You will think that in this day and age these two mega Ethnic groups in the South would have learnt their lessons from years past. Their leaders in PDP are now at one another’s throat for the positions of the Speaker and Senate President. It makes some of us sick. What is it with these two and who say either has to be Speaker?
Is it not about time we started giving these positions to other Ethnic groups instead of the so called tripods of Independence as they call themselves. I am not going to rehearse the history of these two from the Government of Tafawa Balewa to that of Obasanjo. It suffices to say that they have been compensated enough and it is time for other minorities to rule Nigeria.
Here we are with a new Government trying to get on its feet, instead of cooperating and looking inwards for areas they can repent and better the past Government, they are ready to hold Yar’Adua to ransom.
It is true that for many years after the war, Igbo have been relegated to the back burner and were making some progress until Obasanjo broke the jinx and appointed them to powerful positions. Nevertheless, it is also true that Yoruba have stayed in Opposition for many years while the Igbo were partners in Government.
This is why some us find it difficult to understand the back and forth arguments of who is taking a step backwards and who is taking a step forward. One Ethnic group can not be at the forefront all the time. We cried about that for so many years and Nigeria listened and changed for the better.
Each time I listen to Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo cry for power, I wonder what other Ethnic groups should do. They have been shut out of power for so long, you will think the so called tripods would keep quiet now. Power do not belong to tripods alone, it belongs to all of us in Nigeria. Every Nigerian, no matter where we come from must be able to aspire to the highest political position in the Country.
There are so many hypotheses coming from the new elected members. It boils down to how they can use the power of number to displace seniority in both houses. It is all for selfish reasons. Even democracy recognizes seniority. But then, and again, as the saying goes, Nigerians always find a way.
The side effect of the judgments of the Supreme Court against Obasanjo has rendered party loyalty a casualty. Sometimes I wonder if the judgments were against Obasanjo to put him in his place or to bring orderliness to a country running wild. We now have new elected members who want popularity to determine principal officers without experience and seniority.
We all know what popularity means in Nigeria. It means sold to the highest bidder. Members will start spending the money they have not made. In no time, they will be looking for ways to recoup their investment. That is the beginning of corruption again.
Watch out for some plot, reorganization and realignment. Before we know it, we will be back to squabbles and who is going to impeach whom. In the last house, we had more than one President of the Senate, more than one Speaker because they were not tested or well known. We may be on our way to repeating the same macabre dance again. Do we learn?
IGBO AND YORUBA DO NOT HAVE TO BATTLE FOR POSITIONS
By
Farouk Martins, Omo Aresa
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Gbade New York, USA June 04, 2007
The Igbo measure how they are faring on the Yoruba. The Yoruba measure how they are faring on themselves. There is a difference.
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