₦airaland Forum

The recent christening of Former president Olusegun Obasanjo as the Divider-in-chief by a presidential aide to President Mohammadu Buhari is apt and not very far from the truth. This development was in response to OBJ's controversial comment that the country was drifting into a failed and badly divided Nation-State under the present administration.

This development is rather needless and laughable, especially when it is coming from the person of OBJ, who instead of developing the country as a Military Head of State and later as a democratic President holds the record for impunity and mismanaging the country's huge resources. Now that the chickens have come home to roost OBJ is crying wolf in his characteristic manner.

As a former President, a lot is expected from OBJ rather than his fantasy for cheap propaganda against those who succeeded him. It is evident that his administration despite the availability of huge economic resources has little or nothing to show for, especially as corruption and looting of public funds thrived under his watch and glaring insecurity occasioned by the activities of Egbesu and Bakassi Boys, OPC, MASSOB, and MEND among other groups which was the order of the day.

Globally, it is common to see past Presidents and Head of States often take the back seat and assist successive administrations by giving advises and proffering solutions to issues based on experiences garnered by them while in office all in the interest of their nations where they are referred to as elder statesmen. This statesmanlike character does not seem to be the case of ex-president Obasanjo who takes up every opportunity to ridicule every successive administration especially the President Muhammadu Buharis'. As a matter of fact, Obasanjo has written unconstructive open letters to all successive administration in the country. Little wonder his messianic arrogance has led to believe he is the only leader fit to rule the country so much that he brazenly pursued the infamous Third Term Agenda. Suffice to note this administration’s policies are primarily geared towards righting most of his wrongs when he was at the helm.

OBJ's criticisms many a times raise questions as to whether it comes from an objective mind or maliciously driven going by the fact that he led Nigeria for a total period of 11 years both as Head of State and democratically elected President. Undoubtedly, this means he should have good knowledge of governance in country and contribute to its growth and development, as well as it woes. But the reverse is the case as he has the senility to forget that he was once in the helm of affairs when the country had its share of challenges but he chooses to peddle propaganda just to distract a president who unlike him is making giant strides in the country.

It is no secret that Obasanjo's accusations of Buhari's failures are the exact failures he recorded while being president. His failure to address ethno-religious relations which had plagued our chequered history as a country since 1966 and other centrifugal forces attempting to fight against the indivisibility of the country.

In addition, to the challenge of endemic corruption recorded in core sectors of the economy under OBJ's administration is unparalleled in the Nation. The inferior privatizations of public institutions like the then National Electric Power Authority, NEPA and the mismanagement of $16 billion expenditure on power project remains unanswered. This is aside other staple looting of public funds like the N950 billion non-existent road constructionsand his failed bid for third term which ranked Nigeria among the most corrupt countries with lack of infrastructural development and over 50% decline in employment rates among others.

Undoubtedly, Obasanjo established institutions like EFCC, but used the commission as a tool to harass perceived political opponents and enemies which made his administration notorious in breaching basic fundamental human rights of Nigerians. OBJ with his foible should not be pointing out that of others.

IkoObong from AkwaIbom

E be like say they want to tell Us another story again;�

E be like say they want act another movie again;�

E belike say they want to code another coding again;��‍�

E ebe like say they want to dance another new dance again e oo ��

Yeye dey smell ����

Everybody dey shift blame. It's better everyone stay diligent and let work together for the greatness and pride of 9ja.

Hmmm, dem don dey shift responsibility. Like make Boris Johnson tell Queen Elizabeth to take care of security responsibility in UK.

2023 don dey show, some people dey try become relevant. ��. Make me sef go start something, may be I go fit be CBN governor.

Once upon a time, a company of illustrious folk filled with glorious purpose whose noble struggles made the realisation of an independent Nigeria possible stood strong forming the pillars holding the country on its path to greatness. However, recent clamour, events and happenings especially of actualising an independent Oduduwa Republica possible only through secession from Nigeria tend to suggest a lose of purpose on the part of the drivers of the mission.

It is important for many Yorubas to recognise that, prior to Nigeria’s independence from British colonial rule in 1960, the Yoruba people had rejected the political leadership of Britain over the Yoruba country as far back as 1951 in what was known then as self-rule. This singular move by the Yoruba forefathers laid down the platform for Nigeria’s independence. Judging by this it could be comfortably said that it will be gross indiscretion and a monumental mistake for the same people to make a U-turn and and disengage from the country they suffered for just to begin another a new struggle.

