How Long Will The South East Continue To Miscalculate Politically In Nigeria
The South east miscalculation in the Nigeria political scene can now be described as ridiculously disturbing in all ramification.
The region has against all odds recovered against all odds from the devastating civil war but has really found it difficult to stamp their authority in Nigeria mainstream politics.
Putting all their eggs in one basket has always been one of the undoing of the region. Going into the 2015 general election, the region placed all their political survival on the reelection of president goodluck jonathern even when it was almost certain that mohammed buhari wll win the election. This was facilitated by the rumor going on that time that APC is an hausa fulani muslim party. In contrast, their south west counterpart was smart enough to divided their votes in preparation to have a say in the government of the eventual winner.
As an igbo son, i keep asking myself what we truly want politically in the country. Do we want biafra or do we want ONE NIGERIA?
After the election of 2015, while South South whose son lost the election moved on the south east could not. This made them to immediately embrace the ideology of the lunatic Nnamdi kanu. It will be recalled that for more that two years nnamdi kanu held the south east to ransom in the most dangerous style of looking for secession with clear support from majority of south easterners. All over south east was the call for referendum. Nnamdi kanu was almost turned into a god. All the while such madness was going on, the following was happening.
#The south east was loosing focus to plan for 2019 election,
#Nnamdi kanu style of pursuing recession was burning all the bridges the south east was able to build with other region post civil war.
It took the intervention of the presidency to end the madness of nnamdi kanu with a military exercise (operation python dance) after he had promised to go to abuja and return with the president's head and his establishing a military service in Nigeria.
Now fast forward to 2019 election, We still made similar mistake of putting our eggs in one basket when it was obvious it will backfire. We never prepared for the election either. While other regions were registering for PVC, we were listening to the same lunatic nnamdi kanu and emma powerful that declared no referendum no election in south east. Many south easterners listened to them and didn't get their PVC. those who got lost interest to go and claim their PVC. By the time the lunatic will call off the no election order in south east, most people had lost interest in the election and some who had PVC had already burnt it. This remind me of another own goal the south east scored in 2004 during the national census where many south easterners refused to participate because one uwazuirike ask the not to participate. End result being we lost out as one of the areas with massive population and ultimately lost out in allocation sharing bragging right and the voting strength.
Now power returns to south in 2023 by the sharing formula of the two major parties, while the south south and south east has since been strategizing on how to get the two parties ticket, what has been the plan of the south east? Only Orji uzor kalu, Rochas, Chris Ngige are vocal about power moving to south east even though none of the aforementioned will get my vote.
A lot needs to be done by the south east leaders. There is need to start building the region and look for ways to stop the massive migration of its people to other parts of the country. This will increase the population of the cities and gives it the bragging right when sharing allocation and also when voting.
There is need to educate the people of south east about the need to actively participate in politics. Many south easterner will rather have data on phone than have PVC. Many who have pvc will rather sit at home and watch Nkoli nwa nsuka or play football on election day than go out to vote. later they will cry that the election was rigged. In my area i lived, on election day, more than 100 igbo men gathered in front of my compound drinking and discussing on election day. Only 7 of them have PVC and only 3 have the time to vote on that day. Imagine buhari's total votes in kano is 1.4m while Atiku total votes in south east equal 1.6m vote. This echoes what Ebonyi state governor recently said that the people of south east will rather be on social media than get their PVC and participate actively in politics but will be the first to cry fowl when result is out.
There is also the need to know and decide what we want from Nigeria. Not before election, we are one Nigeria and after election, we need biafra or death.
Again importantly, our leaders need to build all the bridges that idiot nnamdi kanu and his ipob members has burnt. Nnamdi kanu was going about insulting other tribes. He insulted the yorubas, insulted the hausa and fulanis and other parts of the country. The effect is telling on the south east politically as we speak. A lot needs to be done.
Finally, congratulations to president buhari and all buharist on his victory and also Weldon to those who oppose him and who never supported him. They are also heros of our dear country cos they are effectively applying the principles of checks and balances. PLEASE DO NOT STOP OPPOSING HIM BUT BE MORE CONSTRUCTIVE.