Nigeria is neo-colonizing Black Africa!

Added by Sarah on December 18, 2013.

By Dibie Kingsley Chukwuma

As I already expect, after reading the headline and without the intricate understanding of the thoughts behind it, some Africans might in the spirit of patriotism scream in anger “Never, Nigeria can never colonize us! At face value, others might go beyond anger to hatred and disdain from just the article to the writer. On the other hand, there might also be Nigerians screaming, “Yes, very true, you have said it the way it is, we are colonizing them!”

But whatever, the position or mood, I honestly would be quick to say that those who would support or oppose me or the article by just reading the headline will both be wrong in their judgment without reading the whole article to understand the reasons behind my assertions. At this juncture, it would be most appropriate for me to begin to put the issues in proper perspective and provide necessary explanations for what I have said.

Historically, the 1500s to the mid-1900s saw several European powers particularly, but not exclusive to Portugal, Spain, Britain, the Netherlands, Italy and France established colonies in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. From their activities, the term colonialism became referred to as the establishment, exploitation, maintenance, acquisition, and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. One basic practice evident among these colonial powers during this period was their quest to physically occupy their colonies.

For the people of black Africa, the activities of Nationalist like Edward Wilmot Blyden, Herbert Macaulay, Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe , Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Nelson Mandela, Chief Obafemi Awolowo among others who spoke and fought against colonialism, led to the independence of the first set of countries like Ghana in 1957 and Nigeria in 1960, as well as end of the apartheid regime in south Africa in 1994. Today, virtually all the countries in the African continent are free from European occupation and dominance, but are they all free from colonialism? There are those who still argue that former European powers as well as the united state exercise some form of control under a new term known as “neo-colonialism” which is likened to be a form of colonalisation without direct physical occupation of the colony but based mainly economic and cultural influences. it is on this new understanding that my argument is based.
Africa today is divided majorly among French and English speaking countries alongside the Arab countries up North. In West Africa for instance which comprises of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo, there is a vast sense of western culture which over the years have been part of the life of the people of this region.

But in recent years, one cannot ignore certain visible changes necessitated particularly in the business and entertainment industries. Unlike the colonization era where Africa depended on the west and its media for entertainment, food, shelter and modernization, things are fast changing as the people are beginning to look inward, and somehow their needs are being satisfied by countries like Nigeria and its people.
Growing up in Nigeria as a young boy, the craze for American culture, slangs, music, movies and lifestyle was everywhere. As children, we would sing along to American songs from the likes of 2 Pac, Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre and other popular American acts even though we could not understand properly the meaning of what they said. To be able to sing American songs made you the guy everybody wanted to hang out with. To dress the American way made sure you weren’t ignored at any party. To speak with an American accent brought you closer to the girls, and to look like an American “Oyibo” gave you almost everything even without asking.

Till today, many Nigerians will attest to Hollywood’s influence in the Nigerian society. A journalist friend once said to me, “Nigerian music industry gained Independence from America in 2004 as a result of the scuffle between Idris Abdulkareem and American rapper 50 Cent on board an airplane at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos when he protested the second class treatment given to Nigerian musician by cooperate outfits.” By media accounts, Abdulkareem had tried to occupy 50 Cent’s seat, resulting in a fight between Abdulkareem, his friends, and 50 Cent’s bodyguards. Whether his statement is valid or not, one thing is certain, between 2004 to today, so much have changed in the Nigerian entertainment industry both locally and internationally.
Between July to September 2013, I was opportunied to visit Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana. I am still amazed by what I encountered during my stay in these African countries. Beyond the beautiful beaches, affordable food, clothes and accommodation, one particular experience that struck me was the preferences given to Nigerian culture, music, movies, lifestyle and its people. There I was, in Benin Republic – a French speaking neighbor of Nigeria, just about an hour from Lagos; the commercial capital of the country, Nigerian culture, her movies and music were the rave of the moment.

During, my journey from Seme – a town in Benin Republic to Lome – the capital of Togo, the Driver of the taxi repeatedly played Nigerian music from artists like P-square to Tu- Face, to D-banj, Wizkid, Iyanya, and Flavor down to Nigerian songs I personally didn’t even know or could recognize the artists behind them. Ironically, neither the driver nor other co-travelers could understand English or (Pidgin English), as they earlier had to seek for translator at the Car park to tell me I was going to get my “change” when we got to our destination. But as the music played, some people in the car nodded in affirmation while others graciously sang along.

At Ghana, another English speaking country which has over the years struggled to rival Nigeria in football and other international events, the atmosphere and appreciation for Nigeria was not much different from Togo and Benin. One might assume that I might be biased while taking into account my excellent English proficiency as against other languages, but I still would argue that it is not far from the truth to say that the appreciation of Nigeria in Ghana cannot be rivaled by any other country in Black Africa. One reason for this argument is the place of Ghanaian culture and pride in the social life of the people. Ghanians are proud of their culture, music, heritage and their “Flag”. But regardless, they are in the same vain passionate about Nigerian music, movies, culture and its people.

Apart from the music and movies, another interesting aspect I enjoyed was going shopping at the markets in Togo and Benin Republic. I virtually went there every day and every time possible to get something new because the prices were incredibly affordable compared to what was obtainable in Nigeria. The markets in these countries had many similarities like the ones in Nigeria – very noisy, filled with so many people and a dirty environment. But most interestingly, one striking similarity that encouraged me to come every other day was that majority of the traders I encountered there were Nigerians.
It was shocking for me at first to notice that many of the big shops in the markets I randomly visited in French speaking countries like Togo and Benin Republic could be owned by Nigerians. I just couldn’t understand it. But regardless of what or how I felt, it was the reality. In front of many shops were huge speakers playing Nigerian music as people went about their daily business of buying and selling. I had been briefed by a friend before my visit that I must talk, act and behave like I was a local; else once they knew I was a Foreigner, they will charge me higher prices than normal. Having been told, I had made up my mind to think, act, and talk like the local people.

But unfortunately, the moment I opened my mouth to ask for an item, the shop owner replied me in English, and went further to ask me “How far my brother, how you dey?”. At that point, I could no longer keep up with my “acting local”, because he obviously knew I was Nigerian and had spoken to me in “Pidgin English”.
Similar experiences played out in Madina Market, Accra, as well as other exotic places I had visited during my stay there. There were so many Nigerians and they could sense I was Nigerian even before I opened my mouth. Those who were not Nigerians wanted to associate with me than just business or act friendlier on account that I was a Nigerian.

