Lagos — The shape of the contest for the 2015 presidential election was at the beginning of the New Year unfolding as a battle for the support of second term governors of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Besides the governors, Vice-President Namadi Sambo was also becoming an issue in the battle of wits between President Goodluck Jonathan and his onetime benefactor, former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The vice-president's problem is also being compounded by the reported interest of two second term governors angling to displace him in the event of Dr. Jonathan seeking another term in 2015.
The political difficulties of the Vice-president emerged following reports that Sambo through Governor Mukthar Yero of Kaduna State was in the know of a meeting between Obasanjo and traditional rulers in Kaduna State on New Year eve. Yero who emerged as governor of Kaduna State last month is largely believed to be a scion of the political family of Sambo having first served as an accountant in his private company before emerging as Commissioner for Finance in Sambo's cabinet as governor of Kadnua State.
Obasanjo was in Kaduna State on New Year eve allegedly to commiserate with the state over the death of its immediate past governor, Sir Patrick Yakowa. During his stay in Kaduna, the former president met with traditional rulers who were summoned by the powerful Emir of Zauzzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris. The meeting with the traditional rulers followed similar meetings between the former president and opinion moulders in Northern Nigeria in recent times.
Obasanjo's private meetings
The New Year eve meetings in Kaduna trailed earlier private meetings in Abia last weekend. Before then, Obasanjo, who is believed to have taken a position to champion the return of the presidency to the North was alleged to have been mobilizing political opinion leaders in the region for a possible confrontation with the incumbent and his onetime protégée, Jonathan.
Multiple sources in the North confirmed yesterday that the events in Kaduna may have inadvertently put Sambo in a precarious position in the unfolding battle of wits between Obasanjo and Jonathan. Sambo was in Kaduna on New Year eve ahead of Obasanjo's arrival.
"How do you explain the fact that the governor got all the traditional rulers to meet with Obasanjo and do you think it could have been for nothing," a top political operative in the North asked yesterday.
Sambo has largely refrained from giving vent to the increasing opposition in the North to another term for Dr. Jonathan in 2015. It was as such a surprise to some political leaders in the region yesterday that the vice-president would have associated himself with Obasanjo's condolence visit which some alleged was a cover for his continuing mobilisation for the battle ahead of 2015.
Mallam Sani Umar, Media Aide to the vice-president did not return a call and a text message sent to him on the development.
Obasanjo, it was learnt, has been reaching out to governors across the country in a bid to win their confidence ahead of 2015. His efforts, Vanguard learnt, was upon submissions earlier made to him to beware of Jonathan's power of incumbency. The former president it was further gathered was said to have dismissed the threat with the assertion that he knows that the power of the PDP rests with the governors.
The governors' influence over the party flows from their control of delegates who come from the states.
Two northern govs eye VP position
Obasanjo's alleged efforts nonetheless, northern cohesion to combat Dr Jonathan for the presidential ticket is alleged to be threatened with the subtle quest by two of the north's second term governors to displace Sambo from the post of vice-presidential slot in a possible Jonathan presidential ticket in 2015. It is, however, not known if Dr. Jonathan is directly involved in trying to woo any of the second term governors to join him in a possible 2015 race. He, has, however, over time bent towards the governors on several issues concerning the PDP.
Two of the second term governors despite being beneficiaries of President Obasanjo's goodwill are said to be playing a game of political survival and are believed to have given their indication to partner with Jonathan in 2015.
"Well that is one option and it is on the cards and there is nothing wrong with it," a top aide of one of the governors that has been repeatedly mentioned as a possible vice-president told Vanguard on the condition of anonymity.
Obasanjo is said to be working on the strength of a conviction that he sold the Jonathan presidential ticket to the North on the promise that he would exit the stage in 2015 for a return of power to the North. Following pressures on Dr. Jonathan to contest the 2015 election and reports of the incumbent president's failure to dismiss the pressures, Obasanjo who had earlier indicated his withdrawal from the political stage has lately been on a circuit of private meetings across the country during which he is reported to have been mobilizing opinion in support of his plan.
After a meeting with the National Chairman of the PDP Alhaji Bamanga Tukur last month in his Abeokuta, Ogun State home, Obasanjo pledged that he would not be stopped from making his opinions known.
