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Kanu: Tinubu’s final wreath on Buhari’s grave
President Bola Tinubu has finally paid the last respect to his latter-day friend, ally and predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari. On Thursday, November 20, he handed the late President a highly-prized gift – Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
It would have been the head of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), on a platter. But something must have restrained his hands not to go the whole hog. Otherwise, what would have saved the IPOB boss from the hangman’s noose? It must have been some unseen hands – a silent voice of reason.
Else, he would have gone the way of Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was decimated by Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s version of the notorious Idi Amin Dada of Uganda or more recently, Saddam Houssen, the Iraqi leader the US killed after making a song and dance of capturing him from a hole, following a manhunt that came at the end of the war which they prosecuted against him.
Abacha, who hinged his decision to delete Saro-Wiwa, in the infamous Ogoni Nine case, due to the role he allegedly played in the killing of four of his kinsmen, popularly known as the Ogoni Four, had remained implacable.
He had refused all the pleas from all quarters – local individuals and the international community – while America went after the slain Iraqi leader on the ground of possessing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), a charge the same American officials later declared false, decades after.
So, in a way, Kanu could be counted lucky that he would still be allowed to have his head on his neck, for whatever it is worth. Now, nobody knows how well this sits with Buhari in his grave. Would he be smiling with joy, unenthusiastic or outrightly gutted that Tinubu didn’t give him the head of his sworn enemy, as with Herod’s wife?
For all you saw in all this saga, is about Muhammadu Buhari. Make no mistake about it. Let me explain. Kanu would have fizzled out like Ralph Uwazuruike, founder of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Fredrick Faseun or Gani Adams of the O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC) fame, were he to come at a different time.
In fact, the highest he would have gotten would be billions of naira and dollars in his account and some cult following from some entrenched tribal individuals and groups, like those following Sunday Igboho today. Don’t forget he had a similar case. Who still hears of the Ibarapa strongman?
But he came at the wrong time – under Buhari – perhaps, one of the haters of Ndigbo that ever lived on the surface of the earth. What didn’t Buhari do to prove his vaulting hatred for the Igboman? Was it in his 97-5 per cent policy, which he ran throughout his miserable and disastrous eight years in office?
Was it the Operation Python Dance with which he decimated and sent countless Igbo youths to their early graves, clamping several others into detention and making the rest suffer the most horrendous torture known to man? Was it in his derisively describing the South East as “a dot in a circle?”
So, from his arrest, detention, release and eventual attack at his home in Afarukwu, Abia State, to the death of his parent – forceful capture and rendition in 2021 – long detention, terrorism charge, trial and now conviction – the hidden fingers of Buhari have been evident.
What appears quite strange and out of character is that Tinubu continued the onslaught even after his death. Indeed, there are many ways he could have extricated himself from all this. He could have adopted the political solution that many people had pled over the years. Remember that virtually every past Igbo leader had made such representations, ranging from George Obiozo and Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, former Presidents General of Ohananeze Ndigbo to Mbazuluike Amaechi and Chukwuemeka Ezeife, elder statesmen.
Ezeife, a member of the now defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), had tried to activate his connections with the group to push Tinubu, his friend and ally in the struggle to the project of freedom for Kanu, to no avail. In the case of Amaechi, he had attempted to flaunt his age as a nonagenarian, who not only saw Nigeria at its infancy, but participated as a member of the famous Zikist Movement that played a major role in bringing independence to Nigeria, for which he even went to jail. No dice!
He had gone to the Villa with a singular prayer – his last wish before joining his compatriots – Zik, Awolowo, Anthony Enahoro et al in the independence struggle – give me Nnamdi Kanu, I’ll tame him. But just like others before him, he was ignored, snubbed and allowed to return home, empty-handed.
Many had expected Tinubu to end the saga, by entering a nolle prosequi. Afterall, this was not his baby and there was no basis to inherit it.