When Nigerian musical artist visit many of these African countries, the love they get is never commensurate to what or how they are treated in Nigeria. Whether in Cameroon, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigerian businesses, art and culture have continue to strive alongside and above what is available in many of these countries. For Instance, Cameroon a bi-lingual country with French and English as its official languages and shares a border with in Nigeria in the south is said to be a country of diverse culture and people. But while many Nigerians, cannot and might never know or recognize a musician, a movie or a cultural act from this country, the people of Cameroon go crazy over Nigerian music and movies regardless of the linguistic differences.

In the 21st century, military occupation as evident in the colonial period has become unpopular and to a great extent unrealistic making colonialism impossible. However, cultural as well as economic superiority are the new defining characteristics of a new form of colonialism. If the term is realistic, then there is more than enough reality proving that Nigeria is neo – colonizing Black Africa!

Read more: http://www.naijacenter.com/editorital/columnist/nigeria-neocolonizing-black-africa/#ixzz2ntB0VQ6T

Bishop donates late father’s wealth to charity in Nsukka

Bishop donates late father’s wealth to charity in Nsukka

By Emmanuel Uzodinma on October 13, 2013

The Bishop of Nsukka Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev. Professor Godfrey Onah,

on Saturday announced that the money in the bank account of his late father will be used for charity.

Bishop Onah, who spoke at the funeral mass for his late father, Mr. Gabriel Onah, at Imilike in Udenu Council Area of Enugu State, said the money would be used to pay school fees of indigent children in the area.

The late Gabriel Onah died on September 28, 2013 at the age of 99.

While reading a funeral oration on behalf of the family, Bishop Onah said the family took the decision because their father as a teacher had passion for education.

“My father as a teacher believed that education is necessary for everybody.

“As he liked riding bicycle, most times people in their jeep will stop to great him and remind him that he taught them in primary
school.

“He was humble, godly and contented with
whatever he had. We will continue to showcase good virtues he instilled on us.

“My father was a disciplinarian who would not hesitate to flog any of
us when we went wrong”, he said.

He continued that “I stopped throwing away canes my father used to flog me, when I
discovered that the more I threw away the small one he used to flog me, the more he brought bigger canes for me.

“I started thinking that possibly without flogging of those days, I could have not become what I am today. No wonder the bible said ‘Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child’”.

Earlier in a homily by Rev. Fr. Fred Agu, he described life as a market where one buys and goes, battle field where one fights and goes and as a stage one performs and leaves the stage.

“What matters is how you buy, fight and perform while alive. We should all prepare because death must come for every person, the rich and poor, as well as old and young. What will earn us heaven is how we lived our life on earth”, he admonished.

Agu described the late Onah as “a teacher who was satisfied with his job as well as taught
children under him the importance of humility and fear of God.

“If he has not trained his children very well, it will be impossible for one of his sons to become a Catholic Bishop”.

http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/10/13/bishop-donates-late-fathers-wealth-to-charity-in-nsukka/?fb_action_ids=688059847885208&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%22688059847885208%22%3A649003605121155%7D&action_type_map=%7B%22688059847885208%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

Unbelievable: BBC World News Insults Nigeria On Twitter

October 19, 2013 1:47 pm

“Abuja Was Built On Stolen Land” – BBC Writer Alex Preston Insults Nigeria On Twitter. You must have come across this article on other sites. The most touching part of it is that the article was written by a complete stranger who perhaps got the wrong impression from history or local informants.
Whether it’s true or not, read a detail article written by Alex Preston for BBC News below:
When one of Nigeria’s long line of military rulers, General Olusegun Obasanjo, seized the land on which Abuja was to be built in the late 1970s, he could hardly have imagined that the city would remain unfinished 35 years on.
Abuja has a makeshift, haphazard feel to it: A place of bureaucrats and building sites, its streets eerily empty after the buzz of Lagos or the enterprising bustle of Kano.
It is one of the most expensive cities in Africa, and one of the most charmless.
The skyline is dominated by the space-rocket spires of the National Christian Centre and the golden dome of the National Mosque, facing each other pugnaciously across a busy highway at the city’s centre.
Its other striking landmark is the vast construction site of the Millennium Tower, which, if it is ever completed, will be Nigeria’s tallest building.
The skyscraper was intended to mark Abuja’s 20th birthday in 2011.
Now delayed until who-knows-when, hugely over-budget and the subject of numerous official investigations.
All the people of Abuja have to show for the billions invested in the project are two stunted fingers of scaffold-clad concrete.
I had been in Abuja for three days – about two-and-a-half too many – when my friend, Atta, a sociologist, picked me up from my hotel.
We drove out towards Aso Rock, the monolith looming over the presidential palace.
On either side of the road there are complexes of bulky, imposing mansions, most of them unfinished.
Some had empty swimming pools; others had mock-Tudor timbering, but were windowless and often roofless. Atta told me that 65% of the houses in these developments were uninhabited, put up only to launder Abuja’s dirty money.
Like the Millennium Tower, these grandiose schemes are ruins before they are completed, bleak monuments to a city built by kleptocratic politicians on stolen land.
We pulled off the Murtala Mohammed Highway at Mpape Junction, and immediately the road deteriorated.
“I am going to show you the real Abuja,” Atta told me, as his car struggled up a deeply-rutted dirt track.
A warm wind from the desert to the north – the Harmattan – whipped clouds of red dust around us as we climbed through rocky scrubland into the hills.
People began to appear on the streets – men carrying ancient Singer sewing machines, women balancing baskets on their heads.

