Saraki: Identity crisis of ‘Northern Yoruba’

Date: 07-12-2010 12:05 pm (13 years ago) | Author: Aliuniyi lawal
- at 7-12-2010 12:05 PM (13 years ago)
(m)

Like a recurring decimal, the problem of Nigeria’s structural defects came to the fore in the process of choosing a ‘northern consensus aspirant’ for People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the 2011 presidential election. The attendant brouhaha and intrigues over the issue of zoning while it lasted, reminded “northern Yoruba” of what some of them already knew: no Kwaran of Yoruba ethnic or linguistic stock can ever become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

It is the stark reality of a plague we are living with like the HIV infection. There is crisis of identity for this group of people who, by the mistake of 1914 are classified as northerners when as of fact, they are historically, culturally, linguistically and politically members of Oduduwa family in the geographical South-West of Nigeria.

Political analysts were watching with keen interest when Governor Bukola Saraki, the Aremo (first male child) of the most powerful political dynasty in Nigeria, threw his hat into the ring of political contest for the position of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Paradoxically, Saraki allows history to repeat itself because he fails to learn from history by being one of the most vociferous propagandists of zoning arrangement in favour of the North in the ruling PDP. This is a case of a sympathizer crying louder than the bereaved.

Saraki or any Nigerian citizen is qualified to aspire for the office of Nigeria’s president but that is legalistic or dogo turanchi as far as the Adamu Ciromas of this world are concerned. To them, names like Sarakis, Awoniyis, Jemibewons, Adebayos, Olawoyins, or Ogunniyis from either Kwara or Kogi have no meaning in the northern political lexicon, therefore, presidential ambition nursed by these people is not only repugnant and abominable but also incompatible with the concept of northern brotherhood. To the present crop of northern political elite (with the exception of a few), it is a joke taken too far for the likes of Alh. Yekini Alabis, Abdul-Rahoof Bellos or Alh. Lai Mohammeds from Kwara or Kogi are mere slack variables (dummies) in the political calculus and conceptual analysis of northern politics as such elements are regarded as beirebe or banza-bokwai, (people from non-Hausa/Fulani states).

They are only relevant to inflate the demographic figure in order to sustain the phantom population density of the so-called 19 northern states’ whenever the North is threatened by the South over issues such as resource control, fiscal federalism or sovereign national conference come up on the national agenda.

In fairness, there was no such dichotomy in either words or actions when Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, was in the saddle in the North. These days, the middle-belters have become estranged species as they are no longer regarded as “core” northerners, judging by the wide condemnation of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo for appointing some of them into key positions in the country. On that strength, therefore, Saraki’s aspiration was/is seen as anathema, which could be likened to an atheist preaching from the pulpit of a cathedral.
It is disturbing to note that for disclaimer over presidential slot in the North are the Yoruba ethnic groups from Kwara and Kogi states even if they can speak Hausa, the northern lingua franca. A group called Arewa Integrity Forum (AIF) led by one Abdulmuminu Adamu fired the first salvo of negative sentiments to Saraki’s presidential aspiration. The forum, at a press conference in Kaduna, disowned Saraki:

“Saraki was playing a script of Yoruba agenda. The information available to us was that the Kwara governor is from Abeokuta, and was working on a plan hatched by a former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, who is also from Abeokuta. His root is from there and we as northerners, we will not bless his aspiration. As we are all aware, Bukola is a stooge and a spoiler who will use the northern platform to achieve his political interest. We would not allow Saraki to speak on behalf of the North. The reason behind the formation of the Northern Union being led by Mr. Olusola Saraki, father of the Kwara State governor, was owing to the refusal of the Arewa Consultative Forum to allow him into their midst.”

To rub salt on Saraki’s wound, the Adamu Ciroma’s committee refused to consider him as a “core” northerner because he is said to have come from a minority ethnic group in the North. Bukola’s father (Dr. Olusola Saraki, the Waziri of Ilorin) suffered the same fate in the past.

Bukola Saraki’s attempt at ruling this country suffers the same fate like that of his father because of his identity crisis but ironically, he fails to learn from history. In 1983, Olusola Saraki made a frantic effort to contest for the presidency on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) but was told that the incumbent President Shehu Shagari was to go for second term. The fallout of the power game led to a grand conspiracy and discrimination against the elder Saraki, which led him to seek a political asylum with the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). To take his pound of flesh from the NPN, he directed his supporters to vote for the UPN’s gubernatorial candidate, Senator C. O. Adebayo.

