Since the beginning of Nigeria's fourth republic in 1999, no Igbo
man or woman has ever been elevated to the position of President or Vice
President of Nigeria. From 1999 till date, the country has been ruled
by a Yoruba man for 8 years (Olusegun Obasanjo), Ijaw man for 4 years +
(Goodluck Jonathan) and Hausa/Fulani for 7 years and counting (Umaru
Musa Yar'Adua & Muhammadu Buhari). It is like a grand plan is in
place to shut out the Igbos from ascending to these two elevated
positions.
If truth must be told, this aspect of our political history is one
of the many reasons there is serious distrust and bad blood between the
Igbos and the two other major ethnic groups in the country.
There is no gainsaying the fact that when a heterogeneous country
like Nigeria marginalizes one of the biggest ethnic groups in the
country using bitter political maneuverings, it is preparing itself for a
catastrophic implosion.
We pray and sing 'one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity'
in our national anthem, yet we continue to undermine it through
calculated political misgivings. For instance, Buhari's four years as
President (2016-2019) has so far been characterized by a highly
ethnic-bigoted appointments which caused serious friction in the polity.
Although he argued that his decision was as a result of the number of
votes he got from the south in 2015 election, such thinking to say the
least, is primitive. Without mincing words, this bitter political scheme
watered the ground for serious ethnic disharmony. Many felt that other
ethnic groups were purposely left out by his government because the
North has a hidden agenda it is yet to achieve.
The bitterness existing between the three major ethnic groups has
continued to grow as the Igbos feel isolated from reaching the highest
position in the land because of an unwritten agreement between the two
other major ethnic groups. By their alliance, the two ethnic groups have
continued to produce people who have so far failed in taking Nigeria to
the promise land - but because of their numbers, we have continued to
settle for mediocre.
The power-hungry-ethnic-champions who have held sway for many years
have refused to understand that shutting out one of its three major
ethnic groups from power fosters a spirit of rebellion, which in turn
results in hostility among the ethnic groups. More so, this act doesn't
encourage a peaceful and harmonious co-existence.
Interestingly, a feeling of marginalization as this, is one of the
reasons why the country has refused to move forward. This is because the
ethnic groups have failed to work together as one. Instead, the
individuals who have at various times occupied the highest position in
the land over the years made themselves ethnic warriors instead of
looking out for the interest of the nation.
Because all ethnic groups in the country are equal and must have
same equal political opportunities, at no time should Nigerians ever be
given that impression that a particular ethnic group is born to rule
over others.
On the part of the Igbos, there should be a conscientious effort to
harmonize the existing relationship between them and other ethnic
groups, if this dream must come true. The pockets of discord being sown
by enemies of the people who have continued to exploit fault-lines to
cause disunity must be spotted and erased.
Now and again, I see people debating whether those from Delta,
Ebonyi etc have the 'true blood of Igboness' flowing in them. What kind
of nonsensically divisive argument is that? It is like we are
intentionally playing right into the hands of our ex-military rulers who
planted the seed of discord by ripping us apart many years ago. The
southeast and southsouth are brothers and must not allow their enemies
to continue to dictate their political steps.
Southeast and southsouth politicians who are happy to play second
fiddle after selling their rights must be reminded that history will
always remember them with a frown. All illustrious sons and daughters of
Ndigbo must as a matter of urgency begin now to lobby their
counterparts from other ethnic groups for an Igbo Presidency come 2023.
If the dream of Igbo presidency must be achieved in 2023, the high
rate of voter apathy in the southeast and Southsouth must be reversed.
Ndigbo must come out en masse to vote instead of sitting back at home
hoping for a miracle.
The absence of a leadership figure from the southeast and
southsouth capable of uniting the two groups has been a clog in the
wheel of progress. However, progress must be made with what is
available. Illustrious sons and daughters (politicians,
businessmen/women, intellectuals, writers and like minds) of southeast
and southsouth extraction must come together as one for the purpose of
producing an Igbo presidency in 2023.
We must upset the balance to forge a formidable force and take what is rightfully ours.
In order to correct the current unsavory political equation in
Nigeria, foster peace & unity and conceive the idea in the hearts of
all that Nigeria belongs to all, the Igbos must produce the President
come 2023. This way, equity and justice would have been served.
Alexander Thandi Ubani
Political analyst and journalist.
thandiubani@yahoo.com
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