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THEY SHOULD READ THIS FOR THE WEEK-END for those it may concern; it may not be philosopocal but if they can see the germ in it, we shall be better off in Nigeria than the mumbo-jumbo by OBJ in trying to install his choice candidate! I have provided a solution compatible for Nigeria better we look into it and the imports, just as you have now done with my Option A-4! Wishing all of us A happy new year!
As an incumbent nature has a way of influencing human beings! We have heard about Dr. Jonathan disagreeing with OBJ - the samething will happen if he succeeds in installing his (a) new candidate for 2015; as an incumbent nature has its way! We want ‘transformation’ for Nigeria and not ‘Revolution’ because we cannot manage One! The people talking about revolution are not revolutionaty both in outlook or character! OBJ is merely galivanting once in the hope to cajole or hoodwink us into submission again - he has had his 12 years tenure and did nothing for Nigeria - no Iron and Steel and no energy power for Nigeria! We are happy with what this administration is doing - allowing Nigerians to criticise it as and when we like which is the essence of DEMOCRACY! What is presented in this proposal/comment is to be salubrious for us than what OBJ portends and is gallivanting to offer us in Nigeria, folks! Perhaps somebody should ask OBJ and group whether they do think about the GDP and the well being of Nigerians in their quest to install their favoured candidates as Governors and President of this country or are they just interested in procuring ‘havens’ as shelters for themselves irespectiv of the hardships people are faced with in Nigeria!
As if nobody knows what the game is all about in the situation of the ‘horse trading’ we are about to be place by OBJ’s new move, not thinking about the effect on the GDP of Nigeria! Observers think and reghtly too, that he is in a mission to manouever (riggle) himself into position where he can now play a double-edge role politically in Nigeria irrespective of the harm to the people, hopefully ousting both IBB, Gen. Buhari and Alhaji A. Atiku in the wake! If you care to study his progress politically from the end of the civil war to how he eventually became Head of State after Murtala’s death down to the 1979 hand over to civilian administration; later his brush with Gen Sani Abacha, the experience of Gov. Peter Odili agreing for him to commence camgaign for Presidency when everything was hunky-dory between them but he changed his mind for Umaru Yar’Adua - he was finggered in this case lest we forget, in particular his latest encounter with Atiku, IBB and Buhari in their war of words (counter allegations), you’ll see in the trajectory what the canny chicanery is all about - to become the King maker politically for Nigeria without justifiable reasons as a truly seasoned politician! Observers think that OBJ’s ambition is to be accepted as one of the founding fathers for Nigeria without the clout, folks! He is not quite accepted in his South West political terain so he moves into the other two zones - South East and the North, where he feels he can garner support for his cajolery intentions!
Here is part of the ironies in Nigeria, folks! We read that OBJ , Chief E. Anyaoku and some in the North discoursed how to “overcome the challenges” in Nigeria and you wonder why not OBJ dicuss Nigeria’s problems by measures whereby people of Chief Anyaoku, Ahaji Maitama Sule, Tanko Yakassai, Prof. Gambari and their counterparts in the West can be part of the NSS possibly in the Upper House membership so that such experienced Nigerians and still able, can make valuable conributions about leadership for Nigeria? He’ll not want such persons with capacity and International recognition because he cannot control/push them round! These, you discover, comprise the cathegory of Nigerians that can put us back on the right economic and political pedestal - they have the capacity to still think and work for the interest of Nigeria! The question again is; Why is it that OBJ and other friends of his do not want retired but not tired Nigerians to join in the politics of Nigeria - in the leadership level, folks? I said already; they should consider my New idea or Solution for Nigeria please, folks!
Now consider how this crucial aspect of OBJ’s and others with his kind of ambition, impacts on what we can do in Nigeria! If truly OBJ has follen out with Dr. Jonathan his hitherto favoured candidate, as reported, it is not unlkely that part of the reason must relate (has bearing) to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, OBJ’s one time Minister for Finance he surepticiously (unceremonously indeed) nudged out of office and Dr. Jonathan decided to bring her back to continue the good service she was doing including changing the methods of processing major contracts and Budget procedures for Nigeria! Now this observation is not farfetched and it is part reason for my objections for that Council of State memberships! These officers have been in office once or twice, they muddled up the system in Nigeria and yet they still want to remain within the system to continue to disrupt what any right thinking leaders (successors) can do for us in Nigeria! Surprisingly even those who are supposed to know the dangers like the NBA people do not seem to understand what harm that membership poses for the growth in Nigeria not withstanding the rate of corruption in the country it engenders!
