DID IGBOS BETRAY YORUBAS ?

Some members of the Agbado army from the South West who are alarmed by the number of progressive Yorubas who have decided to support Peter Obi base on competence have unfortunately decided that the only they can convince these yorubas to withdraw their support for Obi is to keep repeating their lies of how Igbo have never supported Yorubas.

One of the most despicable things you will see in this political campaigns is the attempt by some toxic ethnic chauvinists from the west to vilify the Igbo race. In their usual victim style, they talk about some notable Yoruba men who have identified with Igbo personalities in trying times and then accuse the igbos of never reciprocating the gesture. They blame the downfall of Awolowo and Abiola to the Igbos and go ahead to accuse of the igbos of wanting to do the same thing to Tinubu.

Well, for the record, it is not true that the igbos were responsible for the downfall of the two Yoruba men. Are the igbos responsible for betraying the Yorubas ? Have the igbos ever supported the yorubas ?

Let's do a small history class.

Awolowo's biggest enemy in the first republic was Akintola. It was Akintola who in a supremacy battle with Awo broke away from the AG and formed the NNDP alliance with the Northern People's Congress. It was the same battle between Akintola and Awolowo that led to the infamous Western Region crisis and state of emergency in 1964-65. It was the same Akintola faction through their alliance with the Balewa led federal government, facilitated the arrest of Awolowo and sent him to prison until he was released by Ojukwu, an igbo man.

The unfortunate and flawed first military coup led by Major Nzeogwu and Major Ifeajuna, two igbos was reported to have been staged with the intention of eliminating the current leaders of that time. The plan was to go to Enugu, free Awolowo from Prison and make him the prime minister. This was confirmed by Major Ademoyega, the Yoruba major who was part of the plot in his book "Why We Struck". Nzeogwu and Ifeajuna just like many of us today saw Awolowo as the best option for Nigeria and executed a coup to make that a reality. That coup became known as the Igbo coup that was the foundation of what led to the death of 3 million igbos.

So technically, 4 Igbo officers and 1 Yoruba officer believed in Awolowo so much to the extent of helping him clinch power albeit wrongly and in the process put their own race in danger of extermination and elimination. The consequences of which the Igbo race are still suffering today. When General Ironsi died in the counter coup of 1966, the military cabal wanted Gowon to be the next head of State. All agreed except Ojukwu. The second in command to Ironsi was Major General Ogundipe, a Yoruba man. Ogundipe was supposed to take over after Ironsi death. The only person who insisted that Ogundipe was the rightful person was Ojukwu. Ojukwu, an Igbo man, was the only one fighting for Ogundipe

Even when Ogundipe fled the country, Ojukwu stood his ground that Ogundipe is the rightful ruler not Gowon. That was one of the major disagreement coupled with other factors that led to the war. When they talk about what Yoruba men did for the Igbos, they won't mention that it was Ojukwu an Igbo man who freed Awolowo from the prison Balewa sent him to and it was the same Ojukwu who fought to make sure that Ogundipe was made head of State. It is funny how people mention the execution of Banjo in Enugu in 1968 as an act of betrayer from the igbos forgetting that Victor Banjo was not the only one executed that day. The legendary Ifeajuna was also executed alongside Banjo and other Igbos.

So if igbos hate Yorubas because Ojukwu executed Banjo, what will you now say about Ifeajuna and Sam Agbam who were also executed for the same reasons as Banjo ? If a man beats two of his own and one of your own, how do you translate that as hatred for your own ? In 1979, the biggest betrayers Awolowo faced was his people from the South West. We all know how General Obasanjo had special preference for Shagari. The elites from yoruba-land were the ones who used the western media to campaign for Shagari to the detriment of one of their sons.

In fact if you ask Mallam Balarabe Musa, he will tell you plainly that it was Yorubas who betrayed Awolowo not igbos, not northerners, not southerners. How ? After the election, Shagari did not win convincingly, there was supposed to be a second round because of how close the results were. It was Richard Akinjide and his gang who went to court to help Shagari win the two-thirds and eliminated the possibility of a second round of elections between Awolowo and Shagari. If Akinjide had not gone to court, Awolowo would have won Shagari in the second round of that elections to become president but he was sabotaged by south westerners with the blessings of Obasanjo, another south Westerner.

Another point that these people forget is that even Abiola was against Awolowo that time. How comes they are now blaming igbos for hating yorubas ? Now forgetting the role Dr. Majekodunmi played in getting Awolowo imprisoned and installing Akintola in the then western region. Now let's get to Abiola's matter. You cannot talk about Abiola's Victory without mentioning Henry Nwosu, an Igbo man, who was electoral chairman at that time and resisted every possible pressure from Babangida and the cabal to conduct a free and fair Election. Without Nwosu, there would be no Abiola's Victory. But these toxic people want us to believe that Igbos always hate yorubas.

