http://www.informationng.com/2013/11/will-the-igbo-ever-rule-nigeria.html


The Igbo, one of Nigeria’s three major ethnic groups, are an important power bloc in the nation’s political equation. Yet, the Igbo nation has strangely failed to make its influence count politically as the major ethnic groups schemed to dominate political power at the centre since the country’s return to democratic rule in the Fourth Republic.

But the root of the South-East political stagnation dates back to the first decade of Nigeria’s post-independence history. A look at the political trajectory of the Igbo will reveal how one of Nigeria’s largest and significant ethnic groups has slipped from the commanding height of political dominance it once occupied to the margins of power. After a stint at the top echelons of power in the First and Second Republics with Nnamdi Azikiwe and Alex Ekwueme occupying prime positions, the Igbo, who also had completely dominated post-independence civil service, have had their political influence reduced significantly.

The political decline of the Igbo nation has been attributed to a number of factors including the dynamics of politics of that era. They Igbo elite have also been blamed for pursing narrow self-interest rather than the common good of the entire Igbo nation.

The military coup that terminated the government of Tafawa Balewa government triggered a chain of bloody events. The military putsch believed to have been hatched and executed by a predominantly revolutionary Igbo officers led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu revealed that the ethnic group also dominated the military institution that emerged when the British left. But the coup, which wiped out many of the leading politicians of that era, triggered a chain of events that threatened to consume the nation. The Igbo, of course, became the target of widespread suspicion as other ethnic groups perceive them as having an agenda to dominate political power.

The fear of Igbo dominance was further heightened when viewed against the backdrop of the first coup. The Northern political class who had felt that they were the main target soon began to plot revenge. The result was a mass hysteria of Igbo paranoia that resonated well beyond independence culminating in the civil war. The resultant bloody counter coup of July 1966 instigated by the aggrieved Northern political class and executed by Northern military officers was to avenge the killings of politicians from the region. The major casualty of the counter coup was the head of state. Maj.-Gen. J.T.U. Aguiyi Ironsi, an Igbo.

Within the period, the Igbo, who had been a powerful force at independence, soon began to suffer politically. The Northern pogrom of 1966 and the subsequent civil war completed the violent struggle for power by the major ethnic groups with the North playing a major role in seeing to the political capitulation of the Igbo nation. Needless to say that the period after civil war was a difficult one for the Igbo. The civil war took a heavy toll that a once leading ethnic group had been reduced to just fighting for its survival. After the war, the half-hearted attempt to re-integrate the Igbo back into economic and political mainstream did little to bring back its lost glory.

But several years after the events of hate and violence-filled decade, the Igbo have fought back, through sheer resilience, to regain what they have lost economically. But how have they fared politically decades after? What is particularly responsible for the near stagnation of the Igbo politically in the Fourth Republic? Will the Igbo gain presidential power anytime soon? These questions are germane when we consider that the last time the group attained notable political position was in the Second Republic when Ekwueme became a deputy to President Shehu Shagari. Now, more than three decades after the demise of the Second Republic and 14 years into the Fourth, the Igbo nation still trails other major ethnic groups politically. Not even have they been found worthy to occupy the position of vice-president.

This is even noteworthy when one considers that smaller ethnic groups have sought and attained more political relevance. The emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s first minority president, just shows how the Igbo have lost the game. At the beginning of the Fourth Republic, power went to the Yoruba ethnic group. This was to pacify the South-West zone for the annulment of the June 12 election won by the late M.K.O. Abiola. After Obasanjo’s two terms, the Igbo agitation to rule the country was soon truncated. Many at the time blamed the Igbo elite for failing to speak with one voice and present a common front. The cacophony of Igbo aspirants who could not agree to rally round a fine candidate like Ekwueme soon saw their agitation dashed. Obasanjo completed his second term and handed over to the North.

Not only have the Igbo not been able to gain presidential power, they have also not been considered for the vice-presidency since 1999. In 1999, Obasanjo picked Abubakar Atiku. In 2007, the late Umaru Yar’Adua picked an Ijaw vice-president in Jonathan, now President. Once again, they were not considered even for the vice-presidential slot when Jonathan became the president in 2011. Jonathan picked a Northerner in Namadi Sambo. Now, in the race for 2015, the Igbo are not in reckoning again.