What we are not doing or thinking about the past leaders; OBJ, IBB and Buhari - you name them, is that they were all military officers who came to limelight because of the civil war, which we now know Nigeran side had the upper hand and supported by Britain and USSR with armunitions - the worse was the blockade in Bakassi and the Niger Delta corridor opened to let Nigerian army infiltration at the time! Dim Ojukwu did not sue for aides to challenge the thrust on the Easterners (Biafra) as he should - his hands were ` as it were! Therefore, not only that they were not exposed to the rigours (rough and tumble) of a serious civil war like the Sudan experience, they did not have political experience being all miltary trained through the British tuteleage therefore are not ‘revolutionary’ in character or outlook! For them to now think that they can place us under their whims and caprises will ever savour a misdirected leadership for the anticipated economic and political growth for the people of Nigeria! By the time you have read and digested what this comment is about, you’ll agree that what they are trying to do - the position they want to occupy in Nigeria, is not and cannot help us politically! It has been shown (proven) the their ways of politicking is based on gerrymandering and self aggrandisement and moreover tained with vendetta, cinspiracies and vindictiveness spawned from that civil war exposure! Unfortunately the psychological effect of that war is still plying on them - take a look at Rwanda, Presiden Paul Kigame is now sighted as a progressive leader and Rwanda’s economy is now part member of the British Commonwealth! They are not doing what they are supposed to do for us in Nigeria yet!
I said it earlier that Dr. Jonathan’s administration should be regarded as a breather government for Nigeria - first was Buhari and Idiagbon’s but he could not hold sway (one’s way) to entrentch W.A.I. - considered the antidite for Nigeria in every respect, when he was ousted! Just as we are about witnessing something of unique importance for Nigeria in that ‘Transformation, Performance Certificates and Due Process’, OBJ comes foward to try to disturb the possible impact of the policy on Nigerian’s psychic! Lest we forget his new stance could be related to fact that he was also nudged from the BoT of his party and the suspicion that Dr. Jonathan is not yeilding to his advice - i. e. to all the jingoism going on in the political and administrative-back-stage! The question is popped; What is going to happen to the ‘Economic Team’ set up and is working, gaining grounds in Nigria if OBJ succeeds in his new mission I want to (could well be) describe as ‘Bridge to nowhere’ for Nigeria other than to creat ‘haven’ for himself so as to shield himself from his political foes! He considers his position is now moribound politically in Nigeria hence the new schiming strategy to rekindle/restore confidence from the Northern - NPLF, which he has discovered is at all time! Observers think OBJ is very pre-occupied now than ever before yet I have offered the counry a viable panacea even under his tenure in office, that can save us all forms of embarrasment and costs - in the same manner Option A-4 is now serving in Nigeria, folks! Aside, OBJ should know that you can’t build a Nation by circumventing obvious facts; it is certain that what his intentions are will not help us in the end! Lest you forget; OBJ urged for ‘Do or die for elections; Dr. Jonathan directed Prof. A. Jega to go for Option A-4 irrespective of the results and what did we get - samething we had back in 1993 - free and easy elections all hapened under two weeks duration!
If eventually they resolve it should revert to the North for God’s sake let the candidate be the right person with capacity to do something tailored in the same ‘transformation’ direction like Dr. G. E. Jonathan and Arch. Sambo Administration is intentioned - i. e. consistency and continuity for the first time for Nigeria, folks! God knows that I am not against anybody aspiring to become leader in Nigeria but such persons must be the one with the right ‘orientation’ to serve as a Nigerian Nationalist and not tribes/ parochial man and not to aggrandise himself and his cohorts whilst in that position! I must keep saying it that they should look up my solution/approach to the problem of political leadership for Nigeria in the same manner that I proposed the now touted Option A-4 - 18 years when I first proposed it (1991/2) and have continued to urge for its adoption in all my comments on the news papers in Nigeria! We may arrive at situation in the future where his man Fani Kayode, like Odia Ofeimun writes about Chief Awolowo, will write to tell us about OBJ’s mavellous contributions for Nigeria - all were in office to do something about problems in Nigeria and we are still neck-deep with the problems if not more, lest you forget!
