APGA, NDIGBO AND ROAD TO POLITICAL PERDITION

DECEMBER 31, 2014 BY UCHE IGWE (PUNCH NEWSPAPER)


The fate of my brothers and sisters from the South-East in the current political permutation is difficult to locate. I have tried very hard but I cannot get my hand around it. Without being patronising, it just seems that they are nowhere. Apart from waiting for a few crumbs to fall from the incumbent government, one can hardly notice a coordinated presence of Ndigbo in the Nigerian political landscape today. As a student of Nigerian political history, I have found this situation very surprising and in some ways both unacceptable and inexplicable.

For a people that had many of their prominent sons and daughters at the forefront for the struggle for independence, one is very worried how they beat such a progressive and seemingly permanent retreat from national political relevance and prominence. Many will suggest that it was as result of the civil war. That could be part of it. The civil war generated a lot of bad blood and inter-ethnic suspicion and tension for Ndigbo among other entities in Nigeria. But that happened almost 50 years ago. Are the Igbo still suffering the hangover of war and are other ethnic groups in Nigeria united to punish them because they fought the war or are their political problems self-inflicted? Are the Igbo architects of their own misfortune? How strategic have they been in their political engagement and mobilisation?

I will be inclined to the latter than the former that Ndigbo are the cause of most of their problems in the country since the civil war. The inability of Ndigbo to regain some prominence in the scheme of things is partly their own making. It is not unconnected to the fact that unlike other geopolitical zones, the Igbo have been unable to rally round a common platform.

The Yoruba in the South-West did it with the Alliance for Democracy that later became the Action Congress of Nigeria which merged into the All Progressives Congress. The northerners rallied round the All Nigeria Peoples Party and the Congress for Progressive Change which later merged into the APC. The only political party that would have provided hope for Ndigbo to engage constructively with the Nigerian project, the All Progressive Grand Alliance was invaded by greedy, selfish and crafty politicians.

The story of the rot in APGA is simply distressing. Since December 2004, the incumbent National Chairman toppled the leadership of the party by elbowing out the former Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, through a judicial ambush, it has been one crisis after another, one litigation after another for the party. Currently, one of the party stalwarts, Chief Maxi Okwu, is asking the Supreme Court to set aside the Court of Appeal ruling of July 2014 and uphold the judgment of the Federal High Court of January 15, 2014 that says that the party’s April 8 national convention was valid. If he gets victory, that will render most of the decisions taken by the current leadership null and void. Besides this litigation, the tenure of the chairman should have long expired by the first week of December.

However, in his usual gestapo style, Chief Victor Umeh afterwards assembled his loyalists to an emergency congress that he presided over where he surreptitiously proposed an amendment into the party’s constitution that granted him and his cronies an additional 120 days in office. Those who are familiar with the happenings in the party suggest that the chairman who doubles as a senatorial candidate wants to continue to take charge of the party until after the 2015 elections.

In running the affairs of APGA, Umeh is famous for not tolerating dissent. For him to have his way, he stifled internal democracy in the party completely. The media is awash with his “exploits” in all the states where effectively two different factions are today competing to be recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission after the parallel primaries.

The case of Imo State throws light on the extent of confusion created in the party’s just concluded primaries. Two people are each laying claim to being the rightful governorship candidate for the party as two parallel congresses held in two different locations in the state. The first congress was organised by the state executive led by Prince C.C. Nwaka at the Jesus Family and Friends Hall behind NUJ Press Centre which produced Chief Okey Ezeh as the party’s torch-bearer. While the second one was organised by the same state executive led by Peter Ezeobi which produced Emmanuel Iheanacho. Although the Nwaka-led executive was said to have emerged through a state congress as demanded by the constitution, his rival was said to have been handpicked and singleheadedly installed by the national chairman. This impasse is almost replicated in all other states and may affect the electoral chances of APGA in Imo State.

The intractable crises in APGA have continued to diminish the chances of expansion of the party in the zone. How can a party that controls only one-fifth of the zone speak for Ndigbo? Instead of investing time to expand the fortunes of the party and consolidate in the region, the party’s leadership is aloof.