But no! You now saw how Kanu was blamed for virtually all the killings in the South East. It was like playing the Buhari card. What I didn’t hear in all the allegations heaped on his head as Justice James Omotosho, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, read his verdict on Thursday, was that Kanu actually participated in the bombing of the Twin Towers in New York on September 11, 2003! But there he was quite close. Part of the allegations actually touched on the US and United Kingdom.
Curiously, not one single line in the judge’s long list pinned Kanu to a specific case in terms of direct participation. All the world heard was how he incited IPOB members through the Eastern Security Network (ESN) to commit the offences through his broadcasts. Interestingly, this was the only aspect that appeared credible in the entire saga and perhaps what nailed Kanu. Otherwise, nothing else pointed directly to the culpability of the IPOB leader.
In fact, not only did IPOB officially deny involvement through its official channel, they pointedly accused the Buhari government of masterminding the killings using both official state or non-state actors, who stage-managed the mayhems only to turn around to blame the organisation.
In what they painted as an obviously practical case of giving the dog a bad name in order to hang it, they said the aim was to pollute the intention of the group, skew its legitimate pursuit of Biafra, by creating doubt and causing the people to hate them.
To achieve this aim, Buhari was said to have found partnership in South East governors whom he wielded both the carrot to which they would have limitless political powers in their domains or the stick in which they would face strong oppositions or even be kicked out. Of course, the politicians chose the obvious.
To effectuate their choice, they allegedly donated their thugs who now took charge of the scenario. With adequate slush funds provided by the governors and politicians, their goons were said to have commenced their campaign by recruiting more able-bodied youths, who formed many camps in different parts of the communities the states. This was how the insecurity in the South East was activated, the counter allegation.
In fact, Kachi Ononuju, a known television face engaging mostly in security and public affairs analysis was quite direct in advancing this line, when he attributed some of the offensives including those directed at security operatives as string operations with the backing of the late President to turn Ndigbo against IPOB and its leaders.
This, they say, accounted for why the gunmen, would have ample time to operate at their chosen targets without any challenge from any of the security forces. Recall, for instance how the Owerri Prison was freely attacked for hours without anyone raising a finger. To boot – local government headquarters, police stations, offices and facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) among other federal and state institutions.
Indeed, has it occurred to Nigerians and the world watching the saga that not a single culprit has been made either to face trial or have his case concluded for offences relating to IPOB or the violence in the South East outside Kanu.
Is it not strange? Is it not even more bizarre still that nobody else was arraigned with or tried alongside the same IPOB leader? Of course, nobody needs look far for an answer, given the foregoing.
It was obvious that Buhari might have outsmarted Kanu. The IPOB leader, it appeared simply handed him the weapon he needed – the loudmouthed declarations through his radio broadcasts. With that the late President, simply plotted his strategy apparently extracted from the President’s experience as a top military officer to go into a counter offensive.
This, seemed to have worked to a large extent, especially amongst many in the communities who bore the brunt of the several onslaughts. Many of them have taken their anger against the group. In fact, if anyone is rejoicing today over Omotosho’s verdict, they are to be found among many of these affected communities.
Stories actually had it that even out of office, one of the briefings taken daily to Daura or Kaduna by the men he left behind, was the whereabouts of the IPOB leader. It was said that nothing made him happier than being told that he was still firmly behind bars and nothing could have distressed him to hear that he was a free man under and circumstances.
Tinubu, the smart man he is must have known this. Even if he was not briefed and it didn’t form part of Buhari’s handover notes, could have realised from his body language that the release of Kanu was a no-go area. What else but rabid passion would have made Buhari to put all resources available to him at play including handing a blank cheque from the national till to achieve the singular feat of bringing him back?
Don’t be surprised that part of the debt Nigeria is paying today came from the supposed multi-million-dollar operation that could have created a large hole in the nation’s till. Knowing the former President and his undying anger against Ndigbo, nothing could be put beyond him in this regard.
So, the greatest hara-kiri the President could have commited against his late ally is to allow Kanu be a free man. For one who left no one in doubt through his vow to continue where his predecessor stopped – for one who has upped the ante in terms of marginalising Ndigbo, the way he has done – what other way could he have retained a shared memory?