We entered a vast shanty-town of shacks with corrugated iron roofs, slums stacking to the horizon.
Nissan minivans scuttled past – they are called “One Chance” buses, as they barely stop on their manic journeys through these uncharted streets.
Crowds thronged between skinny cows, beneath posters advertising beaming televangelists.
Dance music blared out, interrupted by a muezzin’s call to prayer. Bright-eyed children kicked footballs about.
This was the home of the Gwari people, the original inhabitants of the land where the capital was built.
Hundreds of thousands of them were summarily evicted in the 1970s, and now scrape a living in the hills.
Abuja is itself a Gwari word and, although the city of generals and politicians below us had barely 700,000 inhabitants, two or three million people live in these shanty towns, many of them Gwari.
The Gwari people continue to fight for compensation for the land wrested from them by the Obasanjo government, land now worth more per square kilometre than almost anywhere else in Africa.
We got out and walked through the smoke and dust towards a row of shacks. In one of them, a woman knelt on the ground plucking a chicken, a man above her leaning on a makeshift bar.
Frank and Mary
They were Frank and Mary, Gwari people in their thirties, children of one of the thousands of families originally evicted during the foundation of Abuja.
The four of us sat in the shack sipping Fantas, staring out at the swarming life of the shanty town: Motorbikes and cattle and people, all of them through a veil of reddish dust.
“I trained as an architect,” Frank told me. “I have an education. But I do not have money, I don’t know the right people.
So I work here with my sister. In Abuja, money defines everything.” I ask him about the empty mansions lining the roads into the city.
“That is pseudo-Abuja, a false place. It’s unjust – we should be living in those houses. Instead…”
He gestured to the squalid lean-to that jutted from the back of the bar. Mary looked up from her chicken. “Life here is difficult,” she says.
“Often we can’t see across the street because of the smoke and dust. If it rains, you can’t move for the mud. But we pray hard.”
Frank pulled out a CD. It was Fela Kuti’s Suffering and Smiling. “This,” Frank said, as the music coiled out from an ancient hi-fi, “is the compressed statement of Nigerian society.
We suffer, but we smile. Nothing will change until we get angry, until we stop smiling.”
A storm was coming in, red clouds rolling overhead and thunder crackling down the valleys.
Frank and Mary stood waving to us, the music playing still, as we drove off down the hill, towards pseudo-Abuja.
http://www.medianigeria.com/38077/unbelievable-bbc-world-news-insults-nigeria-twitter/

Shariah, Hisbah Police Arrests15 Prostitutes, Youths With Crazy Haircuts

Shariah, Hisbah Police Arrests15 Prostitutes, Youths With Crazy Haircuts

October 19, 2013 2:01 pm

Shariah, Hisbah Police Arrests15 Prostitutes & Youths With Crazy Haircuts In Kano On Sallah Day.
The Public Relations Officer of the Board, Malam Yusuf Yola, told the newsmen in Kano that the defaulters had been charged to court.
He said that members of the Hisbah corps also arrested deviant youths with crazy haircuts during the festivities.
Yola said that apart from those arrested for prostitution, more than 40 male and female youths were also picked up during the festive period for “misconduct’’ at places of leisure across the state.
According to him, the parents of some of those arrested were invited to the board for discussions and advice and most of the youth were later released.
“For those who had mischievous haircuts, the board made sure that they had clean haircuts before they were released.
http://www.medianigeria.com/38085/shariah-hisbah-police-arrests15-prostitutes-youths-crazy-haircuts/

FG to buy made-in-Nigeria vehicles

By BusinessNews Staff on October 4, 2013

The Federal Government on Wednesday approved the Automotive Industrial Policy Development Plan for the country.

The decision was taken at the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Through the policy, the government hopes to significantly reduce the high vehicle importation bill, which stood at $3.4bn (N550bn) in 2012.

As a first step, the Federal Government said all vehicles purchased by it would be from local assembly plants, except they were specialised and could not be produced in the country.

The ministers of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku; Federal Capital Territory, Bala Muhammed; and Industry, Trade and Investment,  Olusegun Aganga, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

Aganga said the policy was aimed at transforming the Nigerian automotive industry and attracting investments into the sector.

He said a situation where the nation spent N4.2bn on the importation of vehicles into the country in 2010 was eating deep into the foreign reserves.

Aganga said in arriving at the policy, which took about nine months to put together, the government got the input of some car manufacturing giants like Nissan and Toyota.

These companies, he added, would soon announce their investments in the country.

He said, “A transformed automotive industry will realise its potential as a major driver of economic growth and diversification, job creation, local value addition, and technology acquisition.

“These recommendations were adopted at various conferences and consultations with stakeholders, including some original equipment manufacturers. After deliberation, the Council approved the Automotive Industrial Policy Development Plan.

“Council also approved that the government should direct that all vehicle purchased by the government should be from the local

 assembly plants unless it is specialised in nature and the NAC has certified that it is not produced in Nigeria

“The Council approved that the recommendation should be backed by appropriate legislation to give comfort to investors that there will be no abrupt change in policy.”

He added that his ministry had taken note of what led to the collapse of similar policies in the past and had taken measures to avoid the same fate for the new policy.

According to the minister, highlights of the new policy include the establishment of three automotive clusters across the country, the revival of the metal/steel sector and the tyre manufacturing industry to support the sector.

Aganga added that the government would work on tariff to encourage local manufacture and discourage importation of vehicles.

Mohammed said the Council also approved the rehabilitation and expansion of the outer Southern Expressway in the FCT from the Villa Roundabout to the OSEX/Ring Road 1(RR1) junction, including five interchanges, in the sum of N39bn.

He said the project was aimed at ensuring free flow of traffic and significantly reduce travel time in and out of the city.

The minister said, “The existing segment of the OSEX from the Villa roundabout to RR1 is only partially developed with a two-lane main carriageway and one two-lane service carriageway as against the 10-lane expressway provided in the Abuja Master Plan.”

http://businessnews.com.ng/2013/10/04/fg-buy-made-nigeria-vehicles/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=fg-buy-made-nigeria-vehicles

Female police officer stripped naked in Onitsha

By Joe Chukindi on September 14, 2013

There was pandemonium on Saturday at Bridge Head, Onitsha when a female police officer, identified as Inspector Tochukwu was allegedly abused, molested and almost stripped naked by a famous wealthy man.
The much dreaded man, Ngozi Okpagu had also allegedly slapped a commissioner of police last year.
An eye witness who gave his name as Tunde alleged that Offoegbu was on duty when the ‘big man’, who owns a park in Onitsha approached her threatening to facilitate her removal from Onitsha as he did to one Archibong.
“At that point, the female police officer demanded from him what she did that would warrant her removal and in reply he slapped  her for daring him. His boys also joined and immediately they tore the female officer’s uniform, almost revealing her nakedness.
“She ran for her life into the police post to avoid the peering eyes of the public. The Area Commander, Benjamin Wordu asked all of them to come to the area police station Onitsha.