The last primaries were a sort of bazaar. Apart from formal and informal contributions received from aspirants, the governorship forms were sold at N12m each. The party’s Senate nomination forms went for N5m, House of Representatives forms sold for N3.5m while the nomination forms for the House of Assembly went for N1.5 million. In one of the states, the party sold more than 100 forms for the House of Assembly which amounted to more than N100m. Even delegates at the ward level were made to pay as much as N3,000 before contesting the delegate elections. All these funds accrued to a party that barely has national spread. This does not include subvention which the party is said to receive monthly from Anambra State.

I do not want to make hasty generalisations here but I sense that the same things that have distracted APGA from seizing the opportunities to grow within the South-East are the same things that have hindered Ndigbo from forging a united political front nationally.

Today, the biggest support base of President Goodluck Jonathan is among Ndigbo. If one may ask, do Ndigbo really have a stake in the Jonathan Presidency? What do they have to show for it except a few hand-outs who a few opportunists and political cheerleaders masquerading as leaders go to Abuja to collect? The South-East zone remains the only one that still does not have up to six states. Its infrastructure continues to decay. The Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway is still a death trap. The same as the Imo end of the Owerri-Port Harcourt Road. If you visit Aba, you will feel sorry for Ndigbo. The town has been abandoned for hoodlums. Most of the boys who used to trade in Ariaria market have all abandoned their shops and crafts to at best street trading and at worst kidnapping.

The time for political awakening of Ndigbo is here. They cannot continue to be at the sidelines of Nigerian politics. Let us start by insisting that the right people lead the only surviving Igbo political platform, APGA. Year 2015 is by the corner and Ndigbo can no longer stand aloof for some political lightweights to keep parading themselves as Igbo leaders through political manipulation. Ndigbo should wake up and take their zone from these agents of transactional politics.

Copyright PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

http://www.punchng.com/opinion/apga-ndigbo-and-road-to-political-perdition/

This writer made some sense but I still disagree with his subtle method of encouraging regional politics. Our political landscape has matured more than that. And it is to the benefit of the nation as it fosters unity, peace and harmony and thus development when all tribes are well represented in the major political parties.

And all persons has an active role to play in encouraging unity. There is no better way to show this unity than for different tribes to be well represented in the parties having national coverage.

Good people of Nigeria, pls let's do away with this archaic political system of Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, etc party.

Well, this seems to be happening already anyway, albeit at a slow pace, because if one analyzes the political landscape of Nairaland it shows that the two major political parties has support base across the tribes.

Playing unhealthy regional politics is just like playing with a keg of gun powder that can explode anytime and throw the nation into anachy.

The onus is on the youths to effect this change. Please lets leave the bitter tribal politics played by our parents and let's encourage politics played on conviction, unity, equity and progress to all parts of the country!

I wish you all a happy, peaceful and prosperous 2015.

I can agree with the writer, saying the faith of his brothers and sisters FROM THE South-East in the next political dispensation is NOWHERE.

And just like i tell some women that i usually run into, is the same thing i will tell the people from the South-East.

"I WILL TAKE YOU PEOPLE SERIOUS ONLY AFTER YOU TAKE YOURSELVES SERIOUS"

Mtchew!!!

The modern igbos re not politicaly inclined, they re more of business and money making minded. The few that re into politics are into it for themselves therefore they really don't have perticular agenda for being in politics unlike southwest who likes to challenge the central government politically(they may not necessarily be better than the central government they are challenging) while north likes to force things their way through political means. Majority of Igbo just picked interest in politics now a days due to Jonathan and it really shows in their actions. However no one can really point out to a perticular strategy or agenda of Igbo in politics.

In 2023, which is only 8yrs from now, a new leadership will be sitting at the helms of affairs in Ohaneze. For most part we in the SW will see to it that those elected to lead Ibo forward are those with vested wealth outside Iboland. We will use their mansion in Lekki and their business in Ladipo to handicap their decision in the interest of Ndigbo.

