₦airaland Forum

The Yoruba political leadership, as mentioned by Balarabe Musa, has shown itself over the years to be incapable of rising above narrow tribal interests and reciprocating goodwill from other sections of the country by treating other groups with respect. Practically every crisis in Nigeria since independence has its roots in this attitude.
The Yoruba elite and area-boy politics;
Igbo marginalisation and the responsible limits of retribution; and
The Yoruba Factor and “Area-boy” Politics.
My views on the Yoruba political leadership have been thoroughly articulated in some of my writings, prime among which was ” Afenifere: Syllabus of Errors” published by This Day (The Sunday Newspaper) on Sept 27, 1998. There was also an earlier publication in the weekly Trust entitled ” The Igbo, the Yoruba and History” (Aug. 21, 1998).

In sum, the Yoruba political leadership, as mentioned by Balarabe Musa, has shown itself over the years to be incapable of rising above narrow tribal interests and reciprocating goodwill from other sections of the country by treating other groups with respect. Practically every crisis in Nigeria since independence has its roots in this attitude.

[size=16pt]The Yoruba elite were the first, in 1962, to attempt a violent overthrow of an elected government in this country. In 1966, it was the violence in the West which provided an avenue for the putsch of 15th January. After Chief Awolowo lost to Shagari in 1983 elections, it was the discontent and bad publicity in the South-West which led to the Buhari intervention.[/size]

When Buhari jailed UPN governors like Ige and Onabanjo, the South-Western press castigated that good government and provided the right mood for IBB to take over power. As soon as IBB cleared UPN governors of charges against them in a politically motivated retrial, he became the darling of the South-West. When IBB annulled the primaries in which Adamu Ciroma and Shehu Yar Adua emerged as presidential candidates in the NRC and SDP, he was hailed by the South-West. When the same man annulled the June 12, 1993 elections in which Abiola was the front-runner, the South-West now became defenders of democracy.

When it seemed Sani Abacha was sympathetic to Abiola, the South-West supported his take-over. He was in fact invited by a prominent NADECO member to take over in a published letter shortly before the event. Even though Abiola had won the elections in the North, the North was blamed for its annulment. When Abdulsalam Abubakar started his transition, the Yoruba political leadership through NADECO presented a memorandum on a Government of National Unity that showed complete disrespect for the intelligence and liberties of other Nigerians.

Subsequently, they formed a tribal party which failed to meet minimum requirements for registration, but was registered all the same to avoid the violence that was bound to follow non-registration, given the area-boy mentality of South-West politicians. Having rejected an Obasanjo candidacy and challenged the election as a fraud in court, we now find a leading member of the AD in the government, a daughter of an Afenifere leader as Minister of State, and Awolowo´s daughter as Ambassador, all appointed by a man who won the election through fraud.

Meanwhile, nothing has been negotiated for the children of Abiola, the focus of Yoruba political activity. In return for these favours, the AD solidly voted for Evan Enwerem as Senate President. This is a man who participated in the two-million- man March for Abacha´s self-succession. He also is reputed to have hosted a meeting of governors during IBB´s transition, demanding that June 12 elections should never be de-annulled and threatening that the East would go to war if this was done. When Ibrahim Salisu Buhari was accused of swearing to a false affidavit, the Yoruba political elite correctly took up the gauntlet for his resignation.

When an AD governor, Bola Tinubu, swears to a false affidavit that he attended an Ivy League University which he did not attend, we hear excuses.

For so many years, the Yoruba have inundated this country with stories of being marginalised and of a civil service dominated by northerners through quota system. The Federal Character Commission has recently released a report which shows that the South-West accounts for 27.8% of civil servants in the range GL08 to GL14 and a full 29.5% of GL 15 and above. One zone out of six zones controls a full 30% of the civil service leaving the other five zones to share the remaining 70%. We find the same story in the economy, in academia, in parastatals.

Yet in spite of being so dominant, the Yoruba complained and complained of marginalization. Of recent, in recognition of the trauma which hit the South-West after June 12, the rest of the country forced everyone out of the race to ensure that a South-Westerner emerged, often against the best advice of political activists.

Instead of leading a path of reconciliation and strong appreciation, the Yoruba have embarked on short-sighted triumphalism, threatening other “nationalities” that they ( who after all lost the election) will protect Obasanjo ( who was forced on them). No less a person than Bola Ige has made such utterances.

