture.  

Like the Ikwerre. Many say there are not Igbo, yet they speak Igbo. Well what language should they be speaking?   Ijaw or Ogoni? They didn't lose their language.

Not just the language, the entire philosophy that goes with a language. I even say the "spirit" of the language.

If you are Igbo, and you listen to the words of those musicians in Igbanke and Ikwerre, you'll connect with their cultural and spiritual milieu.

EzeUche22:
You can understand Ikwerre, but find it harder to understand Ngwa? 

Afikpo is very hard to understand! I know it is Igbo, but that dialect. . .    I would have though those Igbo people in Afikpo would not claim Igbo the way their dialect is so different from everyone else. Those northern Igbo dialects are very hard to understand. Eastern Igbo is easier to understand while southern Igbo is more pleasant to the ears.

I was shocked by the clarity of Igbanke!
Ikwerre even shocked me more!
I wasn't shocked by Ukwuani. 

Like I said, someone did a job on Ndigbo.

I think it is left for us to undo that job.

Aigbofa:
The real problem is morons like you, who are parade themselves as champions of a dead cause.
Who is Ralph Uwaechue? Did he discover the cure for cancer or even malaria for that matter?
And what is my knowledge of him got to do with the fact that ibos have only five states in Nigeria?
A Yoruba was once a leader or ACF does that make him an Hausa? Bloody nincompoop.

Once SEFAGO always SEFAGO.  

You can change your username one million times, you cannot change your character summarized -
run out of logical options and brain power-> resort to insults.
Pathetic.

EzeUche22:
Then Abia must be rich going by your logic!

Those Aba boys get money.

Ileke-IdI:
But do the police actually turn in the all [/b]of the money collected?

[b]I believe half of it is "chop money".

All of it is chop money. They supplement their income by mounting roadblocks.
No roadblock, no money there. Simple.

@chyz
Thanks once more bros!

I can even understand Ikwerre, Igbanke and Ukwuani much much more than Ngwa, Afikpo and even Owerri.

Someone did a job on Ndigbo.

This job must be undone! Fast!

One Igboland.

I've just figured out the more accurate way to measure the richness of Nigeria's states:

The higher the number of police check points, the richer the state. Simple.

The police collected tens of billions of Naira from the roads in Anambra state last year. There was thousands of police check points there, yet kidnapping continued. All attempts to remove roadblocks in the state has failed.

Follow the Nigerian police force to find the money. They will NOT mount road blocks unless they are getting money.

Since we lack the ability to conduct proper economic data gathering, we should count police checkpoints.

The Igbo say that "Onye bu igu ka ewu n'eso" (the person with fodder or feed, is the one that attract goats).

If your state has less police check points than another, there is no way it is richer. 

EzeUche22:
Onlytruth,

Politicians aside, do you think Igbos will actually vote for him? Many do not care if he has an Igbo middle name, what makes you think he is going to be good for the south east. [size=16pt]Can he be trusted[/size]?

I mean I know his grandfather comes from Arochukwu, but still. . . I don't know about this man.

My brother that is the question of the 21st century.

You know, this would have been a no-brainer if not for the north's own political hanky-panky throughout the years.

I hate reneging on agreements. I just hate it! But northern Nigeria started with reneging on Aburi accords and the 1979 NPN agreements.

We must judge Jonathan now purely on Ijawman's tendencies and his own personal actions.
For us to go against the zoning agreement, it has to be worth it.

Believe me, this Jonathan 2011 project is dividing Igboland big time. I hope we reach a resolution soon.
The worst thing that will happen to us is for us to allow our votes to be divided. We must be resolute in supporting ONE candidate, else it won't be worth our efforts.

I didn't know that the great Ikemba has yet another title: The Amuma na Egbeigwe of Igboland (the thunder and lightening of Igboland). Lol!

[size=16pt]More confusion, even after Igbo summit[/size]

The political gathering that took place in Enugu, the capital of the old Eastern Nigeria Region on Monday, August 16th 2010 was foreshadowed by intrigues and ended almost inconclusively as no communiqué was immediately issued. But the message from the promoters to the Nigerian polity was clear: the section of the Igbo political elite that put it together supports the election of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as the president of Nigeria in 2010.