When Uzor Kalu raised his voice in support of Ndigbo and threatened to sue Lagos State on behalf of deportees we retrieved his paperwork and discovered he is a tax dodger....so we acted in the interest of Lagos State. Kalu has not said anymore about a lawsuit.

In 2023 Presidency shall return to Yorubaland. Ohaneze must ask all Ibo aspirants to stand down and not contest against Osinbajo.

See you then....

agabusta:
This writer made some sense but I still disagree with his subtle method of encouraging regional politics. Our political landscape has matured more than that. And it is to the benefit of the nation as it fosters unity, peace and harmony and thus development when all tribes are well represented in the major political parties.

And all persons has an active role to play in encouraging unity. There is no better way to show this unity than for different tribes to be well represented in the parties having national coverage.

Good people of Nigeria, pls let's do away with this archaic political system of Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, etc party.

Well, this seems to be happening already anyway, albeit at a slow pace, because if one analyzes the political landscape of Nairaland it shows that the two major political parties has support base across the tribes.

Playing unhealthy regional politics is just like playing with a keg of gun powder that can explode anytime and throw the nation into anachy.

The onus is on the youths to effect this change. Please lets leave the bitter tribal politics played by our parents and let's encourage politics played on conviction, unity, equity and progress to all parts of the country!

I wish you all a happy, peaceful and prosperous 2015.

Excellent.

This is a nonsensical write up.

Ndigbo are in the most logical place politically.

The mathematics is simple - with APC, Buhari does 4 or 8 years, then hands over to a Yoruba man, who then hands over to a Northerner. So with APC, its a minimum of 20 years before you can see an Igbo president.

In PDP/APGA, Jonathan does 4 years, hands over to a Northerner who does 8 years, so in 12 years (or less), you can see an Igbo president.

By 2019, you could have an Igbo VP (with the PDP/APGA configuration), with APC, that might not happen for 20 - 24 years.

But going beyond that, of what relevance are these positions to the well-being of the average citizen? The North can occupy the presidency for 100 years, but that will have zero impact on the appalling human capital indices (poverty, literacy rates, infant mortality) in Northern Nigeria. In fact, the average Northerner will see no positive improvement in his/her life.

Obasanjo was president for 8 years, did it result in any significant improvement in the life of the average Yoruba person? No.

Many Nigerians (we Igbos inclusive), don't appreciate the vantage position we occupy in Nigeria. We control the "economic midfield". If all Igbo traders in Lagos decide to close shop for just 3 days, Lagos will grind to a halt and people will understand the meaning of the word "economic dominance".

Why is Lagos strategic? Because it is the site of Nigeria's most important deep seaport? But who are the importers? Igbos. In spite of the natural advantage of having a massive port, the Yorubas haven't dominated the export/import business - an why is that so? They lack the ability and coordination to.

Professors Anya and Obiechina (I am told), have advanced this position - Ndigbo should concentrate on dominating "Nigeria's economic midfield" and consolidating on that dominance. If you want to travel from Lagos to Abuja by luxury bus - you either use Chisco, Ekene, "The Young", ABC, GUO, Ezenwata, Ifesinachi etc (there are no Hausa or Yoruba luxury bus companies competing with these people).

As the price of a barrel of crude continues to drop, the North will soon understand that simply telling its large mass of uneducated and ignorant people that "Jonathan is the problem" won't suffice. When they take over power, they will be forced to confront what they failed to confront for the past 40 years and since they lack any ideas except for struggling with the Niger Delta for every last drop of oil, they won't succeed.

What the South East needs are a crop of good governors. If Anambra and Abia can do N100 billion each in IGR, then Igbo politics will change. With Obiano already in Anambra and the likelihood of Otti in Abia, this is doable.

Finally, these aren't the 70s anymore. Hausas and Yorubas cannot simply "dominate" Nigeria - they have Ndigbo, an assertive Niger Delta and Northern Christians/Minorities to contend with.

Do away with this "1970s mentality/thinking".

MayorofLagos:
In 2023, which is only 8yrs from now, a new leadership will be sitting at the helms of affairs in Ohaneze. For most part we in the SW will see to it that those elected to lead Ibo forward are those with vested wealth outside Iboland. We will use their mansion in Lekki and their business in Ladipo to handicap their decision in the interest of Ndigbo.