To further show that they were in charge, they led a cult into the Hausa area of Sagamu, murdered a Hausa woman and nothing happened. In the violence that followed, they killed several Hausa residents, with Yoruba leaders like Segun Osoba, reminding Nigerians of the need to respect the culture of their host communities. This would have continued were it not for the people of Kano who showed that they could also create their own Oro who would only be appeased through the shedding of innocent Yoruba blood.
I say all this, to support Balarabe Musa´s statement, that the greatest problem to nation-building in Nigeria are the Yoruba Bourgeoisie. I say this also to underscore my point that until they change this attitude, no conference can solve the problems of Nigeria. We cannot move forward if the leadership of one of the largest ethnic groups continues to operate, not like statesmen, but like common area boys.
iii.The Igbo Factor and the Reasonable Limits of Retribution.

The Igbo people of Nigeria have made a mark in the history of this nation. They led the first successful military coup which eliminated the Military and Political leaders of other regions while letting off Igbo leaders. Nwafor Orizu, then Senate President, in consultation with President Azikiwe, subverted the constitution and handed over power to Aguiyi-Ironsi. Subsequent developments, including attempts at humiliating other peoples, led to the counter-coup and later the civil war. The Igbos themselves must acknowledge that they have a large part of the blame for shattering the unity of this country.
Having said that, this nation must realise that Igbos have more than paid for their foolishness. They have been defeated in war, rendered paupers by monetary policy fiat, their properties declared abandoned and confiscated, kept out of strategic public sector appointments and deprived of public services. The rest of the country forced them to remain in Nigeria and has continued to deny them equity.
The Northern Bourgeoisie and the Yoruba Bourgeoisie have conspired to keep the Igbo out of the scheme of things. In the recent transition when the Igbo solidly supported the PDP in the hope of an Ekwueme presidency, the North and South-West treated this as a Biafra agenda. Every rule set for the primaries, every gentleman´s agreement was set aside to ensure that Obasanjo, not Ekwueme emerged as the candidate. Things went as far as getting the Federal Government to hurriedly gazette a pardon. Now, with this government, the marginalistion of the Igbo is more complete than ever before. The Igbos have taken all these quietly because, they reason, they brought it upon themselves. But the nation is sitting on a time-bomb.
After the First World War, the victors treated Germany with the same contempt Nigeria is treating Igbos. Two decades later, there was a Second World War, far costlier than the first. Germany was again defeated, but this time, they won a more honourable peace. Our present political leaders have no sense of History. There is a new Igbo man, who was not born in 1966 and neither knows nor cares about Nzeogwu and Ojukwu. There are Igbo men on the street who were never Biafrans. They were born Nigerians, are Nigerians, but suffer because of actions of earlier generations. They will soon decide that it is better to fight their own war, and may be find an honourable peace, than to remain in this contemptible state in perpetuity.

The Northern Bourgeoisie and the Yoruba Bourgeoisie have exacted their pound of flesh from the Igbos. For one Sardauna, one Tafawa Balewa, one Akintola and one Okotie-Eboh, hundreds of thousands have died and suffered.

If this issue is not addressed immediately, no conference will solve Nigeria´s problems. By Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.


http://newsdayngonline.com/yorubas-are-the-problem-with-nigeria-says-sanusi-lamido-sanusi/

How is this even relevant today?

We are talking about how Nigeria will be great again,by dealing with all the Economic saboteurs.

And you are bringing in the 60s?

Sweetlemon, come and see that it is the Yorubas that caused the 1966 coup which has led to all the problems we have in this country today.

Have you heard of 'Operation wetie' before?

ShameOwoda:
Sweetlemon, come and see that it is the Yorubas that caused the 1966 coup which has led to all the problems we have in this country today.

Have you heard of 'Operation wetie' before?

Yes you're correct. Imprisoning the enigma called Awo was a taboo for which the gods were going to exact full punishments on all remotely involved.

So the gods, who are at Awo's beck and call, sent madness into Nzeogwu and Ifeajuna's head to exact capital punishment on Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Akintola etc. Then when that was achieved, they turned the former allies (north and SE) on themselves.

The rest is history as they say.

The moral of the story: Never touch a man who says nothing - Chinua Achebe in things fall apart, 1958

shukuokukobambi:
Yes you're correct. Imprisoning the enigma called Awo was a taboo for which the gods were going to exact full punishments on all remotely involved.

So the gods, who are at Awo's beck and call, sent madness into Nzeogwu and Ifeajuna's head to exact capital punishment on Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, aakintola etc. Then when that was turned, they turned the former allies (north and SE) on themselves.

The rest is history as they say.

The moral of the story: Never touch a man who says nothing - Chinua Achebe in things fall apart, 1958

the gods are not to Blame


Igbo greed is

DaBullIT:
the gods are not to Blame


Igbo greed is

Exactly!!

Nice try OP, but it's too late for you to rewrite history. Sorry.

HungerBAD:
How is this even relevant today?

We are talking about how Nigeria will be great again,by dealing with all the Economic saboteurs.

And you are bringing in the 60s?