But first, let us examine some of the intrigues. It all started when the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, got in touch with the oldest surviving nationalist of Igbo extraction, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, to help convene a summit of Igbo people to take a common stand in the controversy of which section of the country should produce the president of Nigeria in 2011.

Amechi left his Ukpo, Nnewi village and travelled to Abuja to rally the Igbo elite there. Abuja, and of course, Lagos, have become the favourite hiding places for the Igbo high and mighty and their prized relations, since violent armed robbersand kidnappers chased them out of the South East.

There, Amechi got in touch with the promoters of the South East Consultative Forum, which has as its chairman, Chief S. N. Okeke, the former Chairman of the Police Service Commission. It is not clear why he did not make a similar overture to Lagos-based Igbo leaders. However, Okeke”s group told Amechi that they would rather not attend, as Ekweremadu had always rebuffed all invitations to attend Igbo meetings.

They advised him to tarry a while till early September to allow for fuller consultations before a stand could be taken on the burning issue. Amechi ignored them and set the August 16th, 2010 date for the summit, whose principal organisers were the governorship candidate of the Accord Party in the flawed 2007 elections in Enugu State , Chief Ugochukwu Agballa and former All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) senatorial candidate for Anambra South in the 2007 election, Barrister Azuka Okwuosa.

As preparations went into high gear towards the summit, events also shift into the fast-forward mode. On Thursday, August 12th 2010 the National Executive Council meeting of the ruling People”s Democratic Party (PDP) announced that Jonathan can contest for president in the coming elections. At the same time, they endorsed the retention of the zoning principle of the Party.

In other words, the race for the presidency was now open to all. In an incredible volte-face, Ekweremadu went to the media to announce the cancellation of the Igbo summit as, according to him, it was no longer necessary since the PDP had taken a position on the zoning controversy. Not a few Igbo leaders were incensed by Ekweremadu”s childish audacity to ““cancel”” an Igbo summit simply because a political party took a decision. Those who were interested in the summit decided to press ahead with their preparations.

At about the same period, the S. N. Okeke group, made up of Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Dr Tim Menakaya, Senator Ken Nnamani, retired AVM Canice Umenwaliri, Professor ABC Nwosu, and a host of others, suddenly announced that they had met with ranking northern leaders and agreed that not only should the zoning formula maintained since it was part of the Igbo strategic agenda for over twenty years, it should also lead to the shift of power back to the north for only one term while the Igbo should produce the president in 2015.

This group of Igbo leaders were obviously overriding the former decision of the South East Governors Forum that Igbo people would not contest the presidency in 2011 and would not present any candidate for vice presidency. Top northern political leaders and presidential aspirants, especially former military president, Ibrahim Babangida and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had, in their talks with these Igbo leaders, promised to run for only one term with Igbo running mates. Some reasoned that Ekweremadu”s volte-face probably came as a result of being one of those that the northern presidential hopefuls were eyeing for vice president.

Meanwhile, the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo had their special meeting of elders in Enugu between Saturday, August 14th and Sunday, August 15th 2010 . Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, one of the campaigners for Jonathan”s presidency, had seized that occasion to canvass for Igbo total support for Jonathan at the summit of the following day, but he was told that a decision would be taken at the appropriate time.

Undeterred, Iwuanyanwu appeared at the summit, where he made an impassioned speech (one of his best in a long time) canvassing the need for the Igbo to seize the opportunity of the moment to mend fences with their minority neighbours. Iwuanyanwu argued that there should be a united southern front since the north already had, for decades, a united front of the 19 northern states, which regularly meets to take common positions on national issues.

Also in his speech, Chief Amechi traced the history of the turbulent relations between the Igbo people and their minority cousins. He argued that since the Igbo were responsible for the parting of ways between the two sides in 1952 after the displacement of Professor Eyo Ita, who was poised to emerge as the first Premier of the defunct Eastern Region, the opportunity of helping Jonathan to become the president of Nigeria in 2011 should be seized by the Igbo people to close this chapter of acrimony and rancour.