The Igbo elite are, yet again, beginning to speak with discordant tunes in the race for 2015. Why won’t they take advantage of their position as a major ethnic group to negotiate for the president or vice-president slot from the leading parties? Is politics not a game of numbers anymore? Are the Igbo not an important voting bloc again? President Jonathan may run for another term in 2015. Will any of the parties present an Igbo as a presidential candidate or as deputy in 2015? Will they stake a claim for the presidency in 2015 or will they take the back seat as usual? Already, there have been discordant tunes among the region’s political elite. While some are clamouring for another term for Jonathan, feeble voices are making a case for an Igbo president in 2015.

The questions I have often asked are: While can’t the Igbo speak with one voice? Why is it always easy for the Igbo elite to kow-tow to other ethnic groups like they have done in the past and now? There is no doubt that the Igbo deserve to occupy a prime place in the presidency in the next dispensation. For me, in the race for 2015, the Igbo are the beautiful bride and the coming months offer them the best chance to stake a claim for a position that is long overdue for them to occupy. The political parties must also by now have realised how important this voting bloc is to their chances in the next election. Now is the time for the Igbo to push for and realign with any political platform that offers a realistic path to the presidency. But Ndigbo or their political class would be naïve to think that they would be served the presidency on a platter, not in 2015, 2019 or beyond. There goes the Igbo dilemma. Will the Igbo ever rule Nigeria? This is one question they have to collectively find an answer to?

Politics by tribe again?

**pukes**
does his state of origin decide if he will be a good leader or not? My people need to use their heads more when choosing leaders

How will an Igbo Presidency affect an average Igbo man? How has Jonathan's presidency affected an average Ijaw man on the streets other than militants like Asari? The Northern part of the country has had the largest share of the Presidency, but they still have the poorest and most illiterate region in the country.
All we need is a good President.

Why do people ask this question regularly? It means many of them are myopic as to the future. A Nigerian President of Igbo extraction is possible but I do not want it, and I wish the Igbo won’t also want it.
Until and unless Nigeria is restructured for meritocracy and competitiveness, the country will never develop. An Igbo President is the only hope for Nigeria’s departure from the doldrums, but will other hat-filled elites allow it?
Let the Igbo fight for devolution of power, fiscal federalism, six zonal federalism and they will unleash their potentials on the globe not just Nigeria. As for now, they should reject the idea of Presidency in a corrupt and unjust system currently being operated by Nigeria.

Please, we are not interested in ruling Nigeria.
We are interested in Ruling our our selves in our beloved country - Biafra.

Wait....



















Make I ask Ifa

Nigeria is too big for Igbo people. The moment when they begin to rule themselves well is the moment that people will begin to take them serious.

No disrespect.

By portraying Jonathan's election as that of Ndigbo, my people have denied their hope of ruling Nigeria for a long time to come.

Example: Give the North 8yrs + SW 8yrs + Any minority that will agitate 8yrs + Dare add an unrealistic extra 4yrs to Jonathan.
Mathematically: 2015 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 4 = 2043

Without re-aligning ourselves with the rest of the country or breaking away (which I don't support because it costs lives), the chance of Ndigbo producing the President of Nigeria is around [size=18pt]2043[/size], 30 years from now!

Mind u that our present president is Igbo! Atleast his name shows that! And the wife is also igbo which if he's not igbo, cannot be achieved! That's y yorubas and Hausas want him out of seat

McGibson: Mind u that our present president is Igbo! Atleast his name shows that! And the wife is also igbo which if he's not igbo, cannot be achieved! That's y yorubas and Hausas want him out of seat

Stop the lies. Mr President is an Ijaw man. (If you are telling me he is a close neighbour, it will be understandable). Or is an Enugu man an Ijaw? "Azikwe" is the name his mother used to hail him when he was a kid (after Zik Of Africa). Until recently when it became a potential tool to attract SE votes, it was never part of his former name. The Ebele in his name is the abridged version of Ebelemi - is that an Igbo name to you? Yes, his wife is an Ada Ndigbo.

slim fit :
Nigeria is too big for Igbo people. The moment when they begin to rule themselves well is the moment that people will begin to take them serious.

No disrespect.

So what have those who have been ruling achieved? I mean those who Nigeria isn't too big for.

All this igbo presidency talks of recent, why dont people look around them, does an average igbo man appear to be interested?
We are certainly interested in the PRESIDENCY, but we are not for the moment interested in the IGBO PRESIDENCY.