“That man cannot be arrested because last time he slapped the CP because of motor park matters and the Governor later closed the park’’, the source further alleged.
When contacted the DPO Fegge where Offoegbu works, Muikdi Shehu said he would not speak on the matter, insisting that the PPRO was the only person authorized to speak.
The PPRO Emeka Chukwuemeka when contacted on phone said he was in Onitsha Area commander and would get back to this reporter on the issue.
CP Balah Nassarawa was said to be out of the state as at the time of filing this report.
However, reacting, the coordinator Campaign for Democracy, Dede Uzor A Uzor demanded for the immediate arrest of the suspect and thorough investigation into the matter.
The group gave the commissioner of police 7 days to arrest the man or face protest.

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Nigeria 2-0 Malawi:

Nigeria 2-0 Malawi: Emenike & Moses give Eagles play-off ticket

The African champions saw off the challenge of the Flames to earn passage into the final stage of qualification for next year's World Cup

Olumide

Nigeria earned passage into the final round of Caf qualification for World Cup 2014 with a 2-0 victory over Malawi in Calabar on Saturday.

The Super Eagles were helped by goals from returnee striker Emmanuel Emenika and a penalty from attacker Victor Moses.

The game began on a very competitive note with Liverpool loan signing Moses and Ahmed Musa tormenting the James Sangala-anchored Malawian defence. As early as the second minute, Limbikani Mzava was booked for a rough challenge on Moses who was on a goal-bound move. Despite gaining most of the ball possession, Nigeria failed to get the curtain raiser as they failed to create clear cut chances.  The attack-minded Eagles did not relent as they challenged Tom Santifiet’s men for every ball.

In the 11th minute, Musa saw his opportunity declared offside after he got a well-tailored cross from John Obi Mikel. Few minutes later, Ogenyi Onazi's shot went just wide as Stephen Keshi's men continued their search of the early goal.
Malawi shot-stopper, Simplex Nthara repaid the faith shown in him by Tom Saintfiet to start the game with a brilliant save off the boot of Efe Ambrose followed by another super effort in the 26th minute to deny Moses the opening goal.
As the first half petered out, Emenike put Nigeria ahead with a very cool finish off a pinpoint cross from Onazi. Despite resolute defending from the Malawians, they allowed the Fenerbahce striker sneak in to chip the ball past Simplex to calm the nerves of the hosts.
In the early minutes of the second half, Musa failed to double Nigeria’s lead after missing a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper who gathered safely to keep the Flames in the game. Shortly afterwards Emenike was denied by the same goalkeeper.
The Eagles, however, put the game beyond the reach of the Malawians in the 51st minute after Brescia forward Nnamdi Oduamadi was forcefully brought down by Flames skipper James Sangala. Moses shot the resultant penalty past Simplex to give the Eagles a comfortable lead.

A few minutes later, the visitors were reduced to 10 men after Limbikani Mzava was sent off for a second yellow to compound Malawi's misery.
Musa's battle with the Malawi goalkeeper continued in the 68th minute as he was unable to score again in a one on one situation. Even with the introduction of Newcastle forward Shola Ameobi for his competitive debut, Nosa Igiebor and Uche Nwofor, Nigeria failed to get the third goal after missing several scoring chances.
With this result, Nigeria are now through to the final play-off round of World Cup 2014 qualification and will know their opponents when the draw is made in a few days.

Stella Damasus and Senator Yerima on Al-Jazeera Network THE STREAM

FEMI FANI KAYODE IS NOT YORUBA.....

Breaking News:FEMI FANI KAYODE IS NOT YORUBA:Haunted By A Nupe Ancestry-Fighting A FoggyYoruba Identity Complex

Posted on August 24, 2013

 

FEMI FANI KAYODE- Haunted By A Nupe Ancestry- Fighting A Foggy Yoruba Identity Complex
Dr. N. Tony Nwaezeigwe
Senior Research Fellow
Institute of African Studies,
University of Nigeria,
Nsukka.

Nigeria’s nationality question is neither the creation of the Igbo nor the Yoruba. It is the consequence of Hausa-Fulani’s megalomaniac quest for political power in the nation. Yet the Hausa-Fulani accept the fact that both the Igbo and Yoruba hold the key to their attainment of this divine-right objective only if both groups agree to remain suspicious of the other. It therefore becomes obvious that the solution to this national question can only be attained if both the Igbo and Yoruba realize that their mutual understanding and respectof the other’s perception of Nigeria’s progress would save the nation millions in loss of human and material resources.
First, both the Igbo and Yoruba, seen respectively as mentors to other minority ethnic groups in the South and Middle Belt should see their assumed characteristic rivalry, if at all there is something like that, as healthy to the overall development of the Nigerian nation and, not the vice versa. Second, both groups should be aware that this question of Nigeria’s nationality will always persist so long as the Hausa-Fulani feel that without any one of their own being atthe helms of authority in this country, there will be no peace. Andone fundamental means of achieving this Arabian power mentality is to ensure there is perpetual state of political belligerency between the Igbo and Yoruba.

It is on record that both the Igbo and Yoruba cannot write a complete history of their respective roles in the development of the Nigerian nation without mentioning the other in one positive sense or the other. Apart from the fact that both the Igbo and Yoruba were equal stake-holders in the nation’s Independence struggles, theircontacts long pre-dated the arrival of the British colonial adventurers. The Yoruba were the first to establish effective direct contacts with traditional Igbo society long before European incursions. They had penetrated the Igboland before the Igbo themselves thought of coming to Yorubaland. The evidence to this pre-colonial contact is today found in the existence in Igboland of agroup of ancient Yoruba-speaking Igbo sub-group called Olukunmimade up of Ugbodu, Ukwunzu, Ubulubu and Idumuogo towns in Aniocha Local Government Area of Delta State. Although these people could pass as normal Igbo in their general definition of ethnic identity when outside their communities, but they still maintain their Yoruba identity, speaking Yoruba language as their primary mother-tongue alongside Igbo and bearing mixed Igbo-Yoruba names. Most of these people claim to have migrated from Owo in the present Ondo State many centuries ago. Similarly many Yoruba, mainly of Oshogbo and Ogbomosho origins, Nupe and Igala settlers today constitute a substantial portion of Asaba and Onitsha indigenes. These people had settled among the Igbo long before the coming of the Europeans accessing their present abode through the River Niger. Above all, one cannot deny the positive roles such Yoruba missionaries as Bishops Samuel Ajayi Crowther and James Johnson played in the evangelization of Igboland during the nineteenth century.