When Uzor Kalu raised his voice in support of Ndigbo and threatened to sue Lagos State on behalf of deportees we retrieved his paperwork and discovered he is a tax dodger....so we acted in the interest of Lagos State. Kalu has not said anymore about a lawsuit.

In 2023 Presidency shall return to Yorubaland. Ohaneze must ask all Ibo aspirants to stand down and not contest against Osinbajo.

See you then....

A week is a very long time in politics. 8 years is an eternity.

Ndigbo are not ready for politics today, but I can assure you that in 8 years they will - and you will be shocked at the resources they'll have at their disposal then.

lafflaff123:
I can agree with the writer, saying the faith of his brothers and sisters FROM THE South-East in the next political dispensation is NOWHERE.

And just like i tell some women that i usually run into, is the same thing i will tell the people from the South-East.

"I WILL TAKE YOU PEOPLE SERIOUS ONLY AFTER YOU TAKE YOURSELVES SERIOUS"

who even invited this dirtty ofesomebody here? go take ur bath biko.

What today's politics is encouraging is an alliance between the Niger Delta, Igbos and Northern Minorities/Christians.

Think about it, if Ndigbo and the Niger Delta ever unite and sustain that unity, the Yoruba claim of "economic dominance" will be shredded to pieces.

It is not in the interest of Yorubas to let this happen, but Tinubu's imposition of Osinbajo as VP (instead of a person from the Niger Delta), is going to make this more likely.

Finally, the next generation of Igbo politicians are going to be people born after the Civil War. They will be more assertive, less likely to be "boot lickers" than the current crop.

HappyJoe:
This is a nonsensical write up.

Ndigbo are in the most logical place politically.

The mathematics is simple - with APC, Buhari does 4 or 8 years, then hands over to a Yoruba man, who then hands over to a Northerner. So with APC, its a minimum of 20 years before you can see an Igbo president.

In PDP/APGA, Jonathan does 4 years, hands over to a Northerner who does 8 years, so in 12 years (or less), you can see an Igbo president.

By 2019, you could have an Igbo VP (with the PDP/APGA configuration), with APC, that might not happen for 20 - 24 years.

But going beyond that, of what relevance are these positions to the well-being of the average citizen? The North can occupy the presidency for 100 years, but that will have zero impact on the appalling human capital indices (poverty, literacy rates, infant mortality) in Northern Nigeria. In fact, the average Northerner will see no positive improvement in his/her life.

Obasanjo was president for 8 years, did it result in any significant improvement in the life of the average Yoruba person? No.

Many Nigerians (we Igbos inclusive), don't appreciate the vantage position we occupy in Nigeria. We control the "economic midfield". If all Igbo traders in Lagos decide to close shop for just 3 days, Lagos will grind to a halt and people will understand the meaning of the word "economic dominance".

Why is Lagos strategic? Because it is the site of Nigeria's most important deep seaport? But who are the importers? Igbos. In spite of the natural advantage of having a massive port, the Yorubas haven't dominated the export/import business - an why is that so? They lack the ability and coordination to.

Professors Anya and Obiechina (I am told), have advanced this position - Ndigbo should concentrate on dominating "Nigeria's economic midfield" and consolidating on that dominance. If you want to travel from Lagos to Abuja by luxury bus - you either use Chisco, Ekene, "The Young", ABC, GUO, Ezenwata, Ifesinachi etc (there are no Hausa or Yoruba luxury bus companies competing with these people).

As the price of a barrel of crude continues to drop, the North will soon understand that simply telling its large mass of uneducated and ignorant people that "Jonathan is the problem" won't suffice. When they take over power, they will be forced to confront what they failed to confront for the past 40 years and since they lack any ideas except for struggling with the Niger Delta for every last drop of oil, they won't succeed.

What the South East needs are a crop of good governors. If Anambra and Abia can do N100 billion each in IGR, then Igbo politics will change. With Obiano already in Anambra and the likelihood of Otti in Abia, this is doable.

