Southerners are marginalised by Buhari, say Yoruba elders
Deputy Chairman, Yoruba Unity Forum, Bishop Ayo Ladogbolu (left); Chairman, Rev. Emmanuel Gbonigi; Vice Chairman, Senator Femi Okunrounmu and Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa at a press conference on the state of the nation in Ibadan, Oyo State…yesterday. PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM
• Leaders insist on review of polity, want nomadic grazing banned in S’West
Yoruba elders yesterday rose from a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital accusing President Mohammadu Buhari of favouring the northern part of the country above others.
The elders under the aegis of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) at a press conference in Ibadan addressed by Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi assessed the administration of Buhari and concluded that he has not been fair to the south.
The cleric, at the well-attended conference which had in attendance his deputy, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, his vice chairman who also doubles as the Yoruba think tank Chairman, Senator Femi Okurounmu, a former minister, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Kofoworola Bucknor Akerele , Bisi Sangodoyin, Mrs. Bolajoko Doherty and Chief Emmanuel Adelana among others accused Buhari of executing policies “clearly designed to favour a particular ethnic group which also happens to be his ethnic group.
“A glance at the table showing key appointments made so far underscores the extent of the marginalisation of the south. The summary of appointment shows that the North West which is the president’s zone has 26 positions or 44 percent of all appointments he made so far, North East has nine positions or 15 percent, North Central has six positions or 10 percent, South West has seven positions or 11. 8 percent, South South has eight positions or 13.56 percent and the South East three positions or five percent.
“This brings the total for the North to 41 positions or 69.5 percent while the South is left with 18 positions or 30.5 percent.’’
Gbonigi continued: “The last 365 days have indeed been momentous for Nigeria. While the president has made significant progress towards routing out the Boko Haram insurgents and restoring peace in the North East, centres of various other insurgencies have sprouted in other parts of the country, like the South South and the South East, not to mention the new terror posed by the rampaging Fulani herdsmen.
These sectional insurgencies are bound to continue to arise from time to time with our present over- centralised, quasi-unitary structure of governance.
“This is why well-meaning, respectable Nigerians have agitated for decades and continue to agitate for a restructuring of the country to achieve true fiscal and political federalism and to enable each section to mobilise and develop its own resources.
“The president’s recent remarks therefore that he will consign the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference to the archives, and the present posture of his party against restructuring show that they are out of step with progressive thinking in the country.”
Questioning the rationale behind the frequency of President Buhari’s foreign trips in the last 12 months to almost 30 countries, the forum asked him to stay more at home to attend to pressing domestic problems and stop making important policy pronouncements concerning the nation while engaged with foreign audiences.
On the recent increase in pump price of petrol, the group said while it recognised the need for a partial deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, “There should have been prior consultations with all stakeholders and the various palliative measures which the government intends to adopt to cushion the harsh effects of the sudden price increase should have been made known to the public.”
Gbonigi also condemned activities of armed Fulani herdsmen across the Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria which now constitute a most potent threat to national security.
He said : “These armed Fulani herdsmen abuse the hospitality of their host communities by attacking and killing innocent people, raping girls and women, burning houses, and destroying crops and farmlands.
When the president eventually thought it fit to comment, his remarks were without conviction. This silence has been interpreted to mean that these armed Fulani herdsmen may be receiving sympathy from the highest official quarters.
‘’Furthermore, we call on all governors of the South West states to send bills to their various Houses of Assembly to pass legislations banning nomadic grazing in their various states. Those engaged in cattle breeding should establish ranches.
“Another act of provocation embarked upon by the Federal Government is the proposal to establish grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen.
Nigerians are shocked that a president who prided himself as belonging to no one and belonging to everyone will conceive a policy clearly designed to favour a particular ethnic group which also happens to be his ethnic group.”
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25 Comments
The Daura herdsman has never fooled me for once. It’s easy to see through his shenanigans if you look hard enough.
