₦airaland Forum

WHEN  the presidential flag-bearer of  the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku nominated Mr. Peter Obi as his running mate, joy was universal. In the political history of Nigeria, no such nomination was greeted with the type of elation with which Nigerians received it. From North to South and East to West, the citizenry proclaimed Atiku’s choice as the best Nigeria has witnessed preparatory to general elections. Most Nigerians were excited by Obi’s nomination due to his performance as Governor of Anambra State. They believe, rightly, that teaming up with Atiku, they will replicate the Anambra wonder.

As Nigeria’s Vice-President when Obi was Governor of Anambra State, Atiku must have closely observed the younger man; and was satisfied with Obi’s several positive contributions at meetings and saw in him what the rest of Nigerians did. Atiku himself said of Obi: “In 2016, my running mate, former Governor Peter Obi, gave an Independence Day speech at ‘The Platform’ event organised by Covenant Christian Centre in Lagos.

It was an unforgettable Independence Day event which, according to Google analytics, was the most searched item in Nigeria on that day. Why was that speech so attractive to Nigerians? It is because Mr. Obi gave a detailed breakdown of the reality of governance in Nigeria today, which is one of a wasteful squandering of the riches that should have gone into the development of our youth”.

However, it was both shocking and perplexing that the opposition Obi got was from the South East, the very people who are supposed to be at home with the wonders that he did in Anambra State. In what looked like diplomacy’s way of saying ‘No’ to a person, a group of persons said that they were against the process by which Atiku nominated Obi.  They went as far as issuing statements and initiating moves intent on truncating the choice. What was instructive was that while they were on this, the Westerners appealed and even send a delegation to Atiku that they were fully ready for the post should the Easterners lose it due to their folly. This singular act should stick as food-for-thought for the people of the East.


What is inspiring in this man-made controversy was that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar remained steadfast, only explaining the reasons for Obi’s choice, which was precisely the same reasons Nigerians welcome it. As far as Nigerians are concerned, Atiku’s stand was the first credit he recorded – display of a leader’s ability to stand by his decision. Strength of character remains a missing quality among our political elite; and clearly Atiku has it in full supply. When the real reason that informed the protest began to crystallise, it left all Igbos interested in the progress of Nigeria and that of the South-East scratching their heads in perplexity.

It may sound incredible, but the truth is that the protest was informed by the belief of our brothers from Ebonyi and Enugu States that Anambra State is getting the better of good things that come to the East. This assertion is highly debatable, because political positions, including leadership of the Senate and Ministerial appointments have always been evenly distributed.

It is a great disservice to the Igbos for people to seek to segregate themselves by reference to the distribution of political offices at this time.  Have they forgotten that the man in question – Mr. Peter Obi – has been tested and people know that he is not one to exhibit parochialism if elected? Obi’s fairness and sense of justice was the reason he was allowed to head the South-East Governors Forum for eight years.  Igbos must know that internal cooperation is the first law of external competition. You cannot tear at one another like puppies and hope to successfully face external threat in that state of confusion. Are you interested in the distribution of political posts among other regions in Nigeria? Curiously, I searched for what distribution of political positions has been in the West. We know names like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, Ernest Shonekan, Abraham Adesanya, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Gen. Oladipo Diya, among others. Incidentally, they all hail from Ogun State. Have you heard the West raise it as an issue? Most major appointments that came to the West went to Ogun State.  Some past Governors of Lagos State were also from Ogun State. Those who served in the Cabinet of Alhaji Bola Tinubu in Lagos State became governors in many other States in the West, example being Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, the immediate past Governor of Osun State. In 2014, when Gen. Muhammadu Buhari nominated Prof. Yemi Osibanjo as his running mate, we did not hear any protest of imposition or side-talks of non-consultation.


Rather, the people of the West collaborated in selling Osibanjo as one of the best things that has happened to them since Awolowo. Nobody  chose to recall that his only political experience was as a Commissioner for Justice  and Attorney-General under the then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  The people of the West took the project as theirs and got other regions to key in. This is what it should be; one’s own people must first of all accept him, associate with him and be instrumental in telling others that “this our son is trusted and should be accepted by all”. Compare the fore-going to the reactions of some Igbo people and one will note what short-sightedness can do to a people. In Igbo parlance, even a mad man has parentage; when anything untoward happens to him, his people will show up. Igbos have sayings to depict all situations, but some of them conduct themselves as if totally bereft of wisdom. The current political permutations in the land offer Igbos the opportunity of a re-think. Indeed, this is a time to ask themselves salient questions, define their destination and map out survival strategy as other regions are doing. They should do this in the interest of their people and for the overall progress of the country, and not for some petty, pecuniary benefits.