He said the two sides had suffered enough as a result of the parting of ways, and the only way they can claim their places in the Nigerian political system was to come together, with the Igbo taking the initiative through helping Jonathan to win next year”s election. Amechi also cautioned those who were falling for Babangida and Atiku”s promise of running for only one term, arguing that the North was fond of breaking up such agreements through hook or crook.
He recalled that in 1979, there was a accord in the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) that after the North had produced the president of Nigeria for two terms the position would be zoned to the Igbo. But barely three months into President Shagari”s second tenure, when the count-down to the imminent emergence of his Deputy, Dr Alex Ekwueme as president in 1987, the north sponsored a coup that led to the retention of power in the region through the armed forces for another 15 years.

Among those who attended the summit were Chief Amechi, Dr Iwuanyanwu, Most Reverend Maxwell S. C. Anikwenwa, the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger , Church of Nigeria (the Anglican Communion), Dr Offia Nwali. Interestingly, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezife, who had only a week earlier, endorsed zoning and northern president, also attended the pro-Jonathan summit!

Complications

It was clear to all observers that the so-called Igbo summit was specifically put together to promote Jonathan”s undeclared presidential ambition. Perhaps, Ekweremadu had gambled that the PDP NEC meeting would dump zoning and clear the way for Jonathan alone. When it did not work out that way, he switched camp and joined those jostling for vice presidential slot to northern politicians. He only sent his personal assistant to the summit.

Also, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, sent a representative. Of all the governors of the South East, only Chief Martin Elechi of Ebonyi sent one of his commissioners to represent him. Also, Ikemba Nnewi, the Amuma na egbe igwe of Igboland, sent his son, Emeka Ojukwu Jnr, to represent him. He is an enthusiast of the Jonathan presidential project. The Cinema Hall of the decrepit Hotel Presidential was filled to overflowing, but the high table was thin of notable personalities.

And earlier on Sunday, August 15th 2010 the South East Governors” Forum was scheduled to meet at the Lion Building , Government House of Enugu State usual venue. But only Mr Peter Obi of Anambra State and Elechi of Ebonyi joined host, Sullivan Chime. The governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, sent his Deputy, Dr Ada Okwuonu, who left only a few minutes after she arrived. The governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, did not attend and sent no rep or word.

In other words, even the governors of the South East were not part of the summit, and in fact, could not muster enough participation in their own meeting to take a stand. Obi said another meeting had been fixed for early September. Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo has also made it clear that the pro-Jonathan stand taken by the summit”s organisers was a partisan viewpoint of a political group, not that of Ndi Igbo, who were yet to decide.

Questions trail both the pro-North and pro-Jonathan groups” positions. Doubts were raised as to the credibility of northern politicians” promise to run for only one term and hand over to an Igbo in 2015, in the face of past experiences. Besides, if anybody is elected president in 2011, what can any pact do to deter him from running for a constitutionally guaranteed second term?

Those who are promoting a South-East South-South reconciliation and Jonathan presidency also have to ponder whether their support means anything to the beneficiary. Has he or his ethnic leaders, who have established a very hostile track record towards the Igbo and everything remotely Igbo (as in their opposition to Dr Peter Odili”s presidential ambition in 2007 because he ““was Igbo””, according to Chief Edwin Clark) come forward to ask for Igbo support?

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/08/19/more-confusion-even-after-igbo-summit/

mikeansy:
Onlytruth

I thought you said Peter Obi has done everything there needs to do in Anambra State?

Regional development and industrialization is not for small minds.

The Ingenuity of the Igbos is being wasted, our people are focused in trade alone because they have no alternative. The only way a real commerce and industry hub can be created in the SouthEast is to harness the skills of our people and make it a manufacturing based economy. Those focused on buying products in China can be encouraged to attempt to manufacture locally by providing some incenctives.