This is the most sectional president ever to rule Nigeria
The argument about marginalization is to me very subjective and a misplaced priority. I would have expected our revered elders from the Southern part of the country to objectively analyse the contents of the appointees made by Buhari and tell the world whether or not they possessed the capacity to function effectively and efficiently on the roles they have been assigned. If merit was not marginalized in favour of
mediocrity, then there shouldn’t be a problem. Nigeria is in dire need of development. This cannot be achieved if we continue to promote primordial sentiments. The idea of calling for appointments to our our parts of the Country is part of the desire to sustain corruption which has hindered national development and cohesion .
On the issue of restructuring, I support those clamoring for it. The current political arrangement is long over due for review more so that it is defective and constitute a major hindrance to national development and integration. I believe that the current structure is lopsided, unfair, lacks equity and protes structural corruption. It should be restructured to free the country from the current imbalance and unlock the nation’s potentials for accelerated development .
Very well said, Adamu.
So one side of a Country is alluded with appointments . there is no how you can not get the best brains in Nigeria…. U can get more in South West and South East, because they are more educated than any tribe in Nigeria… I am from Plateau, but truth need to be told
That will be against federal character my brother. I’m also a plateau indigen
Why are stupid northerners like you, only talk of the relevance of Federal character commission when a southerner is in power? This commission was created when a northerner was the president of Nigeria because you (northerners) knew that you can never get employment, if pure merit is used.The leaders in the north today (Buhari,Atiku,Mantu etc) are all stack illiterates.Atiku and Mantu are university Diploma holders which we don’t acquire in the south.
Where under-aged and riggers voted you in you say they should represent who? They are a lopsided system that are to be changed and can not sit in their own judgement! Tomorrow when a southerner appoint same you will say that north is marginalised!
Only blind and illiterate followers of the Daura moron will fault these elders. Unfortunately, most SW Alhajis and politicians in APC are mere exploitative hangers-on looking for what will benefit them. They only blow hot when they are cut off from financial supply line.
EVERY STATE HAS A MINISTER. WHERE LIES THE MARGINALISATION?
Are ministerial appointments which is statutory for every state the index for measuring marginalization? In any case, being forced to feed everyone against your will is the most wicked form of marginalization. Feed yourself isn’t an abuse or recipe for a fight.
Osanebi, you have no point. Quit trying to find one. First, you said President Buhari is the most sectional president ever. You didn’t say how. Now someone said every state has a minister, you say it’s a statutory requirement. So what’s the point you’re making? Or you’re just peeved that Buhari is the President. If that’s your grouse, get over it.
You didn’t criticize me but only manifested ignorance on the issues I raised. Appointing minister from every state is a constitutional requirement so giving 6 to 6 states doesn’t measure lopsided appointment. In any case the SW elders have unveiled the nepotism associated with Buhari’s appointments in almost all today’s dailies. Read the prime newspaper Guardian. The more you insult me on this subject, the more you manifest either dishonesty or ignorance or possibly both
Why don’t you go back and read the article? Your answers are there.
Those who see political appointments as opportunity to enjoy see non-appointment as marginalisation. We should be more concerned about the location of strategic projects not the appointment of individuals. My Igbo brothers occupied strategic positions under Jonathan yet we have no projects to show for the 6 years of their incumbency
And nothing is coming their way
You only raise your voice when the skewed system does not favour you. You bring in the age-long marginalization of the South-South into the argument so you will all sound genuine. What have you in the South-West done to bring equity to the people of the South-South region? Have you not all been happy and sharing from the marginalization of the South-South and the confiscation of their resources?
All of you Yorubas, Hausas and Igbos have all banded together to steal and rape the people of the South-South under a dubious kind of federation. The reason I look with disgust at some of the new generation of South-South youths who think those who now preach Biafra are their kinsmen. They are not. They are only out to use the South-South people as puns now that their friends in the oppressors’ game have effectively sidelined them.