Nigerian oil has a lifespan less than 10 years. So the best bet for Ndigbo is to begin redirect their investments back home. The struggle for Presidency is always about the oil resources, let nobody be deceived, that era is permanently over in Nigeria!
Nigeria must brace for these twin evils: Its either people control their resources or oil's influence globally continues to diminish. In all, let the Igbo stand for social justice as always.

Nigerian oil has a lifespan less than 10 years. So the best bet for Ndigbo is to begin to redirect their investments back home. The struggle for Presidency is always about the oil resources, let nobody be deceived, that era is permanently over in Nigeria!
Nigeria must brace for these twin evils: Its either people control their resources or oil's influence globally continues to diminish. In all, let the Igbo stand for social justice as always.

collynzo2: How will an Igbo Presidency affect an average Igbo man? How has Jonathan's presidency affected an average Ijaw man on the streets other than militants like Asari? The Northern part of the country has had the largest share of the Presidency, but they still have the poorest and most illiterate region in the country.
All we need is a good President.

+8

NEVER! And for good reason. If you don't learn from history. . . . you will make the same mistakes for ever and ever!
Unless you wanno be a REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAL SLAVE in your own country.
They will use that their BIAFRA E BADU BELLE AND E JOLOSI to colonize the whole country with HATRED AND WICKEDNESS!

You want people like 'ONLYTRUTH' to rule NIGERIA. . . ?

Tufiaaaaaaaaaaaaakwa to the highest power o!

Olurun ma je ooooooooooooooooooooooh!
Chukwu e kwe ne iho ojor!
Iseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

Make dem go rule EASTERN NIGERIA. . . ONLY!

THEY ARE NOT NIGERIANS AND NEVER WILL BE!!!! THEY ARE SADISTIC CONFUSIONISTS ONLY!!!!! LIKE NL LIKE NIGERIA!!!!
YOU CAN NEVER TRUST THEM WITH POWER!!! NEVER!!!!!

Here we go again. Must they rule? If things are working then we are cool.

with the type of election we saw in Anambra? Charity must begin at home.

I just cannot understand their politics.

kolawaxxy: Here we go again. Must they rule? If things are working then we are cool.

IGBOS ARE NOT CLAMOURING FOR A NIGERIA PRESIDENCY. THEY ARE FROM ISRAEL AND ARE COMFORTABLE RULING THE COUNTRY OF ISRAEL.

someone is having a brainwave....ISRAEL ke !!

[quote
author=egift]
Stop the lies. Mr President is an Ijaw man. (If you are telling
me he is a close neighbour, it will be understandable). Or is an Enugu
man an Ijaw? "Azikwe" is the name his mother used to hail him when he
was a kid (after Zik Of Africa). Until recently when it became a
potential tool to attract SE votes, it was never part of his former
name. The Ebele in his name is the abridged version of Ebelemi - is that
an Igbo name to you? Yes, his wife is an Ada Ndigbo.[/quote]


Even the wife is not an Igbo woman as well, she's frm Okirika in River State.

Is high time we fight for our right. Igbo has to emerge as the President of Nigeria or.............

[size=13pt]It is turn by turn! An igbo man name Azikiwe is currently the occupier and ruler of Aso rock. I know ibos can be greedy but others must have their turn! [/size]

My the best brains rule Nigeria regardless of their tribe, or ethnic colouration.

Omo_Tier1: [size=13pt]It is turn by turn! An igbo man name Azikiwe is currently the occupier and ruler of Aso rock. I know ibos can be greedy but others must have their turn! [/size]

My the best brains rule Nigeria regardless of their tribe, or ethnic colouration.

Contradiction

I think they do deserve a taste of power .....I mean they do deserve it..

If they ever truly Drop tribalism n bigotry.
Nigeria is not a bunch of clans leading by some naked family heads

Any Igbo man dreaming of ruling Nigeria must b a fool! A blind and demented fellow whose only deliverance might come from a slash from the Jihardists "holy" swords or from their "allah blessed" bombs!

It is only the greedy, the fool or the demented that think Nigeria has a future. How can a nation stand when foundation was a piece of paper with some devilish writings from a crminal called Luggard?

Nigeria is expiring in a few days time, and any Igbo man that was born by his father must be involved in the honourable task of seeing the Biafran flag flying high.

Long live Biafra!

While can’t the Igbo speak with one voice? Why is it always easy for the Igbo elite to kow-tow to other ethnic groups like they have done in the past and now? There is no doubt that the Igbo deserve to occup

Poorly written and edited post by a Blogger desperately needing cash for new year.
Next time edit your post and write intelligently.