Another attempt was made by him under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) but had to chicken out for a more formidable power blocs formed by the late Chief MKO Abiola and late Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua. Again, in 1998 he attempted the APP ticket but got disappointed by the northern cabal in the party who preferred to go into alliance with the AD for the 1999 presidential elections. How else does Dr. Olusola Saraki want to be told that he has overstayed is welcome in the North? If your religion cannot change you, then change your religion

Posted: at 7-12-2010 12:05 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
- divineproject at 7-12-2010 12:33 PM (13 years ago)
(f)
Hmmmmmmmmm.............what matters is that he is a Nigerian!............

Posted: at 7-12-2010 12:33 PM (13 years ago) | Hero
Reply
- ebinyi at 7-12-2010 04:34 PM (13 years ago)
(m)
nxt tam wen he contribute 4 law making he should change it
Posted: at 7-12-2010 04:34 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
Reply

fire TRENDING GISTS fire

TODAY'S TOP
  1. Woman Shares Text Message She Received From Her Father After She Missed His Call Twice

  2. Yul Edochie Takes His Second Wife, Judy Austin To His Village In Anambra

  3. I Have No Hand in The Killing - Delta Monarch Cries Out After Being Declared Wanted by The Army

  4. Newly Wedded Wife Bathes Husband With Hot Water For Stopping Her From Making Calls

  5. "Don’t Curse Nigeria, Remove Bad Leaders In 2027" – Tinubu To Religious Leaders

  6. Renowned Nigerian Playwright, Wole Oguntokun Is Dead

  7. How Woman Suffered Organ Failure From Hair Cream Which Caused Her Kidney To Shut Down

  8. 'I Can't Drive Any Of My Kids Away If DNA Test Shows They're Not My Biological Children' - Man

  9. BREAKING! CBN Increases Capital Base For Commercial Banks

  10. AGAIN! Nigeria Thrown Into Darkness As National Grid Collapses Ahead Of Easter Holidays

  11. Chinese Boss Beaten Blue And Black Over Unpaid Salary By Zimbabwean Workers

  12. He Sees Liam As A Competitor And A Threat- Late Mohbad’s Wife, Wunmi Laments

  13. 17Yr Old Girl Raped And Strangled To Death By Her Cousin In South Africa

  14. VIDEO: Fans Treat Rema Like King After Visiting Benin For The First Time In 6 Years

  15. Court Orders Release Of 313 Suspected Terrorists In Borno

  16. If Car Owner Toast You No Go Video Am – Lady Stirs Reactions After Laughing At Keke Man Toaster

  17. Delta King Declared Wanted Over Okuama Killing, Surrenders Self

  18. Police Apprehend 22 Thuggery Suspects, Declare 30 Wanted In Kano

  19. Court Remands 42Yr Old Man For Allegedly Defiling & Impregnating 11Yr Old Girl In Lagos

  20. Falana Reveals It’s Illegal To Declare Suspects, Wanted


THIS WEEK
  1. Russia President Putin Shocks Many As He Announces That Jesus And Mary Were Black

  2. Netizens React To Influencer, Enioluwa’s Alleged Leaked S*x Tape

  3. Kim Kardashian Finally Opens Up On Why She Divorced Kanye West

  4. Selena Gomez Shares Sexy Photo As She Put On A Very BUsty Display

  5. Man Videos Himself Taking His Own Life on Facebook Because His Girlfriend Cheated on Him

  6. FAAN Shuts Down KFC Outlet At The Lagos Airport Over Discriminatory Treatment of Ex Gov's Son

  7. Photos: Customs Officers Attacked By Suspected Smugglers In Adamawa

  8. "Why I Broke Up With My Girlfriend When I Became A Star" – Singer, Asake

  9. 44Yr Old Bassirou Faye Wins Senegal's Presidential Election, Defeats 62Yr Old Ex Prime Minister

  10. Stop Harassïng Enioluwa, I'm The One in The Leaked S*x Tape - US P0rn Star, Briggs Speaks (VID)


TOP MEMBERS: