02/11/2024
I want to give a direct hit. An honest direct hit. Sometimes it is very desirable. Calling a spade by it's real name.
I am referring to the election of a British national of Nigerian parentage, Kemi, to lead the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom. By dint of hardwork, the Conservatives could win the next elections and Kemi could become the British Prime Minister. Just as the last Conservative prime minister whose parents were naturalised Indians.
While listening to this good piece of news on SkyNews, I had wondered why Kemi was not stopped on her tracks by the British nationals of the Conservative Party and that of the generality of the British citizenry?
By her name, Kemi has an easily identifiable Yoruba ancestry. Why is she being tolerated in the British politics? While ruminating over these, I could not help but shed tears.
If we can be truly honest to ourselves, the Yoruba introduced Tribalism into Nigerian politics through ,Chief Awolowo in 1954. He tagged other Nigerians from other tribes as savages, Bushmen, tree dwelling pygmies who should not share a commonwealth with the civilized Yoruba. The derogatory tags of "omo kobokobo, ajeokuta m'amu Omi, gambari" were freely used to identify other Nigerians outside the Yoruba.
Awolowo never allowed any other fellow of non-Yoruba origin to hold elective political office in Lagos and other Western areas. The "savages" and "primitive people's" should not be allowed to interact with the "civilized" Yoruba folks. His political philosophy did not advance his goals so much. Other Yoruba persons of cosmopolitan moulds rejected this plank and firmed alliances with other Nigerians. Hence the Adelabus of Ibadan, the Oshinowos, Benson's and Ogunsanyas of Ikorodu. We saw the strategic alliances of UPGA in 1965 even as Awolowo was cozying up in the Calabar prisons.
Awolowo's signature as a rabid Tribalist was further accentuated in the last years when he served as the Federal Commissioner of Works and Chief Femi Okunnu as the Federal Commissioner fir Works. The conspiracy of both effectively denied the wartorn East the crucial Reconstruction Funds already budgeted.
In 1979, I witnessed the upturn of the electoral victory of Mrs Veronica Obi, NPP as the Senator elect for Badagry zone. Awo living then at Park Lane Apapa GRA despatched ambulance-loads of thumb-printed electoral papers to Badagry to effectively nullify Mrs Obi's victory. It was the period of NECO and Awo was god even unto Gowon and his clique. Often unchallenged.
The political offsprings have matured and have established own households and spheres of influence.. They have deepened tribalism so much that it is now a capital offence to be non-Yoruba during electoral periods. Fair skin or robust appearance could make any an "Ibo" appearance to any Yoruba fellow. Lynching could be his sentence.
By 2023, we have seen a more robust and seasoned Yoruba tribalism. It had never gotten so worse. But it clearly has become a vehicle for a given clique of Yoruba irredentists to clutch on to power. The current president Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a high priest of this political aberration. With tribal preachments, his party, in the fashion of Chief Awolowo has monopolized power in the Western Yoruba states and Lagos.
In 2003, IGBO candidates who held electoral seats in the Lagos State House of Assembly were forcibly shown the door for daring to contest in "the Yoruba Lagos." The height of this impunity reverberated in 2023 when the Igbo were elaborately and physically prevented from voter registration. And further haunted on the election days. It was so repugnant, atrocious and mind-boggling. Yet the Yoruba pride themselves as the most travelled, the most educated and the most accommodating. What a ruse and self-deceit. No. Not a self-deceit. They are conscious of their ignoble actions.
Again in 2023, we saw an added dimension where a gubernatorial candidate was dubbed of having an Igbo mother, thus, "not a Yoruba man". The Yoruba can invent and justify any atrocity to satisfy their need. The nativity of one's mother has become an impediment to an electoral contest. Going by current Yoruba political thinkings.
The near genocide that Bayo Onanuga, today a presidential aide, almost unleashed on the Igbo was designed to equal the Hitlerian holocaust. By his words, the Igbo has been taught a lesson to confine themselves to politics in Igboland. Never anymore in Lagos or the South Western states. Mr Onanuga was a former magazine proprietor and editor. Tutored widely on Western civilization, politics and lifestyle. He showed himself a willing parochial Tribalist. A native of Ijebu Ode, his town bordered Ikenne, the hometown of chief Awolowo, the Tribalist chief priest.
Iam taken aback that the Yoruba ethnicists have not taken to the streets to protest Kemi's elevation to a possible future British Prime Minister. A position and seat held earlier by the iconic Margaret Thatcher or Theresa May. I am the more taken aback that the Conservative party faithfuls have not questioned Kemi's paternity, nor reminded of her parents immigrant status. And asked to ship back to her jungle countryside.
I know that Mr Onanuga and his cheering crowd that includes Tunji Bello may be clinking glasses this night to celebrate Kemi but will be quick to draw in casting aspersions, stereotyping the Igbo and processing the most disgusting gospel of Yoruba irredentism in Nigerian politics.
Sometimes when you look back at the Yoruba genre of the Nigerian politics, you begin to wonder on how Rotimi Williams, Sir Michael Otedola or Lateef Jakande emanated from here. I knew Chief Akanbi Onitiri, a gentleman politician who lived at Popo Street, Yaba. The Igbo was welcomed to his presence any time any day.
To prove their strong cleavages to Awolowo's political philosophy, these later day Yoruba Ronuists have carried Tribalism or ethnicism to abhorrent and neauseating levels. I am consoled that Bola Tinubu is a dyed in the wool Tribalist. Take a look at his catalogue of appointments so far to Federal positions. A man of the same mould as Muhamned Buhari.
Tomorrow, when another Nigerian from another ethnic group outside the Yoruba mounts the presidency, the cacophony of Federal character, ethnic spread, Fiscal Federalism, True federalism, sovereign national Conference and ethnic balancing will rent the air. These clichés are very handy if and when the Yoruba do not hold the reins of power.
I would have taken some good draughts of beer tyhus evening to celebrate Kemi, but a flash back to the style and mode of Yoruba politics in Nigeria pulverizes me to recoil in remonstrances. After all, persons of Yoruba descent occupy important electoral positions in the uK, US and Australia. None has beenheckled and humiliated to go back to his/her native land nor cordoned off from contesting for elections.
It is the national credo of the Yoruba here. Adeyinka Grandson has been proven to have links with Bourdillin street Ikoyi. The London Metropolitan Police revealed that.
I hope that my good detribalised friend, Segun Bamgboye will excuse this piece. I have been severely pi**ed off since February/March 2023.
Our people say, "at excruciation times, you should wear a basket and speak truly to the king".