This effort required someone who had the capacity to pull all stakeholders together, encourage a public-private sector driven partnership, integrate the efforts of Government, University and Businessmen to encourage an economy where people actually make things. Onitsha and Aba are truly missing a lot due to leadership that had limited know how.

Peter Obi lacks the capacity to deliver on this. Which is why Anambra needed a Governor with the right exposure and contacts.

Please don't tell me Soludo as a private citizen can deliver on this while Peter Obi squats in Government House. It really is not possible because you need political will to deliver any vission.

Bros Mike I've been expecting you since.

I don't know what Obi is doing in that direction. That does not mean he is not doing anything.

This is not a PDP issue.

Ikengawo:
wow, you just highlighted that nothing i said contradicts what you're saying[i] at. all. [/i]

what is lacking in the east that's in benue?

the issue is that igbos like to travel and prefer it for work. that's all.

I only restated what I said earlier here:

Onlytruth:
Hash words.

I wouldn't put it that way.

I can't remember the last time any Igbo man was attacked in Benue.
Yes, you are right about the jealousy monster, but it does not happen in all parts of Nigeria. Benue has been calm and good, at least since after the 1966 crisis when they thought they were core northerners. A lot has changed since then.

Having said that, [size=14pt]this is not a zero sum game where Benue's gain must be Igboland's loss.[/size]
As long as the governor is serious, and the Igbo's start contesting elections in Benue state, their investments will remain safe.

You'd be shocked that southerners are more jealous of Ndigbo than middle belters.

I still stand on that.
Of course if Anambra state builds a big industrial and commercial estate, those Igbo will see an opportunity closer to home and cash in.
I know many folks who returned from Lagos and far north. One guy is in Abakaliki.
Igbos need business friendly environments.
If they have it at home, they'll stay. That doesn't mean they won't buy that bargain property, or invest in that other lucrative venture elsewhere.
So, to "encourage" them to invest in Igboland, the governors must lead.

Ikengawo:
tribalism is very real but it isn't the factor elections are decided on and has never been.

there has never been a credible igbo candidate because when election time comes 400 igbos register to run LOL.
so most can't even win their state and don't realize outside of their state they're nobodies.

but this isn't cause everyone refuses to vote for igbos it's because in the handful of credible elections we've had (almost none) the people of igbo origin that have ran have been jokes, plain and simple.

Goodluck will probably win this election, but is it because of his tribe? no. if just his tribe voted for him he would lose. OBJ wasn't supported by the yoruba. Yar adua is the only candidate who's tribe was behind him but obviously non fulani voted for him in droves and an yoruba put him in position to win.




the problem with nigerian politics isn't tribe it's nigerian politicians. By the time the most powerful and corrupt governor in the west is ready to run for president he has stole so much from the yoruba people under him that they loath him

same with all the hausa and igbo clowns that run for the presidency.

An Igbo person -Alex Ekwueme - was heading to victory in 1999. The north simply dumped him because he supported decentralization of power and helped create the 6 geopolitical regions. They feared him because he is Igbo. He did not lose because other Igbos contested. He had more Igbo support than Obasanjo could ever dream of a Yoruba support.

If you are interested in learning Nigeria's political history, why not spare time outside of Nairaland to learn, instead of your ignorant posts?  

What has been happening in Nigeria since 1999 is wholesale electoral fraud and brigandage, what I call organized crime.
The day our votes starts to count again, take stock and the truth will stare mercilessly at you.

excanny:
This is what we should be consolidating on. Send our young chaps to schools to study the rudiments of science and giving the likes of Innoson a run for their money. We have the potentials.

[b]Raise more industrialists and let people come to our place for their bread and butte[/b]r.Not building wealth for jobless Tiv miscreants to vandalise some day.

Yes I agree with you. In fact I strongly believe that if we build huge industrial and commercial estates in Anambra state, it will be filled up fast. That is what we should do, instead of whining about other states "poaching" Igbo businessmen.

Ikengawo:
^that's not true.

Igbos are investing in the east as well its just the east isn't big enough to contain them and igbo people have a culture of celebrating travel and adventure.