In a bid to x-ray the rift in Yoruba World Congress, an umbrella body of all self-determination groups and socio-cultural organizations of Yoruba descent worldwide, and Oduduwa Republic, close examination of a recent work by one Moses Oludele Idowu Titled "Against Secession: A Testament To Yoruba Leaders And The Promoters Of Oduduwa Republc" was conducted.

To re-echo some of the points raised by Idowu, who in his write up attempted to convince his readers of how ludicrous the quest for an independent Oduduwa Republic is, the following are outlined for scrutiny and judgment.

That there exist a lot of fantasy, incoherent inconsistencies, phantasmagoria about the Yoruba nation, with many who are pivotal in the pursuit of the Oduduwa Republic having hidden agenda poised towards personal aggrandisement but are often silent about same. Such people cower under dubious revival of a glorious past in a supposed Yoruba republic to promote their demands.

It is undeniable that a host of problems, which plague Nigeria today from political instability to insecurity to preventable deaths and other criminalistics are not only caused by a section of the country but by all including the Yoruba. Elders of the Yoruba people tag Nigeria as a failed state, though far from the truth they fail to realize they have a fair share in contributing to the many travails of the country.

According to Idowu the following events of betrayal which left a landmark in the history of the country where perpetrated by the same Yorubas:
• The betrayal of Obafemi Awolowo at the Treasonable trial in 1963.
• The betrayal Abiola to Abacha telling him all the movements of the man.
• The imposition of Umaru Musa Yar'Adua on the PDP as candidate in 2007 and his election into office as President who he himself admitted was rigged.

While quoting Idowu he said an Aladura scholar, Professor J.D.Y Peel noted during his research in Yoruba land in the 1960's that the differences between Yoruba sub tribe, the Ekitis, Ijebus, Egbas, Oyo's etc are as wide as those between the tribes of Nigeria. In other words, the Ekitis are as different from the Ijebus as the Hausa's are to the Ibos. If you have not observed this, you are not very observant. The white man was right.

He wondered whether the Ijebus would accept the rulership of the Egbas? Or Will Oyo's allow the Ijebus to lord it over them and continue with their exploitation from their bitter history? He also wondered whether the Ijeshas forget their ancient animosity to the Oyo's and what they suffered in their hands or revive them.

The Itshekiri and Delta regions of Warri actually voted to leave the West and have their own region. Naturally they would not opt to leave if they were fairly treated.

The old Ondo and Ekitis equally agitated to have their own state from the West owing to the fact that they saw they were being exploited by the Ijebus and the Egbas in the West.

True lovers of one Nigeria have doubted if the yorubas would peacefully live together judging from the differences that exist in the Nigeria nation which is prevalent and could manifest then magnify in the Oduduwa Republic. All the major wars that have been fought in Yoruba land were fought among Yoruba's themselves. Not outsiders.

The issue of Racism and Hegemony among the Yoruba's has been fingered among the factors capable of causing division even after the realization of Oduduwa Republic.

Another point raised by Idowu is that Seven 7 young scholars most of whom are of Yoruba extraction and parentage first planted the seed of Fraternity and cultism in universities, a scourge that has infested most of every campus, and have now become chief among the monsters inflicting pain among many in Nigeria even before the advent of kidnapping, which is being practiced by youths, teachers, students, individuals of reputable professions.

Realising Oduduwa will mean war with the major tribes and with Nigeria as a whole because there must be secession of the Yoruba from the country for that to happen. Reason being that, Lagos is strategic to Nigeria, to it's economy, prosperity etc thus whoever controls Lagos will not be allowed to leave Nigeria except at the cost of war. Do they have the wherewithal to prosecute the war?

“The Hausa's will battle it out, the Ibos will fight you because of the poison sown into them over the Civil War that Yorubas betrayed them, which is not true. But most Ibo youths believed this and that is what matters. Some will fight you desperately because you brought Buhari over them whom they have rejected and who has been, to be honest to the fact, an unmitigated disaster.

The Ijaws will fight you for removing Jonathan from power. The Fulani will fight you for opposing their Fulani Republic on the back of Nigerian wealth. The Middle belt may fight you for creating their misery through Buhari,”said Idowu.

Conclusively, Nations are built on ideals, values, ethos, truths, vision not hate, mutual antagonism, misgivings, frustration etc. Revolution is undesirable, it will only end in more harm, the Baifran struggle/drama serves a good example that these endeavour causes distraction and slows down progress.

What is needed is the promotion of unity, political will to push forward and develop.