The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential convention has come and gone, and like all other competitions, there must be a winner. In the keenly contested convention, the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar emerged as the candidate of PDP in the coming 2023 presidential election.
For the record, I do not in any way have an interest in the emergence of Atiku but in the kind of politics played by the northern politicians and what it means for the other regions to know how best to play politics. Just a few minutes before the commencement of voting on Saturday, former speaker and serving governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal stepped down for Atiku to sway the voting pattern in favor of the former Vice President to the detriment of Nyesom Wike, a leading aspirant from the south.
There is a lesson to be learned from this singular act by Tambuwal even before his stepping down, having declared for the same position at no point did we see any attacks coming from him or any other aspirants from their zone. Unlike southern politicians, the northerners will support their candidate without any grudge as they watch the silliness unfold. The north has always solidly queue behind their interests and party.
The treacherous currents of southern politics are out again as usual, especially in the southwest. The two possible presidential candidates from the Southwest have become objects of ridicule in the media by their kinsmen. The Yorubas are the ones setting the fire. Yorubas are the ones running from one media station to another cooking up propaganda. The current Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo enjoys greater affection from the Northerners compared to the Yorubas. Even as a Christian, it’s hard to hear anyone preach against him in the North. But here in the southwest, pastors rubbish him.
His biggest PR challenge has always been the southwest branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The northerners are not attacking the south, rather the people of the south are the ones attacking themselves, on what basis? Jagaban and the VP have both visited Kano, they were welcomed but here “political analysts” are wailing on the radio daily.
Why are they not wailing in the south East about Orji Kalu or Pius Anyim? They have their baggage but you can step into the ring with them if you are better. It’s a free world! The day a northerner declares to run, the region will either support or ignore.
For the Yorubas, they cannot ignore. They must attack the personality and kill the prospect. They claim to be the wisest but they are the most ignorant, the most selfish, and the most divided.
Yoruba are the most porous group out of all. Our liberalism has paved way for outside culture and political sentiments to infiltrate our space and the mind of our youths. Enemies within have poisoned our youth with fallacies all in the name of speaking the truth to power and being a ‘progressive’. The vibes I am getting on my timeline these days are nauseating, to say the least. We’re good at bringing down our ‘bests’ when in fact other tribes adulate their own who cannot even lace the shoes of ours
Envy, jealousy, and small-mindedness.
You cannot help people with personal sark heart. We do not have terrorists here but we have people with evil minds. Cool on the outside but devilish inside. There are no amount of things you say, that will make it change. It is like a pandemic in the Yoruba race. Historically we have always been like this. To add to it, growing voices are asking for the Yoruba Nation, when they eventually have it, I think from all indications they will likely want to divide into smaller tribes again. Over Sabi Dey worry us too much mbok!
Tambuwal has done what was expected of him. I hope Southerners are learning. It is this same Tambuwal that Wike “carried on his head” and gave full support during the 2018 convention in Port Harcourt. Owners of Nigeria have fired their first shot.
I hope those that are involved in this unholy battle will listen to the voice of reasoning and put their race ahead of their interests which is the reason for their fight as those principal men involved are not bothered about the issue.