Thus effective contact between the Igbo and Yoruba not only began many centuries before the creation of modern Nigerian nation, but was initiated by the Yoruba. Those who today think that Igbo-Yoruba contact only began with European colonialism, or that only the Yoruba had been on the receiving end of inter-ethnic migration may be saying so either out of mere ignorance of the subject of Nigerian history, or sheer mischievous and selfish political motives.One does not need to go into the mythical etymology of the word “Igbo” which in Yoruba means forest, but which was in fact first applied by the immigrant Oduduwa group to the aborigines of the present Spiritual kingdom of Ife, ascribing the term to people living in the forest.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the Igbo have always viewed the Yoruba in a healthy competitive sense and not in the light of a heinous political and economic rival, as such Yoruba political torn-coats of doubtful ancestry as Femi Abdulateef Fani-Kayode tend to insinuate. In the same token, the Yoruba on their part cannot claim that the Igbo presence in their land had been that of a habitual Igbo quest to wrestle their ancestral land from them. Not even the ancestral owners of Lagos State of whom Abdulateef Kayode is not part of, can willingly cast aspersion on their Igbo guests, for the latter have always been their willing partners in the progress of their communities.

The Igbo have never been the problem of native Lagosians but the artificial Lagosians, who come to appropriate their political heritage in the name of Oduduwa. These are the people who control theGovernment of Lagos State today, and turn to use the Igbo as a convenient political scapegoat whenever their devious exploitative machinations against the indigenous Lagosians become obvious.This is mainly because this class of artificial Lagosians has always seen the Igbo as the only veritable fall-back strategy by which means the native Lagosians could gain their internal independence from their co-Oduduwa oppressors.
It is on record that during the First Republic both Lagos and Ibadan, the two most prominent Yoruba cities heavily relied on the Igbo-led NCNC for the actualization their political objectives against the Obafemi Awolowo-led Action Group. Even Chief Victor Fani-Kayode, then the Chief thug to Chief Obafemi Awolowo fell out offavour with his master in 1959 his point of refuge was Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, who promptly appointed him Leader of Opposition in the Western House of Assembly that same year. Chief Obafemi Awolowo took the same line of seeking Igbo succor when he ordered his followers while in prison to ally with the Igbo-led NCNC to forge a common front against reactionary forces in Nigeria of which Chief Victor Fani-Kayode a.k.a. Fani-Power was one such element. So Chief Femi Abdulateef Fani-Kayode lacks every moral pedigree to speak for the Yoruba nation because his father had been a Yoruba quisling, and above all not a true Yoruba son.

Today one fact is pertinent to anyone who savours in the stream of cyclic history Historyrepeats itself only to those who stubbornly refuse to learn from its lessons. There is no doubt that with the approach of the epic political battle of 2015, many desperate and opportunistic attempts would be made by some political desperados, particularly those whose political garbs are woven in uncertain future to cause the repeat of Nigeria’s sad political history. This is the ship Chief Femi Abdulateef Fani-Kayode finds himelf today. He has been out of power and with it came out of money. He is thus in a mission of survival, albeit in a most fatal approach.
In recent times, Nigerians have unwittingly witnessed the unguarded utterances of such political desperados as Malams Nasir el-Rufai and Nuhu Ribadu, both of whom were shot into unmerited political prominence from obscurity by the sheer political benevolence of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Equally lately, it became the turn of one of the celebrated renegades of the apex Yoruba socio-cultural organization- Afenifere and one-time factional leader of Alliance for democracy (AD), Alhaji Bisi Akande to label the President of his country a kindergathen President, all in the name of finding the means to create a leeway of political conflict.
Any person who therefore lives within the orbit of Nigeria’s stream of political progress would easily catch up with the inert motive of this stream of unguarded provocations against the administration of President Jonathan. The Boko Haram insurgency, far from acting the script of alternative state power, subsequently became a dog-eat-dog political cul-de-sac. Those who had hoped to use the deadly Islamic blood-suckers as a full-back alternative strategy if they eventually lose the presidential election against President Jonathan in 2015 are now at a loss as to what next to do. For it has become obvious that neither are they sure of winning the epic electoral battle nor would Boko Haram survive to play the expected yoman role in 2015. It thus became crystal clear when it became the turn of the most colourless political clown of President Olusegun Obasanjo administration to join this stream of agents provocateurs, most politically discerning people quite knew where Chief FemiAbdulateef Fani-Kayode was coming from and where he was going to.
With a quisling political and subservient pedigree haunted by a jaundiced Nupe ancestry, laced with a foggy Saro-Yoruba identity compex, nothing better should have better been expected from Chief David Oluwafemi adewunmi abdulateef Fani-Kayode, a.k.a. Femi Fani-kayode, than his spineless historical verbosity woven in outright haft-truths and infantile sensationalism. As a professional historian, replying to such musings of a habitual moronic mind would amount to giving Femi Abdulateef Fani-Kayode an unmerited intellectual prominence, which indeed is his hidden motive behind his calculated infamy against the Igbo.

But one question which readily strikes the mind is, does being an alumnus of Cambridge University automatically transform Abdulateef Fani-Kayode into an expert of anything? As a lawyer, if one may be tempted to ask, what intellectual and professional landmarks could Abdulateef Fani-Kayode lay claim to? Is it not on record that this same Abdulateef Fani-Kayode has not been able to run and manage a viable law firm, just as his father, Chief Victor Babaremilekun Adetokunboh Fani-Kayode could not, but relied on the tutelage of the likes of Chief Rotimi Williams and later Justicoe Soweminmo. Thus outside the spoils of political office, Femi Abdulateef Fani-Kayode, like his father Victor, is bound to be a political desperado any he is put out political office. It is only calamitous that he chose the Igbo this time for his habitual vain-glorious attempt to re-launch himself into political relevance.
His attacks on the Igbo as to which people are the bona fide owners of Lagos State is thus as misplaced and misdirected as it is a desperate self-propping political venture for a diminished political carpet-bagger. One fact is pertinent, the Nigeria’s convention one’s origins, Lagos is neither the home of the Igbo nor any Yoruba whose parents migrated from somewhere else outside Yorubaland, whether the person is born there or not. Lagos belongs to a definable ethnic and sub-ethnic groups of people- the Eko of Lagos Island and mainland who could even conveniently claim Bini ancestry, theEgba of Epe and Ikorodu axis, the Egbado of Agege-Ifako-Ijaiye axis the Egun of Badagry axis, and the Awori of western axis. It thus follows that any Yoruba cannot fall within any of these categories of native Lagosians is as good a stranger as any Igbo resident in Lagos, just as any non-Onitsha Igbo resident in Onitsha cannot claim any better right over a Yoruba resident there.