Indeed, what has he to lose by keeping Kanu in confinement, when the entire South East political structure is already firmly in his pocket and many more struggling to empty into his camp? On the other hand, what would he gain by offending the spirit of a man in lieu of a people without political value?
Yes! Buhari may have taken his exit, but his spirit still hovers around., if not him directly, foot-soldiers to whom he handed the baton of Igbo hatred. Wouldn’t they be watching and reminding the President about his vow – to continue where their boss stopped – part of which is to ensure Kanu never enjoys his freedom?
In the words of Omotosho – Kanu must not only be kept away from humanity, every connecting instrument must be severed. Yes! Tinubu had a chance to save Kanu. But, how else could Buhari’s memory be preserved? How else to please a spirit? Afterall, agreement is agreement! _ The Tiny Voice!
Justice Centus Nweze was one of the seven S’Court justices that gave the judgement sacking Emeka Ihedioha and pronouncing Hope Uzodinma Governor of Imo State on January 14, 2020.
He later recanted when Ihedioha returned to the same court and declared that Uzodinma was no longer fit and proper to be governor – the only one out of the seven to hold a different view out of the seven-man panel in a dissenting judgement.
These were his exact words on March 3, 2020, with which he emphasised his position after disavowing his earlier position, to capture the impact and import of that event: “The decision of Nigeria’s Supreme Court on the Imo governorship election is wrong and will continue to haunt our (Nigeria’s) electoral jurisprudence for a long time to come.”
But, on Monday, February 6, 2023, Nweze himself, was to lead the same Supreme Court to give another highly controversial judgement – one – legal purists considered no less impactful and damaging to Nigeria’s legal jurisprudence.
It was the 3-2 Supreme Court decision that paved the way for Ahmad Lawan, former Senate President, to return to the Senate, despite being supposedly barred by an existing law forbidding politicians to contest for two different positions in an election circle.
Recall that Lawan, was one of the candidates that contested for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a few months earlier, which was eventually won by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now President of Nigeria.
Many had practically laughed it off, dismissing him as a jester, when he returned with a fresh struggle for the Yobe North ticket for the Senate under the same APC.
But it turned out that the real joke was on these naysayer, who taunted, mocked and even pilloried the former Nigeria’s number three citizen, because in the end, he came out thumbing his chest and shinning his teeth in triumph.
Reason! On Monday, February 6, 2023, the Supreme Court practically wrenched the APC ticket from Bashir Machina, who had earlier picked it at the APC primaries months earlier and handed same over to Lawan.
Guess whom the mantle fell on to read the lead-judgement? The selfsame Nweze, who made the statement above. With two others in support, he went ahead to decapitate the decision of the Court of Appeal, which had earlier thrown into the thrash-can Lawan’s appeal to a Federal High Court decision slamming his claim to the ticket.
Interestingly, Lawan, seemed too ashamed to continue with the matter after the attempt at the appellate court collapsed. He had to hide under the umbrella of the APC, who appealed on his behalf to get the judgement at the apex court.
But you know what? On July 30, 2023, Centus Nweze, died! Just barely six months after the outing. He was just 64 – six years shy of age of retirement for Nigerian judges.
Now, the story. A little message-bearing-bird, squealed that the late eminent jurist didn’t die a happy man.
The establishment was said to have moved in to make him eat his words for stepping out of line in the Uzodinma case. The decision was supposed to be unanimous and giving a dissenting judgement was an affront – more like challenging the gods!
The Lawan outing was the height of teaching him a lesson on how to play ball next time. And play ball he did!
He was procured to read the lead judgement as a way to punish his impudence, underscore his vulnerability and prove where the real power laid.
An erudite scholar, judicial perfectionist and purist of the highest order, whose track record was known beyond the judicial circle, he not only became a wreck thereafter, and unable to live with his conscience, he apparently died a broken man.
Now, it is hard to authenticate this. Nweze is no longer alive to tell his story. But it all the same points as an indicator to the fact that a lot of water passes under the bridge in the nation’s high places, including the judiciary.