[After a meeting with the National Chairman of the PDP Alhaji Bamanga Tukur last month in his Abeokuta, Ogun State home, Obasanjo pledged that he would not be stopped from making his opinions known.] Here is part of the major problems in Nigeria. OBJ and his colleagues have had full swipe at the Nigerian ‘authoritarian’ administration and contributed immensly to the problems of Nigeria yet they are still there and you people acqueising to the whims and caprises emanating from their quarters! It is despicable to say the least, folks! Even those mandated to do the amendment of the Constitution don’t seem to know what to do or go about the exercise so as to get something presented early then you wonder; How Nigeria can develop where these groups have powers to impact (savour incursions) on vital decisions about us in Nigeria! Every Heads of State in serious minded economies and Constitution provides or mandates it, that when such officers/politicians leave office he/she should move away from the political scene! Only in Nigeria that you have them still interfering with the governance - it is not surprising what you get end of the day - people grappling with the same problems in the country repeatedly! Consider for a moment if OBJ succeeded in planting a candidate of his choice he becomes the God father of such candidate and you know what happens if Nigerians a led to voting for the fellow! Whilst in government, what do you think will happen if you have cases about misdeameanure realted to corruption, OBJ is answerable? The favour from the candidate for OBJ would be assured - this is part of Share cropping I talked about!
The other Heads have tried to occupy this position in Nigeria if they cannot get back to the seat if you are that analitical about what is happeining - the political gjingoism in Nigeria but OBJ appears to have the upper hand in the game! His people in the South West understand the character very well hence he did not win their anticipated votes in the 1999 election and when it came for his daughter to go for a second term in NSS she did not get their votes also! What is happeing is that OBJ, because of the vacuum created and the seeming suspcicions against the other ex-Heads of State, he cannuly feels he can still manipulte in the already poluted and dellusional people of Nigeria, folks! We are now in the situation of ‘Dog eat dog’ - the dog in the manger position! First we had it alleged he put president Umaru Yar Adua in position ‘aginst the wishes’ of the Northern Block then Dr. G. E. Jonathan and that both appeared to disagree with him in specific policies - he could no more influence them in certain policy decisions! Now if he gets his way with any of the candidates for 2015, as he concietedly feels he could, given time, the samething will ocurr between him and his new-found candidate not forgetting that incumbency trait in every human being once in position of authority! If you understand my analogy in the illustration, you’ll rather prefer to be in position where we can freely elect persons of our own choice than go by OBJ & Co’s direction in Nigeria, folks! It leaves in a reverse position of: -
[“Doug out Doug - You are taking me out of the jaws of Death and I left my men in the jaws of death”, said General Douglas MacArthur of US as a consequence of his disrespect for President Truman about his failed strategy in the Korean war in 1951; BBC II, 2nd January 2002!”]
You have been advised to look into the ‘Zoning solution’ where you can be sure you can get much better leadership of commendable character through Constitutional provisions than confining yourselves to whims and caproces of individuals or groups and a specific party and the choice of God fathers; leading you by the nose - the danger is incalculable and we have seen it manifested in Nigeria already! The trouble being that even the CPC and ACN including the NBA do not understand what the ‘Zoning’ connotes for Nigeria! But tell you something, the 2015 election may well expose you people the more if you cannot find ways to avert the impending crisis as a result of the oft’ canny and nunchanlant disposition of the political protagonists in Nigeria! OBJ and group are not trained politicians and the kind for country like Nigeria yet you people cannot see the problems they pose for the population!