Finally, these aren't the 70s anymore. Hausas and Yorubas cannot simply "dominate" Nigeria - they have Ndigbo, an assertive Niger Delta and Northern Christians/Minorities to contend with.

Do away with this "1970s mentality/thinking".

bro u ave said it all!

HappyJoe:

The mathematics is simple - with APC, Buhari does 4 or 8 years, then hands over to a Yoruba man, who then hands over to a Northerner. So with APC, its a minimum of 20 years before you can see an Igbo president.

In PDP/APGA, Jonathan does 4 years, hands over to a Northerner who does 8 years, so in 12 years (or less), you can see an Igbo
president

Your post generally makes a lot of sense, but with regards to the above, you should know that politics is not like mathematics or physical sciences.

For instance, your calculation of having an Igbo president earlier under PDP than under APC is based on the assumption that PDP would keep winning elections until it gets to the turn of the Ibgo president in 12 years timei

Although this is quite possible, it is very UNLIKELY, considering the current momentum the APC is enjoying across the country, which is being fueled by profound and widespread discontent and disillusionment with the PDP's 16 years rule, especially the not-so-impressive performance of GEJ.

And the 'Christian north' you mentioned may not be a sure banker for the Igbo candidate that time, partially due to the gross failure of GEJ, again, especially his lack of showing enough commitment and leadership in protecting the lives and properties of thousands of innocent northerners, Christians and Muslims, who were being slaughtered almost daily by the BH savages.

This means that in the future the Northern voters would be more critical in their appraisal of candidates, and less carried away by sheer religious or ethnic sentiments, as they must have realized by now that it is NOT in the interest of anybody to have an incompetent or unprepared leader at the top.

And although relations between the Northern Christians and their Muslim neighbours have in recent years deteriorated to the extent that they hardly see 'eye to eye', a lot of the Christian minorities would be very wary to replace their northern 'masters' with a new set of 'masters' from across the Niger who they know to be so domineering by nature, so conceited, so pushy to the extent of being so inconsiderate of the feelings of others and, above all, who may be so unforgiving about a past of our national history that none of us can change!.

agabusta:
This writer made some sense but I still disagree with his subtle method of [b]encouraging regional politics. Our political landscape has matured more than that. And it is to the benefit of the nation [/b]as it fosters unity, peace and harmony and thus development when all tribes are well represented in the major political parties.

And all persons has an active role to play in encouraging unity. There is no better way to show this unity than for different tribes to be well represented in the parties having national coverage.

Good people of Nigeria, pls let's do away with this archaic political system of Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, etc party.

Well, this seems to be happening already anyway, albeit at a slow pace, because if one analyzes the political landscape of Nairaland it shows that the two major political parties has support base across the tribes.

Playing unhealthy regional politics is just like playing with a keg of gun powder that can explode anytime and throw the nation into anachy.

The onus is on the youths to effect this change. Please lets leave the bitter tribal politics played by our parents and let's encourage politics played on conviction, unity, equity and progress to all parts of the country!

I wish you all a happy, peaceful and prosperous 2015.

Regional politics cannot b completely wished away in Nigeria,@least for now.D writer has brought up a very important issue that shd agitate d minds of all true IBO's,and that is how can d great IBO nation b almost reduced to a minority tribe from its naturally endowed majority position.
It beats me hollow when I hear or read pple supporting gej because he constructed one or two roads and has promised to build d 2nd Niger bridge!Not for promising to carve out a sixth state to maintain geographical balance, not for promising to ensure an IBO presidency,even if remotely not possible under d present PDP set up.How can a tribe enjoy taking crumbs from a largely minority president from its geopolitical zone.
These are real issues whether anyone wants to admit it or not and gej presidency and d PDP as presently zoned wud,if not voted out,lead d ibos to political oblivion. The elites presently licking his arse don't give a damn about d faith of d Igbo nation as long as they gain financially and politically from him.Its self centeredness taken to nauseating proportions.

LogicPower:


Your post generally makes a lot of sense, but with regards to the above, you should know that politics is not like mathematics or physical sciences.