Were Nweze alive today, may be one day, in his memoir or other places, Nigeria could read the true story of what actually happened with Lawan, with powerful forces and with intimidation. But do we even need to go that far?
In which other country of the world has the homes of judges been burst open in the middle of the night – many still in their underpants or completely in their birthday suits?
In which other country, has the Chief Judge of the country suffered the fate meted out to Walter Onnoghen by the executive branch of government? Did we not see these with our own eyes?
Has Nigeria been the same ever since? So, if you looked around today and you didn’t find the Kayode Esos, Chukwudifu Oputas, Niki Tobis et al, who looked the military in the face and dispensed justice according to law, who do you blame?
Who is the culprit if the only people who you see are those who receive keys to mansions and sing lustfully – On Your Mandate We Shall Stand? Through where did water enter the coconut?
My name is Sunny Igboanugo, I’m The Tiny Voice!
What was the offence that swept Adrew Cuomo out of office as former governor of New York? You don’t know? Okay, I’ll tell you. He was accused of touching women, including hugging them without their permission. That was considered inappropriate. Fiam! Out he went! That was the end of it.
But you know what? It is the culture of Italians, where Cuomo hails to grab people, embrace them and even kiss them as an expression of warmth and friendship – no string attached. But did that help his case? No! He was a politician, occupying a high position. And cuddling people – women or no – was inappropriate for such a position. And Cuomo doing so, it was not only fatal, it was final!
Now, there is a bigger example. What chased Boris Johnson out of office as Prime Minister of UK? You still don’t know? Again, here is the answer. First, he drank tea and shared a couple of drinks with his colleagues in government during COVID-19. Then the fatal blow – he appointed a cabinet Minister who had a case of abusing a woman.
O tan! Magana yakari! Okwu agwu! In both cases, the two apologised. But their apologies were not directed at retaining their offices. They were for their inappropriate behaviours. The apologies neither vitiated, mitigated, nor cured the consequences, prominent of which was loss of their individual jobs.
Now, imagine the selfsame Boris Johnson announcing the appointment of a dead man into his cabinet. What do you think would happen to him? But how many times has President Bola Tinubu announced the appointment of dead people for public institutions? How many times has he included the names of dead people for national awards as if they were living?
Again, imagine the fate of Cuomo, if he were the one who was caught in a private jet massaging the feet of a woman in such a cozy and lascivious manner as the one seen in a recent viral video? What do you think the American society would have done to him?
So, you hear Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, declaring on national television – with a chunk of global viewership that what stopped him from shooting and kpaying Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television is the barrier of the TV screen.
Outside that, if he had the way of breaking the screen, our dear Seun would have been resting somewhere in the morgue in Abuja or joining his ancestors in his home of Kwara State.
As you read this, some 72 hours after, he is still in office signing papers for land allocations and supervising the carving out of plots for new estates to emerge out of Jabi Lake precincts – an enclave sustained and maintained by successive governments as probably the only remaining arena for public recreation – in an entire nation’s capital city – to boot!
Surely, you’re hearing the ballyhoo, abi? Some people are even calling for his head! What a laugh! Calling for Wike’s head! In this Nigeria? People joke too much. If Wike is no longer the Wike we know – if he is stripped of his Odogwu power – who would take over and do what he does? Remember if it is not Panadol, it cannot be the same as Panadol.
Who would hold PDP down to ensure that Tinubu has no opposition in 2027? Who has the blank mind to sequester Rivers State the way he is doing such that Sim Fubara, Governor of Rivers state is not only a shadow of himself but a shadow of what his office should be? You people should think! Don’t just talk. What you’re demanding is impossible.
Now, don’t even imagine that it were the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the UK that said that he would shoot Piers Morgan of US Secretary of State that said he was so angry over a comment made by Andy Cooper that he would have shot him! Don’t even go there. The heavens would fall! On their head! Practically!