I have echoed it repeatedly and here is what it means; No party in Nigeria can claim the preserve/monopoly of good political leadership considering the formations and the dispersions in the composite parts of Nigeria therefore, it would serve us better if we had a system wherby you can make your choice from the six-geopolitical zones through rotational arrangement moreover on that Federal Character basis, which is already a proviso in your Constitution! A pity you cannot see/comprehend this idea same as you could not see the benefits of Option A-4 that early until 6th March 2010 and for Delta in December that year and ultimately INEC adopted it for the 2011 elections! You could then see the smoothness and the guanranteed and untainted results - most of the candidates and parties found it difficult to go to the Courts/Tribunals to contest pronounced results! I am saying that the same effect will be felt if you can see the benefit derivable from, the idea of Zoning of the Presidency, which will cut off the intrusion of OBJ and others very likely going to re-surface by next or even this year! Do ration of the position (SEAT) as I suggest because it is less ranckorous, it is simple, cheaper, friendly and above all accommodative/inclusive and participatory for the stakeholders! What OBJ and his groups are doing will take you back to that same situation where he will soon disagree with his selected candidate after elections and you’ll be left in the same position - in a quagmire trying to placate him against the wishes of the general public in Nigeria! We hear that he is disagreeing with Dr. Jonathan - this kind of mumbo-jumbo effect on Nigeria’s administration as if OBJ owns Nigeria, folks!
The other protagonist have not shown readiness yet - the group comprise Malam Ceroma,Gen. Buhari and IBB in what you might regard as the ‘trio’ (musketeers) in the battle of supremacy politically for Nigeria just because the system encourages it! Mark you these have been at the Head/helm of affairs of Nigeria for over 30 years, conducted themselves in such manner that the people in the North were left in desperation for employment and social well fair, yet they still want to be on the seat and to be seen not heard only! You discover that since these joined the political scenario the politicking became more about (turned into) cajolery, hoodwinking and bamboozling not by wit all because of the gullible disposition of the majority of the people! Thus, the rumbling may well start soon as the trio sense that they are not going to be part of (in) the equation and if there isn’t one by 2014 then it suggests they have agreed to bury their hatchets (all 4 of them even though on each others throat just last year) and to forge ahead with OBJ’s candidate! You discover that in Nigeria and behind the minds of the trio in particular; in their hindsight ( eyes) their choice candidate would have to serve two terms if he becomes winner in the election against what they want Dr. Jonathan to do - i. e. to serve One term only this time so as to afford the Northerner to take the stage again!
You can see the hypocrisy and the ‘myopic’ thinking about politics in Nigeria! We don’t know what Dr. Jonathan’s group has in the offing about this plot; he had earlier urged for the Constitution to be amended to read One term of five/six (5/6) years tenure in office in which case he’ll end his term in 2016/7, which any right thinking observers for Nigerian politics would consider appropriate judging from the display of mediocrity in leadership and the corruption two-terms engenders in the politics for Nigeria really! We will see, by next year 2014 - the problems will crystallise more clearly, folks!
See what the new manoeuvring by OBJ is about: he had been ‘frolicking’ with the Northern political group as far back as the assassination of Gen. Mudtala Mihammed - OBJ was his deputy at the incident of his death and the Northerners felt he (M. Muhammed) must be replaced by a Northern soldier as the Head of State! There was a compromise then rather than dealing with the matter through Constitutional provision just as in Yar’Adua’s case with Dr. Jonathan - you recall we had similar thing happened in Ghana and in Ethiopia 2012 without problems because their Constitution was clear on that issue than ours they left open-ended! Now the Northerners are seeking to return to the seat of the Presidency for 2015 and they want it achieved through what they now regard as a ‘Pay back’ from OBJ - by this contraption/chicanery if proves successful, OBJ will become a King-maker politically for Nigeria ! You recall they accused him of deliberately securing the Presidency for the sick Yar’Adua so that a Southerner will become the President! To these therefore, 2015 is the time for the return of power to the North even though the Constitution at present, mandates ‘Two-terms’ on the seat by any incumbent! Their thinking is that Dr. Jonathan should leave-off by 2014 so that their own Northern candidate should serve ‘Two-terms’ before Dr. Jonathan, if he so wishes, can try again by 2022!