For instance, your calculation of having an Igbo president earlier under PDP than under APC is based on the assumption that PDP would keep winning elections until it gets to the turn of the Ibgo president in 12 years timei

Although this is quite possible, it is very UNLIKELY, considering the current momentum the APC is enjoying across the country, which is being fueled by profound and widespread discontent and disillusionment with the PDP's 16 years rule, especially the not-so-impressive performance of GEJ.

And the 'Christian north' you mentioned may not be a sure banker for the Igbo candidate that time, partially due to the gross failure of GEJ, again, especially his lack of showing enough commitment and leadership in protecting the lives and properties of thousands of innocent northerners, Christians and Muslims, who were being slaughtered almost daily by the BH savages.

This means that in the future the Northern voters would be more critical in their appraisal of candidates, and less carried away by sheer religious or ethnic sentiments, as they must have realized by now that it is NOT in the interest of anybody to have an incompetent or unprepared leader at the top.

And although relations between the Northern Christians and their Muslim neighbours have in recent years deteriorated to the extent that they hardly see 'eye to eye', a lot of the Christian minorities would very wary to replace their northern 'masters' with a new set of 'masters' from across the Niger who they know to be so domineering by nature, so conceited, so pushy to the extent of being so inconsiderate of the feelings of others and, above all, who may be so unforgiving about a past of our national history that none of us can change!.

We shall see.

Some of you think Nigeria begins and ends in Lagos newspaper stands.

As long as Sharia persists in the North and is used for politics, Northern Christians and Muslims will never see eye to eye. This is irrespective of whether Jonathan or Buhari wins the next elections.

What is happening today is an ethnic power squabble and this ethnic power squabble will continue, irrespective of who wins what. Of course you know this: we haven't heard the last from the Niger Delta.

It is no longer a matter of "mutual dislike", but "common interests". Save the 2015 elections, does the North and South West have anything in common? No. Does the North and the Niger Delta have anything in common? No, especially when the North is the chief stumbling block to resource control.

Do Northern Christians and Igbos have increasingly more in common? Yes, especially when they tend to be on the same side during the North's many recurring inter-religious/ethnic crisis.

The wisest course of action is for Ndigbo to sit aside while the rest of Nigeria tears itself apart. If Buhari wins, he will have to make very expensive concessions to the Niger Delta. Geography has placed us side by side with the Niger Delta, so invariably, we will benefit.

If Jonathan wins, the Igbo elite will continue their favored position (for example Ernest Azudialu of Nestoil now owns 10% stake in Julius Berger - & he's investing his money in his home state - money trickles down).

We've learned to thrive irrespective of politics - and we learned from our bitter experience (read up on 20 pounds after the Civil War). There is NOTHING you can do to displace us, whether you like us or not.

Whether you like Ndigbo or not - you still travel on Igbo-owned luxury buses, buy your generator from an Igbo man, by your spare parts from an Igbo man. The list is endless.

Very soon, that economic power will be turned into political power. I am giving you advance notice.

LogicPower:


Your post generally makes a lot of sense, but with regards to the above, you should know that politics is not like mathematics or physical sciences.

For instance, your calculation of having an Igbo president earlier under PDP than under APC is based on the assumption that PDP would keep winning elections until it gets to the turn of the Ibgo president in 12 years timei

Although this is quite possible, it is very UNLIKELY, considering the current momentum the APC is enjoying across the country, which is being fueled by profound and widespread discontent and disillusionment with the PDP's 16 years rule, especially the not-so-impressive performance of GEJ.

And the 'Christian north' you mentioned may not be a sure banker for the Igbo candidate that time, partially due to the gross failure of GEJ, again, especially his lack of showing enough commitment and leadership in protecting the lives and properties of thousands of innocent northerners, Christians and Muslims, who were being slaughtered almost daily by the BH savages.

This means that in the future the Northern voters would be more critical in their appraisal of candidates, and less carried away by sheer religious or ethnic sentiments, as they must have realized by now that it is NOT in the interest of anybody to have an incompetent or unprepared leader at the top.