Chief David Oluwafemi Adewunmi Abdulateef Fani-Kayode is the least of any Yorubaman to cast any form of aspersion on Igbo contributions to the development of Lagos State, for he is not of original Yoruba protegy. He cannot identify his line of ancestry beyond his great-grand father Reverand Emmanuel Adedapo kayodes, a Nupe Sierra Leonean captive of the British Anti-Slavery squad from a Portuguese Slave merchant vessel of the coast of Dahomey. Reverend Emmanuel Kayode was eventually adopted as a house-boy by Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther who gave him Yoruba names and subsequently trained him up to Fourah Bay College, Freetown and enlisted him as an Anglican Priest. Reverend kayode, in line with the tradition of the Saro-Yoruba of the time, subsequently adopted Ife as his ancestral home in a bid to historically confirm his new Yoruba identity.
But his father Chief Victor Babaremilekun Adetokunboh Fani-Kayode, fully aware of the artificiality of his Yoruba identity later identified the Nupe town of Pategi in the present Niger State as his Grand-father’s ancestral home after he had disrespectfully confronted Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Public and the latter had politely reminded him of his Nupe ancestry. It was in reaction to this obvious revelation by Chief Obafemi Awolowo that he resorted to naming his children after some prominent members of his Nupe family, hence “Abdulateef”, a purely Muslim name was given to his son Femi. The same tradition of Muslim name was applied to Femi’s elder brother who died a number of years ago. It this fact is not on the line of history, let Chief Femi Kayode explain to Nigerians the source of his Muslim name when he claims a pedigree of traditional Christian family, especially when even his mother had strong Christian family background.

In fact again in 1959, during one of his father’s infamous public altercations with Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he was again reminded by the respected sage of his Nupe ancestry. It was when he could no longer bear it that he decamped the same year to NCNC where the Great Zik promptly elevated him to the Leader of Opposition in Western House of Assembly. Is it therefore not an irony of political fate that somebody whose father sought refuge under the canopy of Igbo political leadership and granted with honour when he was rejected by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, could now turn his burden of frosty political frustration against his father’s very mentors.

But that again explains the irony of a pedigree woven in a habitual tradition of political harlotry, infantile opportunism, and a despondency crafted in pig-headed obstinacy. His father Chief Victor Fani-Kayode was never an ingrained Yoruba patriot and nationalist, but a cash n’ carry politician. If Chief Obafemi Awolowo was accused of introducing political thuggery in Nigerian politics, it was in fact his father as the Action Group National Youth Leader that imposed the idea on Chief Awolowo. This again equally explains why his father was always at daggers-drawn with Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for on several occasions he had attempted to unleash that thuggery virus on Chief Awolowo himself.
If Chief Femi Abdulateef Fani-Kayode opened his wide mouth to insult the integrity of the Igbo people, it is only because the virus of insubordination and rudeness run in their blood. If his father did the same to Chief Obafemi Awolowo then Nigerians should accept such action against the Igbo as an act of accursed political prodigality.Moulded by a shameless quisling culture, if Femi Abdulateef Fani-Kayode insulted late President Umaru Yar’Adua even in death, yesterday insulted the person of President Goodluck Jonathan, and today insults the Igbo, he does so because he is still under the spell of Chief Awolowo’s curse on his father.
That he lately decamped to APC is yet another show-casing of his father’s tradition. When it became obvious that the fortunes of Action Group was becoming dim with its relegation to National opposition party in 1959, his father decamped to NCNC. When again the fortunes of NCNC became dim with the alliance of Chief Samuel Akintola’s faction of Action Group with the reactionary Northern People’s Congress, his father again dumped NCNCN for Samuel akintola’s newly formed Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), where he was elevated to the post of Deputy Premier and Regional Minister of Local Government Affairs. It was therefore not surprising that his father should be singled out by the young revolutionaries of January 15, 1966 led by the enigmatic and gallant Captain Nwaobosi to be dealt with.
Femi Abdulateef Fani-Kayode had once confessed that it would be had for him to forgive the Igbo after witnessing as a six-year child how his father was humiliated by Captain Nwaobosi by causing him to lie down and given thirty-six lashes of the cane, before he was led to Akintola’s home. Thus if Femi Abdulateef Fani-Kayode expresses an inveterate hatred of the Igbo, he does that as a consequence of his father’s gruesome experience be an Igbo army officer, one can easily sympathize with him.

But as history is bound to repeat itself for those who fail to learn from its lessons, Chief Femi Abdulateef Fani-Kayode should be advised to watch his cliff-diving political despondency, if he does not wish to learn from his father’s lessons of history. The Igbo would wish a real Yoruba- a “son of the soil” with a culture of untainted political integrity and traceable Yoruba ancestry to speak on matters of Igbo-Yoruba relations, and not a man of foggy Yoruba ancestry, a cloned Sierra Leonean Yoruba of Nupe ancestry, safe for the benevolence of patchy Yoruba names. Chief David Oluwafemi Abdulateef Adewunmi Fani-Kayode has no better right of ancestralLagos State than any Igbo born and bred there. A Gambari par excellence.

Dr.Tony Nwaezeigwe
http://graciousgracegardens.wordpress.com/2013/08/24/breaking-news-femi-fani-kayode-is-not-even-yoruba-after-allhaunted-by-a-nupe-ancestry-fighting-a-foggy-yoruba-identity-complex/comment-page-1/#comment-405
SOURCE 

Jubilation as first international flight takes off from Enugu airport

Our Reporter August 24, 2013

It was jubilation galore on Saturday as the first international flight from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Enugu State took off to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with 153 passengers on board.
The flight was by Ethiopian Airlines, using a Boeing 737-800, which took off at 2.20pm.
The event was witnessed by four South-East state governors of Abia (Theodore Orji), Anambra (Peter Obi), Ebonyi (Martin Elechi) and Enugu (Sullivan Chime).
Others who witnessed the event were the Ministers of Aviation (Stella Oduah), Finance (Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala), Health (Onyebuchi Chukwu) and Power (Chinedu Nebo), as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim.
Members of the National Assembly, led by the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, state executive members and legislators, traditional rulers and captains of industry were also present at the brief ceremony.