If igbos always hate Yorubas. Nwosu would have rigged that election and made Abiola lose but he did not do that. Going further, they blamed Arthur Nzeribe for the annulment of Abiola's Victory but do not blame the judge that gave that judgement. If igbos hate Yorubas because Arthur went to court, why aren't you saying anything about the ethnic group of the Judge that gave that judgement that led to the annulment of Abiola's Victory ? Now let's move to the list of people who betrayed Abiola. First and foremost, Babangida did not hand over to a Hausa or Igbo or urhobo man. He handed over to Ernest Shonekan, a Yoruba man. The first biggest betrayers of Abiola was Shonekan.

It was on record that Yoruba monarchs supported Abacha and Babangida's plan to deny Abiola his victory. The same way Abiola had supported Shagari and Obasanjo to frustrate Awolowo in 1979. People like EBENEZER BABATOPE, OLU ONAGORUWA, LATE LATEEF JAKANDE, LAMIDI ADEDIBU, ARISEKOLA ALAO and Chief Yomi Tokoya were among prominent Yoruba leaders who worked against their own brother. Ask Sowore. He was very active then. He can confirm these things. 60% of the people who betrayed Abiola were his brothers from the South West but suddenly these Tinubu agbado army wants us to believe that the igbos were responsible for Abiola's downfall. No way !

In fact, you cannot mention the struggle for ABIOLA'S right without mentioning the role of some prominent igbos. Ndubusi Kanu, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Ebitu Ukiwe (former number 2 to Babangida), Ralph Obioho and many others were among the founders of NADECO. In fact, Ralph Obioho, an Igbo man, who was born into wealth and was very wealthy at that time, lost everything he had because he was fighting Abacha for Abiola's sake. And they want to tell you that Igbos never supported Yorubas ? Let not mention how the east backed Obasanjo from 1999-2007 before they say that Obasanjo a Yoruba man was not the choice of Yorubas. Isn't this ironic about the same people accusing other groups ?

Lastly, today, there are prominent Igbo persons who are supporters of Tinubu. I don't want to mention names but notably about two Igbo governors have come out to publicly declare their support for Tinubu even when majority of their people don't agree with them. How many Yoruba governors today can endorse an Igbo candidate even when their people disagree with them ?

When add up these things together you will see that the attempt by these Tinubu army members to blame the igbos for hatred towards yorubas is a wrong one. Historically, there have been people from both sides who have supported one another and of course, there are also people from both sides who have worked against one another.

In the history of Nigerian politics, The biggest betrayers of igbos are Igbos the same way the biggest betrayers of yorubas are yorubas. Agbado army should focus on their ewa and garri material and stop demonizing the igbos and playing dangerous ethnic games for election purposes.

Allow Yorubas who believe in the candidacy of Peter Obi to support Obi base on competence and stop blackmailing them with lies designed to make them see the igbos as their enemies.

© Caleb Onyeabor

I don't think so..
Depending!

To cut this story short,
Yorubas are naturally born betrayals...
In all your doings never u trust an Afonja.

Jennifer663:
I don't think so..
Depending!

Depending on what?
plagarism?

fman:

Depending on what?
plagarism?

You will end up being a bastard in your entire life.
And it will come to pass
A fool that can't mind his business


Learn from me directly not in a stupid way!
This would be the last conversation between us
I see your parents didn't train you well.
Jealousy kill you and your entire life.
Idoit!

The problem with Ibos is the way they like to rewrite history as if everyone else is a fool.

I'm a yoruba, all what you said is 100% correct...how on earth will you pick Tinubu ahead of Osibanjo or Peter Obi...beside we are the poorest among the 3 ethnics language... You supporting a man that want all south west should be under is watch...we only have agbero,thugs,our girls are too cheap,this my first time of staying in south west for 5months,omo,nothing to write home about....you still see them making noise only about tinubu!

Jennifer663:

You will end up being a bastard in your entire life.
And it will come to pass
A fool that can't mind his business


Learn from me directly not in a stupid way!
This would be the last conversation between us
I see your parents didn't train you well.
Jealousy kill you and your entire life.
Idoit!

Why the anger?
You need to calm down ok!
I perfectly understand how you feel.
Am not the cause of u getting
Used and dumped by your bf.
Pls take it easy ok!!
U will find love some day.
Mind u,
Am not a bastard.
Am legitimately born.
Usu-rakwa-ghi there
But no reason am.
plagarism
Content writer.

Jennifer663:

You will end up being a bastard in your entire life.
And it will come to pass
A fool that can't mind his business


Learn from me directly not in a stupid way!
This would be the last conversation between us
I see your parents didn't train you well.
Jealousy kill you and your entire life.
Idoit!

Are u still pained?