Apart from widespread electoral violence across the country, attacks on Igbo voters in Lagos during last Saturday’s elections have left far-reaching implications in the polity. Elder statesman and former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, in this interview, speaks on the issue and concludes that there is a plot to set Yoruba and Igbo against each other.

Igbo residents in Lagos were made an issue in the presidential and governorship elections in the state. How do you react?[b][/b]

I fear that we are getting to the end of Nigeria. Some people don’t want Nigeria to continue. The two groups, who, if they agree to work together, can stabilize Nigeria, are being set against each other. Nobody can dominate Nigeria if Yoruba and Igbo agree to work together. This is a deliberate plan to end Nigeria. But Nigeria will not end because God created this country with great favour.

Look at everything about Nigeria. Is it the endowments? We are so gifted by God. And I don’t know any country so blessed. We go through all kinds of problems and survive. We had the civil war and all kinds of problems. I think the plan to cause fracas between the Igbo and Yoruba would fail the way others failed in the past. I have always challenged Yoruba people to tell me one person who worked so hard for the late Chief MKO Abiola (winner of June 12, 1993 presidential poll and a Yoruba man) before his election and after the annulment of the election than me. In the East, everywhere Abiola visited, he went with my pilot car. I was the governor of Anambra State at the time. We worked day and night to ensure he won. When the election was annulled, I was at the forefront of the campaign for its de-annulment. We were the founders of National Democratic Coalition, NADECO

[b][/b]Frightening

What frightens me is that if this thing goes further, the Igbo would show who they are and it won’t be good for the country. Nobody can be more violent than the Igbo who is determined to defend themselves in the face of aggression. We are gifted in many ways by God.

We should be thanking God that we are not spilling blood. I think there should be a way out of what is happening. Igbo and Yoruba elders should meet and find a way to ensure this does not happen again.

[/b]What was described as anti-Igbo comments from unlikely persons were found to have enabled the widespread attacks on the Igbo last Saturday…

I never knew that, but I am surprised to hear about it. That is life. Sometimes surprising things happen. I read so many things about Igbo in Lagos. The things I read from Yoruba writers are so encouraging. One of them said Igbo didn’t put a gun on anybody’s head to buy his land in Lagos. For negative thinkers, the best thing is a disintegrated Nigeria, but that is not good for Africa. We are called the giant of Africa. And blacks are judged the way Nigerians are judged. We should know our responsibilities and our destiny. We must do the best we can to project African dignity and respect.

[b]
You were a key figure in the defunct Third Republic when Abiola was elected across ethnic and religious lines. But ethnicity was a major factor in this election cycle. How do you feel about that?

There are interests at play. Some people are targeted as if they have subdued the interest being pursued by some people. I don’t like to say it, but I must mention that there are religious interests. And that has international backing. There are local political interests. Progressive people, who are dynamic and industrious, are never loved by everyone. If you succeed where others fail, don’t expect to be loved by others. But things are changing in Nigeria and we are beginning to understand each other. I just read about how Yoruba and Igbo integrated and worked together on #ENDSARS seamlessly. I know things would change, and the change has come.

Peter Obi would be sworn in as President and a new Nigeria would emerge. In that new Nigeria where Peter would be President, the Igbo would ask for no favour, no privileges and nothing special for themselves. They would be super happy that one of them has led Nigeria to success. They would be happy that one of them has made it possible for black people to be highly respected in the world. Those are the things Igbo would be enjoying when Peter Obi takes over. We don’t want any special political and economic advantage. Many people would be happy to see that happen.

[b][/b]You talked about when Peter Obi would be sworn in, but the President-elect has started preaching national healing. Don’t you think it is enough to douse the tension created by what happened in Lagos last Saturday?

We don’t know the origin of the problem in Lagos. But there are suspicions that APC is the main implementer of the problem. That is why people are suspecting APC is behind it. Igbo people voted for one Nigeria. Nobody invited them to Kano, nobody invited them to Lagos and nobody invited them anywhere. Yet, anywhere you go in Nigeria, you find them prospering in large numbers. It is just their destiny and nothing changes it.

It is not every Igbo man that is thinking about moving all investments back home. Some may think retaliation, but that would be bad. Nigeria fought against Biafra for three years, using British war machines, Russian jets and other European war equipment. What was supposed to last three weeks or a month lasted for three years. Those people introduced some new elements into warfare.

People should not provoke the Igbo people into thinking about fighting back. The Igbo voted for one Nigeria and it won’t be good for Nigeria if they are made to think about retaliating the attacks on them. Nobody should think of retaliating. Things would change for the better.