*Mr. Azubike, a publicaffairs analyst, wrote from Enugu, Enugu State.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/12/igbo-and-the-wisdom-of-the-west/?fbclid=IwAR0zOE3Ylb5HxnCHVRsf7d4yHtH45yI_nBkXUcR0xMLC1L3QGwMdqsN2Kk4

Lalasticlala

nice narrative...I hope they learn

C

You need to learn how to separate the feelings and aspirations of the average Igbo on the street from those of our greedy and selfish political elite! Those self-centred Igbo political elite that have a problem with Atikus' choice of running mate had hoped one of them or their own nominee would have been chosen, simple!

I've always posited that our useless political elite take a huge part of the blame for our present position in 'one Nigeria' today....the shenanigans of our detractors notwithstanding!

Xander85:
You need to learn how to separate the feelings and aspirations of the average Igbo on the street from those of our greedy and selfish political elite! Those self-centred Igbo political elite that have a problem with Atikus' choice of running mate had hoped one of them or their own nominee would have been chosen, simple!

I've always posited that our useless political elite take a huge part of the blame for our present position in 'one Nigeria' today....the shenanigans of our detractors notwithstanding!

The last person I expected to see here and add to this critical igbo topic is you....
Your case done pass my hand.....continue confusing and dividing igboland.......God is watching.

Xander85 has never contributed anything to rivers state issues on nairaland. Go through his profile.
He turns blind eye to Rivers state issues but wakes up on igbo related matters...

I have left his case and hand it over to God to judge.

Juliusmalema:
The last person I expected to see here and add to this critical igbo topic is you....
Your case done pass my hand.....continue confusing and dividing igboland.......God is watching.

Xander85 has never contributed anything to rivers state issues on nairaland. Go through his profile.
He turns blind eye to Rivers state issues but wakes up on igbo related matters...

I have left his case and hand it over to God to judge.

Nice one!

Hope we'll stop hearing this rubbish from you from now on! You're starting to sound like a broken record!

Xander85:
Nice one!

Hope we'll stop hearing this rubbish from you from now on! You're starting to sound like a broken record!

Your case is in God's hands.......i can bear this ur stubbornness any longer.

Let the most high take over.

Igbos always using the Yorubas as their SI

Juliusmalema:
[s]WHEN  the presidential flag-bearer of  the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku nominated Mr. Peter Obi as his running mate, joy was universal. In the political history of Nigeria, no such nomination was greeted with the type of elation with which Nigerians received it. From North to South and East to West, the citizenry proclaimed Atiku’s choice as the best Nigeria has witnessed preparatory to general elections. Most Nigerians were excited by Obi’s nomination due to his performance as Governor of Anambra State. They believe, rightly, that teaming up with Atiku, they will replicate the Anambra wonder.

As Nigeria’s Vice-President when Obi was Governor of Anambra State, Atiku must have closely observed the younger man; and was satisfied with Obi’s several positive contributions at meetings and saw in him what the rest of Nigerians did. Atiku himself said of Obi: “In 2016, my running mate, former Governor Peter Obi, gave an Independence Day speech at ‘The Platform’ event organised by Covenant Christian Centre in Lagos.

It was an unforgettable Independence Day event which, according to Google analytics, was the most searched item in Nigeria on that day. Why was that speech so attractive to Nigerians? It is because Mr. Obi gave a detailed breakdown of the reality of governance in Nigeria today, which is one of a wasteful squandering of the riches that should have gone into the development of our youth”.

However, it was both shocking and perplexing that the opposition Obi got was from the South East, the very people who are supposed to be at home with the wonders that he did in Anambra State. In what looked like diplomacy’s way of saying ‘No’ to a person, a group of persons said that they were against the process by which Atiku nominated Obi.  They went as far as issuing statements and initiating moves intent on truncating the choice. What was instructive was that while they were on this, the Westerners appealed and even send a delegation to Atiku that they were fully ready for the post should the Easterners lose it due to their folly. This singular act should stick as food-for-thought for the people of the East.


What is inspiring in this man-made controversy was that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar remained steadfast, only explaining the reasons for Obi’s choice, which was precisely the same reasons Nigerians welcome it. As far as Nigerians are concerned, Atiku’s stand was the first credit he recorded – display of a leader’s ability to stand by his decision. Strength of character remains a missing quality among our political elite; and clearly Atiku has it in full supply. When the real reason that informed the protest began to crystallise, it left all Igbos interested in the progress of Nigeria and that of the South-East scratching their heads in perplexity.