Briefing newsmen in Enugu, Okonjo-Iweala described the day as historic in the lives of the people of the South-East zone and thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for making the project a reality.
Anyim described it as a dream come true for the people of the South-East, while Ekweremadu said that the introduction of international flights in the airport would make it easy for the people to travel to any part of the world.
Ekweremadu said the National Assembly would ensure adequate budgetary provision was made to complete the new terminal building.
The Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Obi, commended the President for fulfilling his promise to Ndigbo.

Oduah said that more airlines would soon commence operation at the airport and announced that the Nigerian national carrier would start operation before the end of the year.
The host governor, Chime, said the flight was part of a grand plan to change the economy of the South-East zone positively.

In his remarks, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airline, Esayas Hailu, said the airline would operate four times a week from Enugu to Addis Ababa.
Hailu said the Igbo were very enterprising and needed an outlet right from their doorstep.
He said that very soon the flight would go daily.
A passenger, Nicodemus Igboabasi, a businessman from Anambra State, applauded the Federal Government for making the day a reality.
Igboabasi said it would reduce the cost of doing business and the stress of travelling long distances to board international flights from the zone.
Various traditional groups performed at the ceremony.
The Enugu route will be the airline’s 46th African and the 76th international destination.

 http://sunnewsonline.com/new/national/jubilation-as-first-international-flight-takes-off-from-enugu-airport/

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Ethiopia Airlines begins international flights from Enugu airport

Ethiopia Airlines begins international flights from Enugu airport

 News    Monday, August 19, 2013

The Federal Government, weekend, confirmed that Ethiopian Airlines would commence direct flights to and from Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, from Saturday, August 24, 2013.

This would be the first international flights to be operated into the South East geo-political zone of the country, barely two years after the airport in Enugu was accorded international status.

Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, who disclosed this in Abuja, said she had already written President Goodluck Jonathan informing him of the airlines' inaugural flight.

She said the airport's designation as an international airport was part of the aviation master plan of the present administration to give every zone in the country the opportunity to grow its full potentials in economic and social development.

With the foray of Ethiopian Airlines into Enugu, businessmen and other travellers from all the states of the South East as well as Edo and Delta now have the option of making their international travels through Enugu, rather than erstwhile reliance of far-aay Lagos and Abuja.

General Manager, Corporate Communication, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Yakubu Dati, said President Jonathan's administration had fulfilled his promise of giving every part of the country equal opportunity to develop and realise its dreams.

According to him, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, was designed and built by the former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme when he was only 26, while his vision of many years is now being fulfilled.

He said: "This Minister of Aviation has shown her determination to actualise the goals of the aviation master plan which the Jonathan administration has pegged its transformation agenda which objectives include giving every part of the country and every citizen the opportunity to grow to his full potential.

"With the international flight operations at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, a novel opportunity has been given to the people of the South East zone to expand their business horizon without stress and the inconveniences of having to travel far to catch international flights."

http://odili.net/news/source/2013/aug/19/306.html

Femi Fani-Kayode Is A Bigoted, Anti-Igbo Tribalist By Femi Aribisala

Posted: August 20, 2013 - 18:23

By Femi Aribisala

The year was 1965. I was an innocent starry-eyed 13 year-old and Nigeria was in turmoil. It was the era of the “wetie,” when the houses of politicians and key public-figures were burnt down in the brouhaha that was then Western Nigeria.

We lived in Oke-Ado in Ibadan and our next-door neighbour was Chief Ogundiran, a minister in the government of Chief S.L. Akintola, the Premier of the Western Region. (Ogundiran was famous for only wearing white.) In the spirit of the times, a mob came early one morning and burnt down his house. He jumped out of the window and managed to escape.
Fani-Power, Fani-igbo: I was having private lessons in Mathematics at the home of a colleague, Enitan Abiodun, when we heard the noise of a crowd outside. We rushed to the veranda to see Chief Remi Fani-Kayode (alias Fani-Power), then Deputy Governor of the Western Region, standing on the seat of a moving convertible. He was surrounded by a mob, which was shouting and hailing him. On hearing the noise, Enitan’s mother rushed to the veranda shouting “Awo!” only to discover that the people outside were not supporters of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, but those of his arch-enemies.

The shout of “Awo!” by Mrs. Abiodun brought the procession to a screeching halt.

“Who said that? Who said that?” demanded the mob, enraged.

“Fani-Power” turned and looked up at us. His eyes were the usual blood-shot red. At the time, many claimed it was because he regularly smoked Indian-hemp. Fani-Kayode pointed to our building and identified to his thugs that the offending shout came from our direction. We did not know that the floor of the convertible he was standing in was loaded with empty bottles. His thugs reached for the bottles and rained them down on us as we all scrambled back inside the house for dear life.

Like father, like son: That was 48 years ago. Today, Femi Fani-Kayode, the 53-year-old son of “Fani-Power,” continues in the mischievous tradition of his father: throwing dangerous missiles at the innocent. He recently wrote an incendiary article entitled: “The Bitter Truth About the Igbo,” in which he maligned the Igbos and virtually told them to get out of Lagos and leave Lagos for the Yorubas.

What is peculiar about the article is that Femi Fani-Kayode himself is no more Lagosian than the Igbos he berates. The Fani-Kayodes are not from Lagos. They are from Ile-Ife in Osun State. Femi Fani-Kayode’s only legitimate claim to Lagos is that he was born there.

But then so were many Igbos who are, therefore, Lagosians. Moreover, Igbo-Lagosians have one up on Femi Fani-Kayode. They live in Lagos. Femi Fani-Kayode does not. Igbo-Lagosians work in Lagos and pay taxes to the Lagos State government. Femi Fani-Kayode does not. Therefore, what right does he have to write his diatribe against them? What right does he have to maintain Lagos does not belong to Igbo-Lagosians?