There are igbos in afganistan and haiti doing business, it has nothing to do with 'the east'.


igbo people can turn anything into an investment haven so long as ppl inhabit it.

I think this person is very right, at risk of sounding ethnocentric the igbo are a very valuable resource and seeming attempts by the nigerian government to hold the east back is at the determent of the nation.

you have a culture of over 30 million people and 100% of them want to be rich and highly educated as their goals in life. why would you deny these people?

^^

Dude, did you read my post at all?

Didn't I say that this is NOT A ZERO SUM GAME?

Of course I'm also right that if you build a huge industrial estate in Anambra state, it will be filled up -fast.  

Some Igbos are desperate to return to the east. Yes it is true. Most can't because there is not much infrastructure to return to.

To say that Nigerian politics is devoid of tribe is a HUGE lie. In fact, it is because of that tribal issue that the wrong people kept emerging. It is the same reason why an Igbo has not become president since 1967.

The north was afraid of a free minded Yoruba man, so they handpicked Obasanjo in 1998.


The only time Nigeria witnessed what I'll call real politics was before 1966 (with NCNC winning Igboland and other areas outside Igboland) without rigging. Tribalism is REAL in Nigeria. Stop denying it.
You cannot convince a foreigner about your lofty programs if you cannot convince your own people.

Don't mistake what is happening today for politics. The day our votes starts to count again, we'll start voting like before 1966 - convince my tribe first, then my neighbors, then Nigerians.

All you have been seeing in Nigeria from 1999 to date is organized crime.

Again, the fact that Igbos go to other parts of Nigeria to do business is mainly because the south east has failed to invest in business infrastructure over the years.

I still recall that despite Lagos, and the lower infrastructural development of Anambra state, certain products (like certain spare parts) are still sold ONLY IN NNEWI. You have to come from wherever to buy it.
Now imagine if Anambra state builds a large industrial city what would happen.
That is one area where I think that successive governments of Anambra state failed.
So, don't blame Gov Suswan and Benue state.

excanny:
Point! What is wrong with Igbo? A man who thinks he has no enemies is a FOOL with flying colours.

Igbo has learnt nothing! And refused to learn. You think you can make wealth in foreign lands without attracting the jealousy of the locals.

PURE STUPIDITY of the highest order!

Hash words.

I wouldn't put it that way.

I can't remember the last time any Igbo man was attacked in Benue.
Yes, you are right about the jealousy monster, but it does not happen in all parts of Nigeria. Benue has been calm and good, at least since after the 1966 crisis when they thought they were core northerners. A lot has changed since then.

Having said that, this is not a zero sum game where Benue's gain must be Igboland's loss.
As long as the governor is serious, and the Igbo's start contesting elections in Benue state, their investments will remain safe.

You'd be shocked that southerners are more jealous of Ndigbo than middle belters.

They said the truth though.

Their motive is an entirely different question. 

chyz:
Who cares what the british think. let them worry about there own country,snake people as if they are not behind econmomic and stability problems in nigeria. Look at these Devils trying to cover their tracks!

lol! Was thinking the same thing.
British! shakes head.. .

odumchi:
o lol, ill look at it then. Do you know the page?

See pages 9, 10 and 11. My views on this are very clear.

odumchi:
There is no Question about the bravery of our troops but I have a question. When will we begin to use modern equipment. The only modern thing I saw in these pictures are our artillery trucks other than that everything is outdated. Even our planes MiGs are planes of the past and we need new fighter planes and bombers. If we maintained close relations with the U.S. maybe we could get some F16s.

We need modern cruisers, heavy tanks, if we had enough money we could have bought an aircraft carrier. Im tired of seeing MiG 21s everywhere (MiG21s are over 40 years old).
Body armorf will also save hundreds of thousands of lives and by looking at this picture i see nothing like that.
Another thing I dislike seeing is our troops packing themselves and riding in pickup trucks that are loaded to the limit. You will never see professional armies like that of Britain or the Untied States doing that. Other than that Good Luck army  

lol bros. I've said something like that way back at the beginning of this thread.

Not that I trust the British at all , but this "finding" is spot on.

