- By Bernard Ogbe
If freedom of speech were to be liberal during the military regime, after the civil war, the creation of states would had been a course to ponder on in disagreement to how and motives behind the creation of new states.
The South East, formerly known as the Eastern region came to the fore in the division of the country in 1950s as recommended by Alex Ekwueme. Having Enugu as the capital and was further divided into three in 1967 after the civil war under the Gowon administration (1967-1975).
Am on a response to a Nigerian, Mr Abubakar Mohammed Aliyu (a graduate of plateau state polytechnic Jos). Worried on the number of the southeast states as a parameter judgement on the possibility of electing a Nigeria president from the southeast to mount that number one seat of the Nigerian nation.
Understanding the fears he may be having, to place right a justified candidate for the coming 2023 general elections, his acceptance to the truth, in his comments, on a publication; The justifiable fact of Igbo presidency… On how the political invents of our great nation Nigeria had portrayed, the limitations of his thoughts is to many, a way beyond his stated fears….
Permit me to, in responding to his fears, with my assumption to have many other Nigerians out there in same thoughts, clearing the air to a terrible stand still is a way forward to this very necessity, Nigeria requires of her citizenry.
The recognition of the southeast in the Nigeria history of politics had never been questionable until the happenings that led to the stage of power to secede by the Igbo race, executed by the then Gen. Odimegwu Ojukwu.
At the surrender, to the Nigerian Army by the Biafra secessionists, after three years of total collapse and death of citizens, there’s no doubt, the creation of states and regions was purposeful to an undefined ends.
There’s no error to say, five (5) states are counted for the southeastern states, six (6) states from the south south, six(6) states from the west and nineteen (19) states from the northern Nigeria which is subdivided into North west and the North East states and North central.
However, Aba alone is equal to states in the country, if creation of states is to the ease of the Federation and many more. In most of the South South regions, we can’t close our eyes to the fact of having the Igbo ethnicity joined to them in the creation of states. In Delta State, Ogwachukwu, Obiaroko, Umunede, Isielukwu, Obulukwu as the names sounds with meaning and origins from the Igbo speaking tongues…
I have people , having their origin from Rivers state. Chinedum, ., Nwankwu and lots than mentioned. These are Igbo names in Origin. Going by the observation in these examples cited among many more, there seem to be a shrink, in the creation of states to reduce the strength unknown.
The Igbo tribes are seen in all states of the federation in good populations. The population of the Ibo race in Lagos, west of the nation is intimidating. That in Kanu, Kaduna and Jos to the north are dense. If you wake up in the morning, wherever in the nation without a sight of the Igbo tribes in your region, questions must be asked.
The creation of these states was in existence before the election that gave room to the West to pilot the affairs of the nation in 1999 with the west having six (6) states to themselves. This same states existed to see the South south make their own contributions to the nation. We see no reasons to entertain fears to whether the Southeast would be denied the opportunity to serve in our united Nigeria, based on their numbers of states.
Haven established the implications in the creation of states and that predominant factors and hold on elective office at the center, in the avoidance, not to misinterpret the creation of the Nigeria states, the Northern parts of the nation must play that big brother role they’ve sequentially played to shoulder the unity of the nation Nigeria.
An Igbo business man would love and enjoy doing business with the Hausa man because of trust. Let that same trust be replicated in our search for a perfect unity to energies and drive our nation in the political and democratic dispensation.
Any Northern aspiration in the 2023 presidential elections is not in good fate and is tantamount to betrayal, the Northerners are not known to be, for they’re even most trusted to uphold the truth in the circular society.
Nigerians believe to still have trusted decent of the Northern nation to remain adamant to the support of a Northern president in 2023 and that is where you, Mr Abubakar Mohammed aliyu and the likes of him, of our generation are needed.
There’s a greater need to call on people like Abubakar Mohammed aliyu, from the Northern Nigeria on the need to sensitize their immediate environment and Nigerians in general on the need to shoulder the way forward for the nation than put on our head the rigidity of the claims to disqualify southeast for the rescue needed in our economic and infrastructural revival, to compliment the foundation of this president Muhammadu Buharis government.
We need people like you, to say no to aged president of 70 years for our nation Nigeria. We need you to, at this time, reject any peanuts and attempt to bondage and mortgage our nation to the retardation of the abandonment of national projects. Your efforts to jettison the deceits of our old compatriots and join in the search for better leaders that matches the tone of our present generation and dispensation.
I have already, my rally point as I look at the directions of the Southeast for total overhaul of our economic and infrastructural resuscitation from where this present government stops. The patient given by nature to have exhausted the abilities of the West, North, South South and back to the North as history unfolded since the intake of our democracy 1999 is enough to look at the Southeast in their economic abilities that had kept their race at a balance, undermining their economic reduction after the civil war.
There’s no pretense in having a choice, I have the Chief Whip Of the 9th Assembly as my rally point for the 2023 presidential race. Though not certain to run in this race, our persistent on him, knowing his worth in the symbolic unity of our nation Nigeria, with his recognition by the world as a genuine business man as certified by the United States, his commitments and pedigree in his dogged efforts to keep the flag of the ruling APC flying in the southeast, in the prime of time, he’s much encouraged to step out in all boldness for the presidential elections come 2023…
I, Bernard Ogbe is a product of the generation he showed love and concern. Am proud to say, I partook from the free education scheme of his administration as the governor of Abia State (1999-2007). Though in a brief.
The 2023 general elections, if our rally point, the chief whip of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of the 9th assembly, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, should in anyway concede to the calls on him to step out for the race, his assurance to have the youths steadfastly with him is never in any way, doubtful.
The youths from the North are in great alignment, waiting for his consent as those from the South- South are ever ready. The youths from the west are warming up for a show of surprises against the wishes of individuals over the unity of Nigeria. The youths from the Southeast are drumming momentum in allegiance with other youths of the nation, in obedience to one united Nigeria.
Politics is even becoming interesting and objective as new generation emerge to retire those long dated recycling around the seat of power.
President Muhammadu Buhari had paid the price. He has set up the foundation. He got Nigerians talking, yet, remained stable and we pray to have a good successor to coast the nation on, come 2023, which is expected to be historic, in the history of the Nigerian politics. May God give us life and grace to do the needful…
Bernard Ogbe
Responding From The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