Now the snag here is that the trio and Alhaji Abubaka Atiku a Northern Presidential enthusiast - the arch enemy of OBJ is on the wing waiting to pounce/try in the said 2015 election for the Presidency! Lest we forget, Gen. M. Buhari, IBB and Malam Ceroma have all sent out salvo signalling the 2015 could be a ‘D-day’ for Nigeria! Malam Ceroma threatens Nigeria with a return of Otman Dan-fodio and Gen. M. Buhari also is threatening Nigeria with ‘Big Revolution’ by that same day if he does not with the Presidency election! We don’t know what IBB has in his mind yet - he is more of the middle-way candidate about Nigeria if his aides will advise him when we get to 2014! The dice is cast as it were, which is the reason for OBJ’s stealth movement now - he wants to start early to him an early bird catches the ‘fattest fish’ in the Nigerian political parlance! It is very likely that the Northern group will come to a compromise as they usually do but the issue is this as I had already raised it; Would it not pay us much better in Nigeria if we had a ‘Zoning formula’ proven to be cheaper, more conciliatory, stakeholder participation and above all will play down the mistrusts and gerrymandering in Nigerian political arena? Through this arrangement you don’t have to go by caucus or party agreement - it becomes more about Constitutional provision just like they have it for Ethiopia and Ghana put down in black and white in the Constitution so that we avoid the rigmarole/ wich-hunting in elections in Nigeria, folks! In this case avoid the intrusions of people like OBJ. Ceroma, Buhari and IBB in he scheme of political concerns for Nigeria, folks!
Recall that I proposed OptionA-4 to IBB at the time and they saw the advantage and it was applied in that moribond election of 1993 - for 18 years they will not return to it and elections in Nigeria grew with added problems costing the natin in financial terms and human losses! The use of the Option A-4 you’ll learn, is now touted for African countries - think about the time lag! Therefore in the same vian, I am urging them to consider my ‘Zoning Formula’ since it will help us more irrespective of where the candidate comes from as far as he/she is a Nigeria! If you study the import I - the idea in this new solution from me, you’ll discover that it the best o guarantee us that oft’ talked in politics - ‘Primus-inter-pares’ - Best amongst Equals! All they need do here if they cannot comprehend what I mean, is simply to call me to expatiate on the idea! I said already and you will bear me out here; they are using my Option A-4 - it is my ‘intellectual property’ and since then nobody/party goes to the Tribunals again after elections in Nigeria, folks!
I said it already that these groups form themselves as albatross bestriding what you’re or can do in Nigeria - think about his contributions how we have really benefited or not, from any of them yet he wants to be heard each time there is need to elect new leaders for Nigeria! You’ll see that very soon Gen. M. Buhari and IBB will join the trail unless they have now agreed to work together all because of the canny chicanery and the gerrymandering in Nigerian politics, folks! I am saying in effect to consider my ‘Zoning formula’ because it will help us better than what these individuals are doing in that country - playing on our intelligence and Constitutional Rights to elect people with capacity to serve the country and not on selfish and group aggrandisement basis, folks!
Let me say it here again; try my zoning formula for it will help us more than what OBJ and others are now planning to do - you’re using my Option A-4 after how long; when it was first handed in - 18 years my ‘intellectual property’ by International Standard; I hear Nigeria is a signatory, folks! I hear that it is being touted now for use for African nations and nothing said to the innovator of it! I am told it is part DEMOCRACY in Nigeria - you can plagiarise ideas/solutions of authors and get away with such!
Also let me remind us that the idea of ‘Head start’ should be regarded as a misplaced misnomer for Nigria. You have seen that it has not helped matters since after the civil war! Chief Awo tried it in that obnoxious policy of #20. 00 according to Odia Ofeimun - a short-term welfare policy and followed by the ‘Indigenization’ policy whilst the North chose to have grip on the political leadership all of which did not help Nigeria! In the last currency change for Nigeria under Gen. Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon the Ibos recorded the 2nd if not the greatest lodgements and today we are bedevilled with the highest unemployment for Nigeria in the North with the problem of Boko-haram in spite of all that fiendish economic and political advantages ahead of the Eastern ers since the end of the war in Nigeria, folks! Reminds us about these quotes: -
Excerpts from American history: things have changed a lot against their first thoughts, thus: -
The voice of Hamilton; he said: -
"The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written as with a Sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the Divinity itself, and can never be erased or obscured by mortal powers". And so South African Governments came to be all under Black Role in spite of the British gerrymandering and chicanery. God moves in mysterious ways His wonders can only be discerned by true believers!" Dr. Ezeife reminded us about what we have done for Nigeria at least!