But surely, you must have read Wike’s response. If you didn’t, know it that he is blaming Nigerians as usual. He says the outrage by citizens is engineered by those doing a hatchet job, “as instrument of blackmail and propaganda by those whose intent is to misrepresent facts for political gains!”
Now, you could be sure that’s the end of the matter. Go wager on it anywhere. Nothing would come out of it. You would probably be hearing about it for the last time within some more few hours from now. Soon, another drama will overshadow it from the theatre house that has become Tinubu’s Nigeria. Just watch.
Come to think of it, who would speak or act in such a manner to check Wike or make him circumspect, wiser or more prudent with his utterances? Who is Wike afraid of? Who would he fear? Is it Tinubu, who himself is full of drama? Didn’t you see the sordid show he put up in Jos, Plateau, hours before Wike’s outing? What is the worth of Nigerians that would make Tinubu sacrifice Wike? That’s a joke!
Which other President across the sane world would instead of visiting the locus in quo – the scene of kpaying of 30 persons in his country – stop at an airport and ask for the victims to be brought to him? And if you took in his puerile explanation that he was pressed for time, ask him if Jos was an isolated case.
Was it not an encore of Benue, when he visited the state over the slaughtering of more than 200 people in Yelwata. Did he visit Yelwata? Did he not stop in Makurdi where he left the grieving people with some phantom and banal words, just like he did in Jos last week.
The only element that politicians are afraid of is election. That is why Cuomo suffered his fate in the US. The snake that bit Cuomo in the US was the same that whipped Cameron with its tail. The reason even Donald Trump is thrashing around frantically today is because the mid-term elections are around the corner and he knows the consequences of losing out.
But here, it is a different kettle of fish. It is either a Yakubu Mahmoud is there in INEC to create “technical glitches” to ingratiate and enable the patrons of grab, snatch and run-away brand or a Joash Amupitan is ensuring that his own INEC will make sure that the patron becomes a sole candidate in his own show.
In other climes, citizens wait to use the power of their thumbs to create the change they need, but here, that door is completely shut in their face. INEC and the judiciary will make sure of that. And might you think of a different approach – I’m sure you saw the bigger show at INEC headquarters last week. Those mint military machines you saw on display were not for fancy.
It is no longer guesswork that the Nigerian military has the best equipment around in this part of the world, the ability to use them more on the citizens than the terrorists for whom they were acquired have also been clearly proven on many occasions. You don’t need to go far to see the left overs. The evidence is there at Lekki Tollgate and other parts of the country.
So, head or tail, Wike stays. Of course, if you do anyhow, you see anyhow! Naturally, there is always a consolation. In the instant case, Lere Olayinka, Wike’s spokesman, told the world that Brother Seun and Wike have spoken on phone about the incident. If you fail to understand that aspect of the conversation a la Nigeria – na you sabi! The joke is on you!
My name is Sunny Igboanugo, I’m The Tiny Voice!
By Sunny Igboango
Very Dark Man, you’re right to take umbrage against Obi Cubana for being coopted into the Tinubu campaigns. You’re right to have felt the way you did that a whole Obinna Iyiegbu would be reduced to singing that On Your Mandate we shall stand mantra.
Like you, many Nigerians are utterly disappointed! Now, who wouldn’t be? Obi Cubana has not only come to represent the grass to grace narrative every youth in Nigeria should emulate, but a special and specific brand, and like the golden serpent, ought to be mounted on a standard where each youth suffering from the snake bites the scotch-earth policies of the APC government has spread on the Nigerian landscape, should look up to for healing.
So, to see him descend from that Olympian height to kowtow to the level of renditioning that awful song, must be as disgusting as it is gutting. I’m equally gutted as I’m sure most Nigerians are.
But then here is where you’re wrong. You’re wrong when use that singular act to define the Igbo people. You gave the impression that Obi Cubana, by signing into that notorious project, represents Ndigbo and that, that gamble will make an impact in deciding where the pendulum of Ndigbo will swing in the 2027 presidential election. Nada! Negative. Not at all!
Now, let me tell you from the outset that it is a wasted effort – I mean that gambit. As far as what the political decision of the South East will be in that election – it is completely wasted without mincing word.