And although relations between the Northern Christians and their Muslim neighbours have in recent years deteriorated to the extent that they hardly see 'eye to eye', a lot of the Christian minorities would very wary to replace their northern 'masters' with a new set of 'masters' from across the Niger who they know to be so domineering by nature, so conceited, so pushy to the extent of being so inconsiderate of the feelings of others and, above all, who may be so unforgiving about a past of our national history that none of us can change!.

Please note: JONATHAN IS NOT IGBO.

Only ethnic bigots like Nyako broadcast that lie - I know it has gained traction in the North, but it is not true.

I need to point that out.

HappyJoe:
This is a nonsensical write up.

Ndigbo are in the most logical place politically.

The mathematics is simple - with APC, Buhari does 4 or 8 years, then hands over to a Yoruba man, who then hands over to a Northerner. So with APC, its a minimum of 20 years before you can see an Igbo president.

In PDP/APGA, Jonathan does 4 years, hands over to a Northerner who does 8 years, so in 12 years (or less), you can see an Igbo president.

By 2019, you could have an Igbo VP (with the PDP/APGA configuration), with APC, that might not happen for 20 - 24 years.

But going beyond that, of what relevance are these positions to the well-being of the average citizen? The North can occupy the presidency for 100 years, but that will have zero impact on the appalling human capital indices (poverty, literacy rates, infant mortality) in Northern Nigeria. In fact, the average Northerner will see no positive improvement in his/her life.

Obasanjo was president for 8 years, did it result in any significant improvement in the life of the average Yoruba person? No.

Many Nigerians (we Igbos inclusive), don't appreciate the vantage position we occupy in Nigeria. We control the "economic midfield". If all Igbo traders in Lagos decide to close shop for just 3 days, Lagos will grind to a halt and people will understand the meaning of the word "economic dominance".

Why is Lagos strategic? Because it is the site of Nigeria's most important deep seaport? But who are the importers? Igbos. In spite of the natural advantage of having a massive port, the Yorubas haven't dominated the export/import business - an why is that so? They lack the ability and coordination to.

Professors Anya and Obiechina (I am told), have advanced this position - Ndigbo should concentrate on dominating "Nigeria's economic midfield" and consolidating on that dominance. If you want to travel from Lagos to Abuja by luxury bus - you either use Chisco, Ekene, "The Young", ABC, GUO, Ezenwata, Ifesinachi etc (there are no Hausa or Yoruba luxury bus companies competing with these people).

As the price of a barrel of crude continues to drop, the North will soon understand that simply telling its large mass of uneducated and ignorant people that "Jonathan is the problem" won't suffice. When they take over power, they will be forced to confront what they failed to confront for the past 40 years and since they lack any ideas except for struggling with the Niger Delta for every last drop of oil, they won't succeed.

What the South East needs are a crop of good governors. If Anambra and Abia can do N100 billion each in IGR, then Igbo politics will change. With Obiano already in Anambra and the likelihood of Otti in Abia, this is doable.

Finally, these aren't the 70s anymore. Hausas and Yorubas cannot simply "dominate" Nigeria - they have Ndigbo, an assertive Niger Delta and Northern Christians/Minorities to contend with.

Do away with this "1970s mentality/thinking".

you bigot!!

I have two things to say to you.

1. If we close Ibo shops in Lagos for 3weeks Ibos in Lagos will suffer, your kins in clans and village will starve. We close just one Ibo market, Ladipo, for five days and your governors and ezes came down begging Yorubaman to show mercy. Imagine if we close all your markets, Ojukwu will resurrect and bring Azikiwe with him to come and plead on ndigbo behalf.

2. Yoruba secured VP position to Buhari and yet we are not 100% behind APC.
Ibo is 100% behind Jonathan and you cant even get a VP position. If Yoruba were the one 100% in support of Jonathan, trust me, Sambo will not be the VP.

you bloody coward!

HappyJoe:


A week is a very long time in politics. 8 years is an eternity.

Ndigbo are not ready for politics today, but I can assure you that in 8 years they will - and you will be shocked at the resources they'll have at their disposal then.

Shocked by what resource
A resource that is mortgaged to property tax in Yorubaland. How are you going to win against Yoruba politics when your property is a colateral on our soil?