How will Nigeria be great again wen the same Yorubas who single-handedly gave PMB d ticket of d Presidency n here we r, suffering from its effect

ODVanguard:
Nice try OP, but it's too late for you to rewrite history. Sorry.

Rewrite what part of history please?

The igbo people has always been the greedy and selfish people separating nigeria, they started the first coup that started military reign, the op is very uneducated on what happened on January 16 1966, let me educate ur illiterate mind
The officers involved in the coup are (Conspirators): Maj. Kaduna Nzeogwu (Igbo), Maj. Timothy Onwuatuegwu (Igbo), Maj. Emmanuel Ifeajuna (Igbo), Maj. Chris Anuforo (Igbo), Maj. Don Okafor (Igbo), Maj. Adewale Ademoyega (Yoruba), Maj. Humphrey Chukwuka (Igbo), Capt. Emmanuel Nwobosi (Igbo), Capt. Ben Gbulie (Igbo)and Capt. Ogbu Oji (Igbo)

The victims were the Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello: the Premier of Western Region; Sir Samuel Ladoke Akintola; the Finance Minister, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh; the wife of Ademulegun, Mrs. Lateefat; the wife of the then Premier of Northern Nigeria, Hafusat; Zarumi Sardauna, the Senior Assistant on Security to the then Premier, Ahmed Ben Musa and the Government Driver to the then Premier, Ahmed Pategi.
IGBO PEOPLE STARTED COUPS AND MILITARY REIGN IN NIGERIA THAT'S WHY KARMA CAUGHT UP WITH THEM IN 1970 WHEN THEY LOST THE CIVIL WAR

HungerBAD:
How is this even relevant today?

We are talking about how Nigeria will be great again,by dealing with all the Economic saboteurs.

And you are bringing in the 60s?

Face the message. We always hear that so-called Igbo coup caused Nigeria's problems when the fact is that it is the behaviour of Yorubas that resulted in the coup.

SleekyGee:
[s]The igbo people has always been the greedy and selfish people separating nigeria, they started the first coup that started military reign, the op is very uneducated on what happened on January 16 1966, let me educate ur illiterate mind
The officers involved in the coup are (Conspirators): Maj. Kaduna Nzeogwu (Igbo), Maj. Timothy Onwuatuegwu (Igbo), Maj. Emmanuel Ifeajuna (Igbo), Maj. Chris Anuforo (Igbo), Maj. Don Okafor (Igbo), Maj. Adewale Ademoyega (Yoruba), Maj. Humphrey Chukwuka (Igbo), Capt. Emmanuel Nwobosi (Igbo), Capt. Ben Gbulie (Igbo)and Capt. Ogbu Oji (Igbo)

The victims were the Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello: the Premier of Western Region; Sir Samuel Ladoke Akintola; the Finance Minister, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh; the wife of Ademulegun, Mrs. Lateefat; the wife of the then Premier of Northern Nigeria, Hafusat; Zarumi Sardauna, the Senior Assistant on Security to the then Premier, Ahmed Ben Musa and the Government Driver to the then Premier, Ahmed Pategi.
IGBO PEOPLE STARTED COUPS AND MILITARY REIGN IN NIGERIA THAT'S WHY KARMA CAUGHT UP WITH THEM IN 1970 WHEN THEY LOST THE CIVIL WAR[/s]

Did you read the article at all?

It was the problems of Yorubas that caused the 1966 coup so you all caused this mess in Nigeria.

chikel2000:
How will Nigeria be great again wen the same Yorubas who single-handedly gave PMB d ticket of d Presidency n here we r, suffering from its effect

Who has not been suffering since independence?

Did the Igbo not suffer even with Azikiwe as ceremonial president in alliance with NPC in 1960? Did Igbo not suffer even with alliance with NPN in 1979? Infact, did you not get killed anyhow under GEJ?

What is your problem with Yoruba? are u their mouthpiece? Aproko messenger, who send u message?

Face your eternal problem of being caged in a zoo and let us face ours biko

ShameOwoda:
Did you read the article at all?

It was the problems of Yorubas that caused the 1966 coup so you all caused this mess in Nigeria.

Yes we did to destroy you

Can you let us rest now?

shukuokukobambi:
Yes we did to destroy you

Can you let us rest now?

Just stop blaming Igbos for a coup that was remotely caused by Yorubas.

[s]

ShameOwoda:
Did you read the article at all?

It was the problems of Yorubas that caused the 1966 coup so you all caused this mess in Nigeria.