It may sound incredible, but the truth is that the protest was informed by the belief of our brothers from Ebonyi and Enugu States that Anambra State is getting the better of good things that come to the East. This assertion is highly debatable, because political positions, including leadership of the Senate and Ministerial appointments have always been evenly distributed.

It is a great disservice to the Igbos for people to seek to segregate themselves by reference to the distribution of political offices at this time.  Have they forgotten that the man in question – Mr. Peter Obi – has been tested and people know that he is not one to exhibit parochialism if elected? Obi’s fairness and sense of justice was the reason he was allowed to head the South-East Governors Forum for eight years.  Igbos must know that internal cooperation is the first law of external competition. You cannot tear at one another like puppies and hope to successfully face external threat in that state of confusion. Are you interested in the distribution of political posts among other regions in Nigeria? Curiously, I searched for what distribution of political positions has been in the West. We know names like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, Ernest Shonekan, Abraham Adesanya, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Gen. Oladipo Diya, among others. Incidentally, they all hail from Ogun State. Have you heard the West raise it as an issue? Most major appointments that came to the West went to Ogun State.  Some past Governors of Lagos State were also from Ogun State. Those who served in the Cabinet of Alhaji Bola Tinubu in Lagos State became governors in many other States in the West, example being Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, the immediate past Governor of Osun State. In 2014, when Gen. Muhammadu Buhari nominated Prof. Yemi Osibanjo as his running mate, we did not hear any protest of imposition or side-talks of non-consultation.


Rather, the people of the West collaborated in selling Osibanjo as one of the best things that has happened to them since Awolowo. Nobody  chose to recall that his only political experience was as a Commissioner for Justice  and Attorney-General under the then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  The people of the West took the project as theirs and got other regions to key in. This is what it should be; one’s own people must first of all accept him, associate with him and be instrumental in telling others that “this our son is trusted and should be accepted by all”. Compare the fore-going to the reactions of some Igbo people and one will note what short-sightedness can do to a people. In Igbo parlance, even a mad man has parentage; when anything untoward happens to him, his people will show up. Igbos have sayings to depict all situations, but some of them conduct themselves as if totally bereft of wisdom. The current political permutations in the land offer Igbos the opportunity of a re-think. Indeed, this is a time to ask themselves salient questions, define their destination and map out survival strategy as other regions are doing. They should do this in the interest of their people and for the overall progress of the country, and not for some petty, pecuniary benefits.

*Mr. Azubike, a publicaffairs analyst, wrote from Enugu, Enugu State.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/12/igbo-and-the-wisdom-of-the-west/?fbclid=IwAR0zOE3Ylb5HxnCHVRsf7d4yHtH45yI_nBkXUcR0xMLC1L3QGwMdqsN2Kk4

Lalasticlala
[/s]

This writer needs to calm down and Atikulate.
The Sudanese clone is going back to Sudan very soon.

A coward, hatchet writer! Whose agent are you? Those involved already stated their grouse: Southeast politicians (esp. Ekweremadu & Umahi) worked more to zone power to the north & to support Atiku more than others. But when Atiku was nominated he chose Obi "in consultation with other stakeholders outside the SE, & in particular Wike (who developed grouse that the SE supported Atiku instead of Tambuwal whom he wanted)", & wanted by his action to spite the SE politicians.

Ohaneze Ndigbo, led by Nnia Nwodo from Enugu not only congratulated Atiku & Obi, but celebrated Obi's nomination..... So, hatchet writer, whose agent are you?

Make no mistake, the 2019 Presidential election has turned to a fight between Yoruba and Ndigbo. It is no longer a contest between two Fulani power mongers.
Ndigbo have their faults but Yoruba have exposed their hypocrisy.
No Yoruba of good conscience can point to any meaningful achievement of Buhari in the past 4 years to deserve a re-election except that he gave Yoruba appointments.
It is now crystal clear that no one is interested in Nigeria 's development. it is all about - what's in it for our tribe.

Yoruba hypocrisy and evil mindedness is sickening.
They will support anything hat will hurt Igbos even if they get hurt in the process

Gbam!

immhotep:
This writer needs to calm down and Atikulate.
The Sudanese clone is going back to Sudan very soon.

Who said the writer hasn't atikulated.

"Igbo has no king"

that's a saying and a fact. And maybe that's why we are industrious. There is this inexplicable tint of jealousy and pang of motivation when we see our brother excelling while leaving us for the gutters

But I know atiku has atikulated this SE governors so we will be artikulating come 2019