Speaking the way you did confirms that you VDM know very little about Ndigbo. But what you don’t know you’ll learn and some of us are here to teach you.
Now, let us take just a little peek into history to help you understand a small bit about the Igbo persona – I mean the character of Ndigbo either individually and collectively.
VDM! I don’t know how much you know about The Igbo Landing. Have you heard about it? Let me give you a snippet – not the whole story – just a scratch of it. It was about a group of Igbo men captured from their land and transported by ship into slavery in America.
But right there in the ship, they had discussed among themselves that instead of becoming slaves in a foreign land death was the better option. They plotted their operation in whispers as they lay like sardines inside the ship.
You know what they did? Immediately they emerged, even still bounded in chains, they lounged on their captors, not only fought and defeated them, but knowing that there was no escape despite their temporally victory, they collectively plunged themselves into the sea and sunk deep down.
In case you believe I just told you a fairy tale, go and read up the details. Most of the story was written by the white man. It is there available.
The Igbo tribe is the only people in human history known to have carried out such an escapade. VDM! Did you know why Igbo slaves were the cheapest at that time? Simple! They were the ones that questioned the orders of their masters and in many cases, refused to carry them out, choosing punishment or even death as a result.
So, for the slave merchants, whenever the products on sale were Igbo, they were sold last as cheap commodities, some as giveaways. Yes! As gbanjo! Why? Oyibo wanted those who could work without question with minimal resistance and Igbo slaves were not with those qualities. To them, resistance was bad for business and the Igbo spelled resistance and therefore, bad business.
What are we even talking about? Certainly, you’re not born during the war. But you could ask your parents to tell you. Look at that war? Is it not enough example to indicate who Ndigbo really are? This was a dot in the circle, as Buhari once described them – a group of people on a tiny space in Nigeria. But look at how they were able to hold on.
Within that tiny enclave came enough resistance, enough resilience and enough power that contained the combined fire power from entire Nigeria with Egypt, UK, US and Russia providing all the supports they could muster. Who else is capable of doing so?
Som, you talk about Obi Cubana when there is no stake that requires the collective Igbo spirit. That is when such characters matter in the scheme of things.
In the instant case Ndigbo have identified Peter Obi as the go-man and there is no going back. What will surprise you is that the choice of Obi, has very little to do with tribal thinking. It has more to do with the larger picture before them. In that picture, Tinubu doesn’t count.
The way things stand today, go and get 10 more Obi Cubanas, add 20 Charles Chukwuma Soludos and 50 more South East governors and combine them, Tinubu will not get 10,000 votes in the entire South East in 2027. I’m not exaggerating! From where will he get it? Who would do the voting and what would be the person’s convictions?
Yes! If you want to the Tinubu capable of competing with Obi in Igboland, then go and get the Tinubu of 2003-2007 or even Tinubu of 2014. That’s the Tinubu they will identify with and not the Tinubu that has been tainted and inherited the Buhari spirit. As I said, it has very little to do with tribe. Tribal politics means very little to the Igbo man.
In fact, to prove this, put a Yemi Osinbajo on the ballot today and see how the Igbo will react to him. He’s a Yoruba man. He has even worked with Buhari. But put him on the ballot and see Obi struggling to beat him in the South east.
So, don’t worry yourself VDM. You saw what happened to Soludo during the inauguration of the Nnewi Catholic Church Cathedral when Obi’s name was mentioned. Is it such people that you’re going to tell to vote for Tinubu. Soludo cannot even convince his own siblings or his household to join him in that odious project, no matter what he uses.
In fact, the mistake the APC and those engaging in this lost project are making today is the same NPN made ahead of the 1983 election when they believed that bringing back the late Ikemba Nnewi Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu would swing the Igbo votes for them. They wanted to ride on the wings of Ojukwu’s war record. But it was a futile attempt.
In the same vein, relying on that playbook in 2027 will backfire. In fact, go and bring out Nnamdi Kanu today – he is about one of the most popular Igbo currently – stand him on a podium and let him make a positive comment on Tinubu, let alone a suggestion that Ndigbo should vote for him and witness how everything about him crumbles.