[/s]

Your article lacks sense and facts, I bring you facts and not mere fantasy, there was no 1962 coup and Awolowo accepted defeat with no strings attached.
The coup started with an igbo major, May. Kaduna Nzeogwu turning a night training known as "exercise Damisa" into a full-blown coup.
My grandfather who was in the army then told me all that happened including things u can't find in papers so let me educate ur confused mind

This is interesting
Yoruba hail youself
You can contol and dictate what other tribes in Nigeria should do in a subtle non violent way.
This tribe is indeed the greatest tribe in the world.

SleekyGee:
[s][/s]

Your article lacks sense and facts, I bring you facts and not mere fantasy, there was no 1962 coup and Awolowo accepted defeat with no strings attached.
The coup started with an igbo major, May. Kaduna Nzeogwu turning a night training known as "exercise Damisa" into a full-blown coup.
My grandfather who was in the army then told me all that happened including things u can't find in papers so let me educate ur confused mind

But Major kaduna Nzeogu is from Niger Delta, why do you guys always refer to the coup as an Igbo coup when it was led by a man from the SS?

When it is time to talk about oil you quickly separate them from us but when it is time to apportion blames they quickly become Igbo abi?

ShameOwoda:
But Major kaduna Nzeogu is from Niger Delta, why do you guys always refer to the coup as an Igbo coup when it was led by a man from the SS?

When it is time to talk about oil you quickly separate them from us but when it is time to apportion blames they quickly become Igbo abi?

Abeg is Biafra not Both SE and SS, u guys have decided to segregate yourself from the rest of nigeria since 1967 so u can all be referred to as Igbo, SE and SS is just political zoning

idiot olori pelebe because of u I wld remove all the olori pelebe tenants in my house

If U Are A Student Of History, U Will Find Out That History Keep Repeating Itself In Nigeria And Would Continue Till Something Is Done. Like The Op Stated Above, Same Thing happened After The Aburi Accord. It Was kNown That An Agreement Was Reached For A Confederate Goverment, Guess Those That Went At Back To Overule The Decision And The People Who Treatened To Pull Out Of Nigeria If Biafra Is Left To Go And Those That Had More Casualty. In 2001 Or 2003 During Sharia Law Saga Guess Who Had The Most Casualty. In 1993 Abiola Riot Guess Those That Had More Casualty. Every Affiliation Between The West And North Allways Fail And U Already Know Who To Place The Blame On And Attack. Another One Is Coming, U Can See The Hand Writing On The Wall.

RIZLER:
idiot olori pelebe because of u I wld remove all the olori pelebe tenants in my house

That one consain you and may it never be well with you if you don't do as you have said.

facelessangel:
See what Google sees

This is not necessary bro, please remove those screen shots. Thx.

yeebos should stop creating useless thread,Yorubas will just use you as chewing stick

ShameOwoda:
This is not necessary bro, please remove those screen shots. Thx.

what's wrong with it. Direct it to Google not me

facelessangel:
what's wrong with it. Direct it to Google not me

They can stay on Google but please remove them from my thread. Thx again.

hagm0nd1:
[s]yeebos should stop creating useless thread,Yorubas will just use you as chewing stick[/s]

Chest beater!

yeebos are just useless scumbags,when Herbert Macaulay formed ncnc as a conglomerate of various small parties,he later handed the party to dr zik but the useless greedy dr zik turned ncnc into a Igbo party,he met his waterloo when he decided to form an alliance with NPC,thinking he would use yeebos sense on Fulanis,his young rouge yeebos soldiers thought with the death of northern and western premier will consolidate their hold on Nigeria, but as the god of greed would have it,three millions useless yeebos paid for their greed and they are still paying with their lives on Onitsha head bridge anytime a young Fulani herdsman is bored he goes to Enugu for some shooting practice

ShameOwoda:
They can stay on Google but please remove them from my thread. Thx again.

just studying Nigerian tribes and shearing with people. This could be an exam questions so don't be selfish.

ShameOwoda:
Chest beater!

humor me.
that's what yeebos are known for.
their useless ipob said Nigeria will cease to exist in 2015,alas we are six month deep in 2016.
so am waiting for a reasonable reply

hagm0nd1:
[s]yeebos are just useless scumbags,when Herbert Macaulay formed ncnc as a conglomerate of various small parties,he later handed the party to dr zik but the useless greedy dr zik turned ncnc into a Igbo party,he met his waterloo when he decided to form an alliance with NPC,thinking he would use yeebos sense on Fulanis,his young rouge yeebos soldiers thought with the death of northern and western premier will consolidate their hold on Nigeria, but as the god of greed would have it,three millions useless yeebos paid for their greed and they are still paying with their lives on Onitsha head bridge anytime a young Fulani herdsman is bored he goes to Enugu for some shooting practice[/s]

All these useless rants have not in any way addressed the subject of discussion which is that the Yoruba prooblem led to the first coup which the same Yorubas now use to blame Igbos for plotting a coup.