By Blessing Oni
The 2023 General Elections, particularly, the Presidential, has taken a trajectory different from past elections. This is because the present administration has not made the life of many Nigerians better. The country’s economic indices and the quality of life of the citizens have been nose diving. The reports of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on these cannot be disputed. It is also said that who feels it knows it. The pains of Nigerians are so visible to the blind and audible to the deaf.
This is why there is widespread calls and aspirations for a New Nigeria. This is the hope of every Nigerian, a nation that works for everyone and operates for everyone’s good. But the route to this could be dicey as no one is really sure of Who is Who. However, the past and antecedents could be a guide to make a better decision.
One of the issues that has beclouded the conversation on who will lead Nigeria to a prosperous land is ethnicity. The three major ethnic groups being Yoruba, Ibo, and Hausa/Fulani. They largely represent other groups in Nigeria’s Northern and Southern regions. We all know where the three leading candidates in the 2023 Presidential elections emerged from and the interests they represent.
However, two ethnic groups have had a large and fair share of our present democratic system while a section has been largely disenfranchised. This has fuelled the agitations to separate from the country. This is not only limited to the particular region as different interest groups, for instance, Oduduwa and Northeast intends to follow same path.
However, this is seemingly threatening the democratic system simply because things are not being fairly done. Afenifere, the leading Yoruba interest group, has already sounded this alarm. Unfortunately, some said it is stomach infrastructure.
Therefore, the Yoruba could simply be threatening the democratic system as the region or ethnic group has had its major share since the return of democracy in May 1999. The first President after the return of democracy governed for eight years. The current Vice President will use eight years. Three Speakers of House of Representative have emerged from this same region and also had a Deputy Speaker.
So, it is not enough for the region? In the spirit of fairness, there was agitation for the South to rule the country for the next four years. However, this was not in absolute fairness as it could have been micro-zoned to the deprived section of the country, definitely the Igbos. This made it messy as the parties had their ways in whosoever and how they wanted. So, having or rooting for another four years could simply be putting the nation at greater risk. Should it be as though a region is a slave in their mother land? Or what exactly? Or is it the lack in capacity to lead the country despite taking the several lead in both the formal and informal economic sectors? Can we rightly take this course and still be pointing accusing fingers to the sitting President for being alleged nepotism?
The Presidential campaign of the ruling party kicked off and with mild drama and the height of it was the prayers for the major opposition group or party. Maybe, it was conscience pricking for the APC candidate to bless another deprived section, the Northeast of the country represented on ballot by PDP, and had had some share in national leadership, or the most deprived section (the minorities and masses) as rightly put as Peter & Datti Are Perfect Combination (PDAPC).
Then, as someone from the Yoruba lineage, race, or region, you may want to ask what benefit(s) has(have) the people benefited in these several high-ranking positions they have occupied? Is it not possible that our blessing(s) is(are) with a helper outside our race? The Afenifere leaders, who clearly see what many of us don’t see or know, have rightly advised that we elect a man from the deprived section (Igbos) of the country based on several criteria, particularly fairness and justice, which will rightly avert any form of threat or jeopardy as they can’t continue to play second fiddle in their homeland.
And just recently, the Anambra Governor, Charles Soludo highlighted the need for the Igbos to agree on alliance amid other issues in his Part 1 writing. But what he forgot is that the region has continued to align itself with other regions even against their brother. Indeed, the Igbos could be said to be the most sacrificing region till date.
However, it may also interest you to ask what the alliance of the region yielded since 1999. Should there have been any significant benefit, there won’t have been an agitation to fall apart. Methinks that this is the time to revolt from all the political alliances that have not benefitted the region. Igbos should align with the popular groups around the country and elect a well-represented Pan Nigerian elected President.
What then should a Pan Nigerian President represent? A Pan Nigerian President that respects and plans for each region through a clear-cut restructuring plan, who never advocated for being voted for because on his ethnic alliance but because of his competence, character, and commitment to take back Nigeria to its rightful position among the league of nations.
YORUBA RONU
Blessing Oni, a Concerned Nigerian, wrote from Lagos