Lol.

On what premise will the northern christian back GEJ again?

Has there been more killing of Christians in the north than now?

What is the essence of having a president, that cannot protect the so called northern christian?

How are the northern Christians fairing economically, under the divisive president?

These talked about Northern Christian will rather have an atheist as a president, that will be presidential enough to protect their lives and properties.

superstar1:
On what premise will the northern christian back GEJ again?

Has there been more cleaning of Christians in the north than now?

What is the essence of having a president, that cannot protect the so called northern christian?

These talked about Northern Christian will rather have an atheist as a president, that will be presidential enough to protect their lives and properties.

This is my problem with this present government, they are too divisive, if it is not northern christain, it will be southern minority. They think as if one religion or tribes voted him in 2011. If there is any reason why I want this government to lose, it is because of their continuous hate campaign they propagate between all the tribes in Nigeria. If in 4years they managed to stare up this hatred and division, what will they do if they stay for 10years.

HappyJoe:
This is a nonsensical write up.

Ndigbo are in the most logical place politically.

The mathematics is simple - with APC, Buhari does 4 or 8 years, then hands over to a Yoruba man, who then hands over to a Northerner. So with APC, its a minimum of 20 years before you can see an Igbo president.

In PDP/APGA, Jonathan does 4 years, hands over to a Northerner who does 8 years, so in 12 years (or less), you can see an Igbo president.

By 2019, you could have an Igbo VP (with the PDP/APGA configuration), with APC, that might not happen for 20 - 24 years.

But going beyond that, of what relevance are these positions to the well-being of the average citizen? The North can occupy the presidency for 100 years, but that will have zero impact on the appalling human capital indices (poverty, literacy rates, infant mortality) in Northern Nigeria. In fact, the average Northerner will see no positive improvement in his/her life.

Obasanjo was president for 8 years, did it result in any significant improvement in the life of the average Yoruba person? No.

Many Nigerians (we Igbos inclusive), don't appreciate the vantage position we occupy in Nigeria. We control the "economic midfield". If all Igbo traders in Lagos decide to close shop for just 3 days, Lagos will grind to a halt and people will understand the meaning of the word "economic dominance".

Why is Lagos strategic? Because it is the site of Nigeria's most important deep seaport? But who are the importers? Igbos. In spite of the natural advantage of having a massive port, the Yorubas haven't dominated the export/import business - an why is that so? They lack the ability and coordination to.

Professors Anya and Obiechina (I am told), have advanced this position - Ndigbo should concentrate on dominating "Nigeria's economic midfield" and consolidating on that dominance. If you want to travel from Lagos to Abuja by luxury bus - you either use Chisco, Ekene, "The Young", ABC, GUO, Ezenwata, Ifesinachi etc (there are no Hausa or Yoruba luxury bus companies competing with these people).

As the price of a barrel of crude continues to drop, the North will soon understand that simply telling its large mass of uneducated and ignorant people that "Jonathan is the problem" won't suffice. When they take over power, they will be forced to confront what they failed to confront for the past 40 years and since they lack any ideas except for struggling with the Niger Delta for every last drop of oil, they won't succeed.

What the South East needs are a crop of good governors. If Anambra and Abia can do N100 billion each in IGR, then Igbo politics will change. With Obiano already in Anambra and the likelihood of Otti in Abia, this is doable.

Finally, these aren't the 70s anymore. Hausas and Yorubas cannot simply "dominate" Nigeria - they have Ndigbo, an assertive Niger Delta and Northern Christians/Minorities to contend with.

Do away with this "1970s mentality/thinking".

The yorubas were doing trading with europeans before nigeria was formed. trading was going on, there was trade of raw materials etc before that. To the ibos its a big deal because ibo is landlocked but yoruba and southsouth is surrounded by oceans.

The yorubas are more concerned with coporate activites construction, farming, banking, acoounting , law, telecoms,education while the ibos immigrants to lagos were happy to that that business. which is all good.


Also Lagos port was dregdged to make it a deep sea port and so also Calabar port and port Harcout Port.

They have all been dregdged