I repeat, if Tinubu is able to garner up 10,000 votes in Igbo land, it will be a miracle! So, the only option available is toeing the rigging templates that NPN resorted to, which gave them the infamous landslide victories of 1983 and we all saw how that ended. As for organic votes of Ndigbo, that one is a no-go area.
Even Obi Cubana knows that much. He’s aware that even that young boy he started business for or the young girl he saw through school would disappoint him on election day if it comes to a choice between Obi and Tinubu.
Ndigbo have rejected the Jagaban the same way they rejected Buhari. So, the acquiescence of Obi Cubana in that wacky project, is purely a business decision. Of what use would it be to waste his resources or jeopardise his business for something he knows won’t bear any fruit?
It is not that he is dealing with an Obafemi Awolowo or Lateef Jakande government that favour physical development and economic enhancement over politics. Those in charge today, will think nothing of it to send bulldozers to level down the Cubana Nightclub at GRA Ikeja overnight if it comes to that. They’re that vicious. They’ve done worse than that already.
All it will take is to remind him that he is Igbo and accuse him of trying to take over Lagos or find any other flimsy or convenient excuse to latch on. Whether it makes any sense or not is another kettle of fish altogether. A mindset that decided to change all streets bearing Igbo names overnight, regardless of the history behind them, what will it take them to destroy that imposing structure and forget the revenue and other important purposes it serves.
They’re that desperate. Afterall, haven’t they started with the same Cubana in Abuja? That was a test-run to show him that they mean business.
So, VDM, instead of disappointment or disgust, let us show pity to our brother, Obi Cubana! What is greater than the cricket has visited it in its hole. Even Peter Obi will not encourage him to be too reckless with his choices knowing the consequences.
If it is about Igbo votes, forget about that one.
Obi Cubana’s attempt will be as effective as the fingernails of the lizard on the trunk of an iroko tree. Recall that Ojukwu contested presidency twice, without making any impact. That the late Ikemba could be given such a cold shoulder despite his gripping influence on Ndigbo, is an indication of how the Igbo man thinks.
As for an Igboman becoming President. The possibility has already been proven. Obi won the 2023 election with wide margin across the country. But for the machinations of Yakubu Mahmoud’s INEC with their technical glitches, he would be President today.
He will win again, ceteris paribus. In fact, if he secured 90 per cent in South East in 2023, expect him to up the stakes to 99 per cent in 2027. Not with the disaster Tinubu and his government have become.The only option the APC will have even with 10 Obi Cubanas and 50 Soludos is to rig the election like the NPN did. And that will be a national problem.
So, VDM, where your job is cut out for you. That job is not the South East. That one is sealed. You should be talking about the entire country. Mobilise 50 million Nigerians to storm the National Assembly next week. Get them to make it mandatory for the INEC to transmit election results into the IReV as part of the new electoral law for 2027.
After that, go and take a good rest. Even go on holidays with that your babe – satisfied that you’ve delivered – you’ve given Nigeria a secure process for free and fair election. That way, before the noon on election day, Peter Obi, an Igbo man will be declared the President-elect and on April 29, 2027 Tinubu’s disastrous government will come to an end.
Of course, that feat will not be achieved by the thumbprints of Ndigbo alone! Hausa, Yoruba, Efik, Edo, Nupe, Gbagi, Kanuri, Igbira, Tiv, Ijaw, Ogoni – Nigeria will have theirs in it. That way, Nigeria is set for the future and your decade-long advocacy for the good of Nigerians will have meaning.
My name is Sunny Igboanugo, I’m The Tiny Voice!
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Columns1 week agoSeun Okinbaloye saga: How does Tinubu survive if Wike resigns?
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News3 weeks agoBREAKING: Bloody day in Ibadan! *Trailer loses control, crushes residents!
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News1 week agoBREAKING: INEC can’t stop us – ADC *Vows to go ahead with congresses
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