[b][/b]What do you think are the implications of the anomalies that characterized the elections for the country’s electoral framework?

I have concluded that one segment of Nigeria has come to an end. Nigeria cannot continue like this. It is a shame to entire Africa. Imagine what the world press has been saying about the elections. We have come to the end. We better recognise it and accept that the end has come.

We cannot afford to have other elections like these. This is a comprehensive failure. It was such that you would find people leading and suddenly the results would be manipulated. It was so obvious in the presidential election. And all they are saying is going to court. This should be the end of ‘’go to court’’ in Nigeria. Next time it would be a revolution. There must be going back to basics to develop proper social values.

Our churches, our mosques, our schools, and town unions should go back to the basics to teach morals. The aim is to make Nigeria begin to develop again otherwise the country will disintegrate. But God would not allow it. We need a new Nigeria that would be exemplary to the world.

[b][/b]Some are of the view that when the story of this election cycle is written, Peter Obi would be recognised as having re-engineered the electoral process in some ways…

Because of how things have happened, everybody is interested in improvement. It is not just Peter Obi, I believe it was God’s decision for Nigerians to embrace change. Peter Obi is just the face of a movement. It is just an idea whose time has come. The Bible talks about time and season. The time and season for a new Nigeria have come.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/03/igbo-residents-in-lagos-i-fear-we-are-getting-to-the-end-of-nigeria-ezeife/

Cc Mynd44
nlfpmod

You have spoken at length sir and very intelligently too.
Nigeria will not end, but Nigeria is at an inflection point.
If the last election is allowed to stand, then all future elections will be wars.

Can we now see that the reference point is always lagos an Apc governed state, to which the governor is the house boy of tinubu.
Can't we put two and two together and know that tinubu is the mastermind of everything.

Tinubu is a threat to the collective existence of Nigeria and democracy.

We yorubas are peace loving people and accommodators, is just that we have some few bad eggs among us which dwells in all tribe as well.
They are bringing shame and bad name to we true omooluabi.

Thank God they are in the minority....

If marriage no work end am

No need to force it ,make wife no dey suspect husband

Husband dey suspect wife

Nigeria ain’t ending anytime soon!

It’s like the coming of Christ, it will never happen!

We are forever United!

Who cares if Nigeria end or not?.... Don't interfere in our politics simple or else u will be dealt with seriously

CXLVII:
Nigeria ain’t ending anytime soon!

It’s like the coming of Christ, it will never happen!

We are forever United!

But you are fanning the ambers of war.
Is that associated with Apc urchins.
Or do you want to prove a point

I thought elections are over and things should return to normal ? It is well with Nigeria

IyaebeTheGreat:
I thought elections are over and things should return to normal ? It is well with Nigeria

Then what should happen to those that was maimed unjustfully for trying to vote their choice, in the disguise that they look like ibos.
Should their soul rest too?

Yorubalandlord:

But you are fanning the ambers of war.
Is that associated with Apc urchins.
Or do you want to prove a point

What ambers of war am I fanning?

Hello, 🇳🇬 unity is non negotiable.

We just need to forcefully inject sense into some lots. Everything is not chest beating.

it seems you don't understand Ezeife type.. see my bro,

This is exactly the same way ojukwu behaves until he brought calamity to his people .

Ask them..is this the first time someone would loss an election in Nigeria. .

IyaebeTheGreat:
I thought elections are over and things should return to normal ? It is well with Nigeria

CXLVII:


What ambers of war am I fanning?

Hello, 🇳🇬 unity is non negotiable.

We just need to forcefully inject sense into some lots. Everything is not chest beating.

To force sense is different from killing.

Nigeria will not end, but Nigeria is at an inflection point.
If the last election is allowed to stand, then all future elections will be wars.
Nobody in his right mind would bother to play by the rule.
Why waste money on campaigns when you can simply buy returning officers and INEC staff?
There is a fork on the road: One road leads to greatness and the other leads to Bedlam.

Yorubalandlord:

To force sense is different from killing.

Exactly!

I will be the happiest person in this life if igbos can be granted Biafra. It's a shame that I share thesame country name with this group of people

CXLVII:



Exactly!

So why did Apc thugs kill people that want to vote their choice just because they look like ibos in lagos
Why?

Instead of crying and making noise everyday, why can't this cursed people just pack their bags and go home to their village?
They're becoming a nuisance to law abiding citizens of this country. GO HOME.

Tinubuwins2023e:
I will be the happiest person in this life if igbos can be granted Biafra. It's a shame that I share thesame country name with this group of people

I say a big Amen to your statement. But I sense you're afraid of this your wish coming to pass, because you can't quite imagine nigeria without Igbo. Funny enough, Igbos are the only group in nigeria very upbeat about thier future without nigeria.