Again, speaking to the Tory (presumed British) in 1774, he ruminated: -
"The fundamental source of all your errors, sophisms and false reasoning, is a total ignorance of the natural rights of mankind. Were you once to become acquainted with these - their humane nature in spite of the predicaments, which was one reason for Helper's envy for the Blacks in the U.S., you could never entertain a thought, that all men are not, by nature, entitled to equal privileges - I am thinking about Ibo Presidency here, which you’tr muddling up with obvious conspiracy! You would be convinced that natural liberty is the gift of the Beneficent Creator to the whole human race; and that civil liberty is founded on that. Reason why we must be part of that Presidency in Nigeria knowing in particular that it was Zik’s brainchild, whatever we might say about (for) the Polity today! Therefore Ibos are not to be deprived/relegated because of it
The voice of Governor McDowell in Virginia Legislation: -
"Who that looks to this unhappy bondage of an unhappy people, in the midst of our society, and thinks of its incidents or issues, but weeps over it as a curse as great upon him who inflicts as upon him who suffers it? Sir, you may place the Black (Ibos) where you please - you may dry up, to your uttermost the fountains of his feelings, the springs of his thought - you may close up on his mind every avenue of knowledge (or Constitutional Rights), and cloud it over with artificial nights - you may yoke him to your labours, as the ox, which ‘liveth’ only to work/trade and ‘worketh’ only to live - you may put him under any process which, without destroying his value as a slave (citizen of Nigeria) will debase and crush him as a rational being - you may do all this, and the idea that he was born to be free (and a Nigerian) will survive it all! It is allied to his hope of immortality - it is the ethereal part of his nature which oppression/ envy cannot rend! It is a torch lit up in his (their) souls by the hand of Deity, and never meant to be extinguished by the hand of men" Hence we were able to bounce back after the civil in spite of the #20.00 flat rate handed down to us irrespective of what we were truly entitled to under Chief Awolowo’s programme!
Then you have what we have in the Holy Bible today for all those who believe: -
"Thou art of purer eyes (education - political) than to behold evil, and cans’t not look upon iniquity wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?" Hab. 1; 13, Matt. 7; 1-2.
Any right thinking observer will regard the group (Ibos) as prime motivator or facilitators - in fact, catalysts for economic activities; a characteristic that should have been cherished and wished for but is looked at with envy and unwarranted antagonism (anathema) in Nigeria! The irony now being that what they fought for in the civil war (suggestions in the ‘Aburi’ Accord) is what is on the lips of almost every Nigerian today especially in the West and the North - break up of Nigeria! Mark you the two conducted and prosecuted the civil war yet they now want Nigeria be broken up in the rather bizarre manner - leaves the impression I expressed somewhere earlier about us not thinking properly - i. e. hard understanding people, folks! A group that you can say prompts economic activities in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, known for their hospitality even beyond the shores of Nigeria, that should be commended for the trait, is castigated and criticised as if the characteristic is a sin! Criticism about Ibos in Nigeria is factored on what can be regarded as envy and mundane!
All that I am saying folks is; Let us go about this issue in Nigeria by my ‘Zoning formula’ also my ‘long time’ proposed proportional participatory representation as we now have for Option A-4 already tried and it’s working for us, folks! So as to avoid the impending crisis - OBJ is not a politician such that can pilot/steer Nigeria to that great expectation level; 12 years altogether in office, yet the problems remain and we are still in the DOLDRUMS! Perhaps somebody can tell us what went wrong with Nigeria’s Iron and Steal Industry - a mainstay for any well -organised economy, folks! The idea in the proportional representation participation is to move (wean) Nigeria to that homogeneity position given time - my problem here includes that the NBA people (those Constitution drafters amongst them) do not quite understand my views about this unique proposal for Nigeria and Africa indeed so as to help prepare us for that futuristic United States of Africa! These people are not politicians or even trained as such! By their training hey are ‘disruptors or obstructors’ hence in France they are drafted for ‘transmutation’ and in the U. S. it takes the normal course of going (passing) through the Congress before attempting to become Presidents, in total contrast to what the experience is in Nigeria - they just opt to become Presidents by hook, line and sinker compounding the political and economic problems in Nigeria, folks! Dama na che du An’llah ki tamake mu ageli Nijeria; meaning, Hitherto I asked God please to help us in Nigeria!
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