Well, we've always known anyway, but politicians are too lazy to tell us the truth and do something about that.

If they remove our eyes from oil money, we will find out that they have no plans for the youths.

[size=16pt]Youths, Nigeria’s biggest resources – British Council[/size]

By Uduma Kalu, Japhet Alakam & Nnamdi Ojiego

LAGOS—After over two years research on Nigeria’s future, the British Council has said that youths, not oil, will become Nigeria’s most precious resource in the 21st century, noting by 2030, the country will be one of the few countries in the world that has young workers in large supply.

The Council will on Sept1 in Abuja present details of the 50-page report titled ‘Next Generation Report’ to the public.

Ms. Rabi Isma, the Council’s Director of Marketing on a visit to the Vanguard yesterday told Senior Editors of the newspapers that eminent Nigerians and academics such as former Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iwuala, Mr. Frank Nweke, ex Governor Donald Duke, Prof. Pat Utomi, among others from Harvard, British Universities and Nigerian youths  were part of the task force that conducted the report.

Isma said, “rapid population growth has created a huge strain on the country’s economic, social and political systems. Today, just 12 adults care for each of the country’s children and old people.

“Nigeria needs to develop the infrastructure that will underpin a world class economy, diversify away from oil, with an emphasis on sectors that will improve employment prospects for young people, while removing obstacles to economic growth and private enterprise.

“The oil industry contributes 40% to National GDP, but employs less than 0.15% of the population. Other industries still in their infancy offer greater potential to Nigeria and Nigerians: communications; manufacturing (textiles, clothing and footwear; automobiles); and the mining of resources other than oil.

“Nigeria must tap into the energies of the next generation , releasing its innovative and entrepreneurial potential, and ensuring that young people have increasing opportunities for political expression. It should also harness the potential of the diaspora, both to provide opportunities for the young; and for new ideas, investments, and contacts of the global Nigerian network.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/08/19/youths-nigerias-biggest-resources-british-council/comment-page-1/#comments

The governor assured the Igbo in Benue State of their security and protection, urging that they should continue their investments in the state without fear that the projects would be confiscated by any group.

“As we develop further, the issue of where one hails from will no longer be an issue because people from other communities would contest and win elections in communities where they reside and have made contributions”, he said.

I've never really thought of Benue as an investment haven;but if this governor continues in this line of thinking and programming, I don't see why Igbos and other Nigerians won't flock there for business. Security of life and property is the bedrock of any good business environment.

Good move, governor.

~Bluetooth:
Righ on spot and that is why i feel bad that Akala is doing nothing to improve the state at all.the state would have gone far if a good leader,i mean a business -oriented person and not a bloody illiterate had been the governor.mscheww

ol'boy calm down na!

~Bluetooth:
And you think the people in oyo are poor abi simply because they are not into business sector like your homies.what i see there are individual rich men which is common in everywhere possibly,there wealth may not have gone into the system or what do you think of a business-oriented state that refused to pay tax to government ? It's doesnt change the economy of that state at all.

Actually, Anambra is still laying some infrastructure foundations. When Peter Obi leaves, and someone like Soludo takes over that state, it will simply jump up. It is a powerfully latent state.

Beaf:
You're right, you did. My bad.
I hope you guy's are taking good care of my sister o!

Don't worry. We are known for treating our wives good. We don't kill them.  And they NEVER leave. Trust me on that.

Beaf:
^
Are you from Nnewi?

Yep!

I told you that before didn't I? You are supposed to be my in-law remember? One of my cousins is married to a beauty from your Isoko tribe.

Beaf:
You know people from that area tend to be very quiet (eg Jonathan), so you can never easily see their real hand. If not for Mrs Ibru, you would hardly even know that name, despite that the man is among Nigeria's richest. There are many more like him, living simply, quietly and minding their business. That's why the phrase "Urhobo wayo" arose.

Frankly, I don't even know why I'm arguing this. Anambra folks (especially Nnewi folks) are not know to make noise about money. We learned that long ago in Nigeria. It is part of our survival strategy.

I think I'll take my bow now.