The only tiny thread that is still binding Nigeria together as a country is the Judiciary,if they fail to deliver justice on this the calamity Yakobo announced in February,I fear for the existence of Nigeria as a country .

GeneralPula:
Before you people starts end of Nigeria poem, make una pack unaself put together for one place for East..

You can't be screaming End of Nigeria for south, west or north..

People would only take your people serious when you all migrates to SE. Anything aside from that, it's play..

So why not lead a campaign to dissolve the country or even lead a campaign that will chase the ibos back to the east.
Kiddo, ibos that have been in lagos before tinubu migrated to lagos for greener pastures, just like we yorubas from osun, ogun and the rest do
Why do you still cling to staying in the same country with Igbo?

GeneralPula:

Emeka, you created a thread regarding Igbos wanting to leave Nigeria and you’re a still impersonating Yoruba. Up till now, you people are still shamed of una yeye tribe... Shiorrr! Asaro Oni Peppemint!

E don call me emeka, just like they called GRV chinedu for trying to contest against the polity.

Rest, I am omooluabi to the core, you Apc urchins believe that anyone that don't breed hate against the ibos are not yoruba.

My dad is yoruba, My mom is ibo my wife is ibo, my kids are half yoruba, half ibo deal with it.

Don't try to call my kids omo ale just like you called GRV omo ale, oponu

Yorubalandlord:
You are spoken at length sir and very intelligently too.
Nigeria will not end, but Nigeria is at an inflection point.
If the last election is allowed to stand, then all future elections will be wars.

Can we now see that the reference point is always lagos an Apc governed state, to which the governor is the house boy of tinubu.
Can't we put two and two together and know that tinubu is the mastermind of everything.

Tinubu is a threat to the collective existence of Nigeria and democracy.

We yorubas are peace loving people and accommodators, is just that we have some few bad eggs among us which dwells in all tribe as well.
They are bringing shame and bad name to we true omooluabi.

Thank God they are in the minority....

wow, you have conscience.

Yorubalandlord:
You are spoken at length sir and very intelligently too.
Nigeria will not end, but Nigeria is at an inflection point.
If the last election is allowed to stand, then all future elections will be wars.

Can we now see that the reference point is always lagos an Apc governed state, to which the governor is the house boy of tinubu.
Can't we put two and two together and know that tinubu is the mastermind of everything.

Tinubu is a threat to the collective existence of Nigeria and democracy.

We yorubas are peace loving people and accommodators, is just that we have some few bad eggs among us which dwells in all tribe as well.
They are bringing shame and bad name to we true omooluabi.

Thank God they are in the minority....

Wetin Tinubu do you this boy?
Yu attack Tinubu and you attack the whole Yorubas if you don't know. Igbos should prepare for 2027. If you all are sincere, 2027 is very realistic except if Tinubu performed miracles.

It's called liberation...reclaiming our Mandate...

Pls it's Sunday...
Don't do it......

It really is fascinating to note how those who are visionary and pragmatically intelligent see preemptive solutions others reject until war and conflict is upon man.

It is a theme recurring predictably in history. For more than a year I have spammed this forum silly with what is shown below that is the simple solution to our woes.

Regional governance has yhe potential to drastically reduce corruption and promote accountability. It can give every Nigeria a sense of renewed patriotism, focus and sense of purpose towards their respective region of origin.

Yet we cannot see this. We all prefer to fight over the discredited notion that one individual, as President, is the messiah to reform the unreformable and thoroughly discredited 'one Nigeria'.

Nigerians are the worst example of the black man because we must always be forced to do the right thing after crisis is upon us.

Old tribal bigot getting senile, better shut up and not set trap for the young igbos coming up. In Nigeria only Igbo elders engage in such careless divisive talks. Something is wrong with this tribe. They really want to destroy themselves. If you think Nigerians care about how you feel, you people are really naive. You only irritate us with your belicose talks, and makes us never trust you.

Johnjustice:
Old tribal bigot getting senile, better shut up and not set trap for the young igbos coming up. In Nigeria only Igbo elders engage in such careless divisive talks. Something is wrong with this tribe. They really want to destroy themselves.

This simple write up, you can not read and understand. Lazy youth.

Just try to read before commenting

Betanaija42moro:


This simple write up, you can not read and understand. Lazy youth.

Just try to read before commenting

You people are bigots, something in your genes really want you people to destroy yourselves. Nigeria has had enough of your noise and bullshit, this time, try anything funny and you will pay the price. Nobody send una father.