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PeterObi'scondemnableAlabaMarketpoliticking
from Asiwaju
ByPROF YEMIOKE
Fr o m R u m o u r s t o Manifestations. It began like a rumour; unfound imaginative sentiments of his political rivals, but the manifestation proved his critics right The style of ethnocentric politicking and manner of Obi's campaign in Ibo-dominated Alaba market square during his recent Presidential campaign in Lagos has proven Peter Obi's penchant for needlessly divisive, dangerous ethnocentricpolitickingwhichisboth condemnable and undesirable at this pointofournationhood.
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Rationally, one might not be hasty to condemn or be too hard in criticising the presidential candidate of the Labour Party for his refusal to frontally and decisively condemn the activities of IPOB and other selfstyled “Biafra Warlords” wreaking havoc and manifesting most heinous criminalities on the good people of South-East and elsewhere But, it stands logic and commonsensical rationalitiesintheheadwhyPeterObi (a South-Easterner) entered Lagos, a South-West cosmopolitan and accommodatingcityofprosperityfor all-irrespective of tribal or ethnic orientations, and opted to visit only his kinsmen and women in the IbodominatedAlabamarket.
The Makeba Dance Typical of a distasteful “makeba dance in the market square”, Peter Obi uttered words that would appear insensitive andinsultingtothehostYorubarace. This is not to hype ethnicity but reality IdoubtitifaYorubaorFulani man or woman would display that level of rude effrontery in the SouthWest.
Lagosisforall.Weallknowthatsame would not apply to Fulani, Yoruba, Nupe and other ethnic traders in Onitsha, Nnewi, Aba and other marketsintheSouth-East.AsaHighChiefinYorubaland,I wish toputon recordthatwhatObididistantamount toinsensitiveactofcountingthe'ninefingers' with full consciousness of victim(Akiitiojuonikamesanka'a!). This further reinforces and underscoresthedesireofNigeriansto vote a detribalised leader in the
February 25, 2023 presidential election. Doing otherwise would be costly and risky for the continued existence and unity of the Federal RepublicofNigeria.
Peter Obi knew that an Oba exists in Lagos-ObaofLagos,yetheoptedto ignorehim.Conventionally,theusual political and electioneering itinerary isforthevisitortofirstpayacourtesy visittotherulerandancestralowners ofthelandwhichtheOba,ObiorEmir ofthetownrepresents.
Would Peter Obi have done same to thehighlyintellectualObiofOnitsha?
It is disgusting that Peter Obi preferredhisIbokinsmenandignored the Hausa community in Idi-Oro in Mushin He did not visit Yaba, Surulere, Iyana-Ipaja or elsewhere to create an impression that his aspiration for Nigeria's presidency and not tribal (Ibo) presidency He shouldhaveknownbetter
Would Tinubu, Atiku, Kwankwaso Have Done Same? Rabiu Musa KwankwasovisitedLagos,hedidnot indulge in the cossy enclaves of his 'talakawa' followers in Mushin and other “Sabo' in Lagos, Abeokuta, Ibadanorelsewhere.AtikuAbubakar visitedLagosand,inhischaracteristic manner, he visited the Oba of Lagos andotherswithoutparticularizinghis visit to the Fulani elites or HausaFulanicommunitiesinthemarketsin Mushin and other locations Atiku went to Abeokuata and called on Alake of Egbaland, our revered king who made me “Bada-Baamofin of Egabland.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who deployed policy and other positive administrative measures to make Alaba market, Aspanda market, and igbo-dominated Ladipo spare-parts market in Mushin centers of wealth would have acted differently As Governor, Tinubu could have closed down the Alaba, Aspanda or Ladipo spare-parts and other Ibo-dominated markets He did not Rather, he appointed Ibos into his cabinets and other sensitive appointments His successors, Fasola, Ambode and Sanwo-Olu have also continued the healthy and progressive dispositions to those Ibo-dominated enclaves in LagosState.
Those Ibo-markets have received Lagos State attentions in terms of development and infrastructure, and are now vital grounds for prosperity and wealth by traders from SouthEast, who largely dominate and reap fortunes and wealth. Bola Tinubu or AtikuorKwankwasowouldnothave played very cheap, debased and condemnable ethnocentric politics likePeterObi.
Asiwaju Tinubu knows there are Yorubas in Anambra, Kano, Sokoto and elsewhere He opted to demonstrate and amplify national unity and did not proceed to Yoruba neighborhoods in those locations to dance the distasteful “makeba dance in the market square” like Peter Obi didmostinsensitively
N i g e r i a n s , “ S h i n e Yo u r Eyes”Indeed,weasNigeriansmust “shineoureyes”.Itwouldbedifficult for any right-thinking, ethnic-neutral Nigerian to view Peter Obi as a detribalised Nigerian I don't, and millionsotheralsodon'teither
TheFebruary25presidentialelection willsendaverystrongsignalthatwe are Nigerians and we chose to live as Nigerians irrespective of our ethnic and religious differences. Developed countrieslikeCanada,USandtheUK take pride in their multi-culturalism and multi-ethnicity We should not allowanypoliticiantouseournatural ethnic settings to divide us Our diversityisamatterofnationalassets.
We do not trust ethnocentric presidential aspirants. Kudos to the draftersoftheportionoftheNigerian Constitution and Electoral Act that make it compulsory for candidates to score one-forth in two-thirds of the States in Nigeria including Abuja This makes it practically impossible for anyone to get electedon the basis of needlessly divisive and condemnable tribal sentiments and ethnocentricstyleofpoliticking.
Nigerians will decide, and we shall decideright.
Welovethiscountry
This GIANT called NIGERIA will rise,andnevertofallagain!
February12,2023