None of you are fooling me. Even those of you who bring APC and PDP politics into the mix cannot fool me either.
Keep fooling yourself with the so call SS politics of divide and rule. Where is NN? Tell me any other single tribe that is in the so called SS more than the Igbo of the “SS”? Even in you own immediate family, if you don’t stand together, the enemies will devour you.
Have you not given yourself away? Hear yourself: “Tell me any other single tribe that is in the so called SS more than the Igbo of the “SS””. Truth be told, no true South-South person will fall into that bogus Biafra trap. No true Ijaw man, for example, will willingly switch his current slavery for another one called Biafra. The only folks you here bandying such idea are those who are thinking only about their pockets and selfish interests.
You couldn’t answer my simple question rather making allegation that I gave myself way because I correctly pointed out that Igbo towns and villages abound in the so called SS. I made this statement because you implied that once you are Igbo, you are not “SS” or NN (none existent) or whatever anti geographical name. You kept writing Igbo and “SS” like the two are not synonymous. Nobody is a minority in his ancestral land and this is the main principal in new Biafraland. If you want to remain a Nigeria, that is fine but let others choose in a plebiscite. In the Igbo Lands of the so called SE/SS, there are people that are for and against Biafra so as other parts, but a struggle has never been supported 100% therefore let us have a plebiscite. You might be Edo “SS” and therefore not in the equation. Biafra is anti slavery unlike Nigeria of today with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class citizens. If Biafra comes, you can further secede if anybody enslaves you but don’t take a member of the “majority” and make them a “minority”. Of course, I hate to use the word majority and minority because you can not be a minority in your fathers land except you are in the contraption called Nigeria.
Be wise Victor. The world has gone too far from your imagination.You must recognize your neighbour or you perish. I see SS youths opening up to the Igbos as being quite ingenious.They are smarter than their old folks.
As an observer of events in Nigeria the fear of the Igbos by other ethnic groups is not justified. Do the Igbos acquire wealth by force? Find out Victor how the progressive youths in the SS are making it.
NICE ONE. Tinubu, a saint and Obasanjo, freest from corruption. Both became friends overnight. just to remove Jonathan from seat. They thought Buhari will die so Osibanjo takes over. Same Yoruba style. Betrayals of trust. Yeye dey smell
Please remove Igbo from the equation, we are having same problem with SS guys from the rest of Nigeria
What is being termed marginalisation is actually intimidation. Muhammadu Buhari, especially, has the inadequacy of lacking in capacity to function outside his primary domain, he therefore veil that incapability by surrounding himself with only known faces. It is the case with individuals who are intimidated by the presence of their own perceived people of superior intellect. I would please plead that our elders discontinue with their dignifying the imbecility of those individuals.
It is no mere coincidence that a Judge and a Senator both of northern extraction recently made very unimaginable silly suggestions that infringe on democratic principles of engaging those – one may not share their views in intellectual dialogue. You can not give what you do not have, it would not be unreasonable to describe them as people of cognitive bankruptcy. The mistake of electing an incapable individual has been collectively made, especially by the Yoruba which is quite disturbing. How could Yoruba have suddenly forgotten the unfortunate incidences of deliberate cruelty of Muhammadu Buhari directed at Yoruba leadership between January 1 1984 and August 1985. Very shocking indeed.
Please refrain from the accusation of marginalisation, it is not. It is intimidation and demonstration of refusal to be enlightened.
why are all these folks now complaining. what did you think would happen? you elected a president from the 80’s who was chased out of power because of his destruction of the country. This president has being running for president for the past 10-14 years, yet when in power, he doesn’t know who to appoint minister, he doesn’t have a solid plan for all the problem( that has being going on for over 30 years) nor does he understand the 21st century economy. why would the president implement the confab report. That report if implemented is the beginning of the end of the north.
But do not forget that he knows how to hold power by giving all the security positions to his direct brothers, and nothing else. You are the one who does not know anything.
We will review and take appropriate action.