Having thrown these bottles maliciously, Femi Fani-Kayode decided to throw a few more. He wrote another invective entitled: “A Word For Those Who Say I Am A Tribalist.” In order to demonstrate that he was not anti-Igbo, he presented the cliché that some of his best friends are Igbos. As proof, he detailed three Igbo women (some of them happily-married) he claims to have had affairs with. Only God knows how this shows he is not biased against the Igbos. Slave-traders slept with their slaves. Is that proof they were not racist?

The jury is out already. Femi Fani-Kayode is a bigoted tribalist. Only a tribalist can say he is not anti-Igbo and then say this about the Igbos: “(They are) collectively unlettered, uncouth, uncultured, unrestrained and crude in all their ways.” “They have no restraining factors because money and the acquisition of wealth is their sole objective and purpose in life.”

Clearly, Femi Fani-Kayode is out of control. He has become something of a train-wreck. He was President Obasanjo’s agent-provocateur for so long, where he maligned elder-statesmen like Yakubu Gowon; he no longer knows how to speak with decorum.
The American model: I am Yoruba. Nevertheless, I repeat; the Igbos of Lagos are Lagosians. They are Lagosians whether ethnic jingoists like Femi Fani-Kayode like it or not. The Lagos branch of the old Action Congress of Nigeria acknowledged that no less than 45% of the population of Lagos is Igbo.

That is a fact that cannot be ignored or simply wished-away. It is not improbable that, in a few years time, the majority of people living in Lagos will be Igbos. Short of changing the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that tells me an Igbo man can rightfully become the future Governor of Lagos State. That should give some food-for-thought to the Fani-Kayodes.
The system of government in Nigeria is modeled after that of the United States. In the U.S., Hilary Clinton is a native of Illinois. Nevertheless, in 2000 she contested for election as Senator in New York and won. She was eligible to run for the seat simply because she and her husband moved to New York and lived there for only one year. Similarly, some Igbos have been in Lagos for 50 years.

That should make them eligible to run for office. If they vote the ethnic card, as Yorubas often do, Femi Fani-Kayode might have a heart-attack. An Igbo man might conceivably become the Governor of Lagos State. That is what democracy is all about.
The growing political muscle of Igbo-Lagosians has been obscured by electoral malpractices. That cannot last forever. Sooner than later, Igbo-Lagosians will start to pull their political weight in Lagos. True indigenes of Lagos, as opposed to carpet-baggers like the Fani-Kayodes, have traditionally been open-minded about Igbos and non-indigenes. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, a Nigerian nationalist who happened to be Igbo, once won an election in Lagos, before Awolowo appealed to tribal politics to truncate it.

Grudging acknowledgement of the growing political clout of the Igbos led to the appointment of a token Igbo man, Pastor Ben Akabueze, as Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget in Lagos by Governor Babatunde Fashola; a post he has held for six years.
Femi Fani-Kayode should have gone to court to challenge that appointment. Soon, such tokenism will just not cut it. Igbo-Lagosians will demand a more proportionate share of the local political power. If they play their cards right, they will get it. Igbo-Lagosians vote in Lagos. Therefore, they can be voted for in Lagos. No constitutional amendment is required to bring this about.
Given his educational background, one would have expected Fani-Kayode to be more enlightened. A Nigerian cannot be an alien in Nigeria. An Igbo man cannot be an alien in Lagos. Igbos are not illegal aliens in Lagos. They are at home. In Nigeria, a Nigerian is entitled to live wherever he wants. If the resources of the Niger-Delta can be Nigerianised to the benefit of Yoruba-Lagosians, then Lagos cannot be the exclusive preserve of Yoruba-Lagosians.
Since Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians, then Lagos belongs to all Nigerians. During the census enumeration, some of us insisted that Igbos must stay and be counted in Lagos for that very reason. Since Igbo-Lagosians are a significant part of the local population who contribute immensely to key sectors of the economy, the national census must reflect the fact that they live and work in Lagos.

I recently visited London after a ten-year absence. What I saw was a highly cosmopolitan city with people of different nationalities, including Nigerians. London is no longer a town of the English. It is now a megalopolis in the true sense of the word. On several occasions, I overheard people speaking Yoruba in the streets of London. On one occasion, I could not resist the urge to interject, even though uninvited.
Nigerians are everywhere. On a visit in May 2013 to WashingtonD.C., United States for the Nigerian Development and Finance Forum, under the auspices of Financial Nigeria Limited, I was informed by the Deputy Ambassador of Nigeria to the United States that there are currently five million Nigerians in the U.S. There are even more Nigerians in Sudan; over eight million.
Nigerians constitute a significant percentage of the population of Cote d’Ivoire. There are more Nigerians in Equatorial Guinea than Equatorial-Guineans. There is no country on planet earth where you will not find a sizeable population of Nigerians. U.N. projections predict that Nigeria will soon be the fourth largest country in the world, surpassed by only China, India and the United States. Under such circumstances, a Nigerian like Femi Fani-Kayode should not be hankering after a small real-estate called Lagos. Nigerians must become citizens of the world.

Joseph was a Jewish slave in Egypt. Nevertheless, he rose to become the Egyptian Prime-Minister. That happened in biblical days, and not twenty-first century Egypt. More recently in 2008, Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan, became president of the United States. In 2010, John Abraham Godson, a Nigerian-born Polish citizen became a Member of Parliament in Poland. In April, 2013, Cecile Kyenge, born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, became the Minister of Integration of the Republic of Italy. Surely, Femi Fani-Kayode cannot discern these signs of the times. Especially, the new Nigeria. M.K.O. Abiola, a Yoruba man, won his famous presidential election in 1993 by relying on Hausa, Fulani, Igbo and other votes. He was not just elected by Yorubas. Yorubas did not even vote for Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. He became President by relying on northern, eastern and south-south votes. Goodluck Jonathan became president in 2011 by forging a coalition that stretched across the Niger and the Benue to all parts of Nigeria.
When Odumegwu Ojukwu died, the entire nation of Nigeria consoled the Igbos.

Collectively, we declared with one voice that the civil war is truly over. We must not allow the Femi Fani-Kayodes to turn back the clock. Next time Femi Fani-Kayode wants to tell us “the bitter truth,” he should tell us about N19.5 billion Aviation Fund mismanaged under his watch as Minister of Aviation under the Obasanjo administration. That is the bitter truth we need to hear from him right now.                    

•Femi Aribisala is a commentator on public policy

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of SaharaReporters

http://saharareporters.com/article/femi-fani-kayode-bigoted-anti-igbo-tribalist-femi-aribisala