[size=14pt]Yoruba as football[/size]
By Tunji Ismail

A football is an inflated piece of rubber or leather that is pushed around by being kicked by fun seekers otherwise called footballers. The fact of a football is that it goes in the direction decided by the kicker and sustains its flight in the air only to the extent of the energy devoted to it by the kicker. The kicker can push it right, left, upwards or make it stand still on the ground. In football the kicker is supreme.



http://odili.net/news/source/2010/apr/29/118.html

Hubert Ogunde, that great Yoruba philosopher, dramatist, poet and singer, conjured the appropriate imagery in his song 'Yoruba Ronu'. He said, "Yoruba so ra won di bolu f'araiye gba, to ba gba won s'oke won tun gba won si isale"; the Yoruba have become the football of the country, the kickers kick them up and down at will. That was about 50 years ago. How much of Ogunde's observation have changed? Have the Yoruba become kickers instead of the ball that is kicked?

Since the early sixties when this great man of Yoruba culture made his observations, the Yoruba have occupied the presidential chair twice, regrettably by the same man. Olusegun Obasanjo was military president from 1976 to 1979 and civilian president from 1999 to 2007. In both instances he was a ball that was kicked up. He did not become president on either occasion by any deliberate strategy or manipulation by the Yoruba. In his first coming, Theophilus Danjuma is popularly regarded as the mastermind of his ascension to the seat of power. Danjuma and the northern military establishment chose for their own strategic reasons to install a Yoruba as Head of State in 1976 after the death of Murtala Muhammed not to give an impression of oppressing other regions in the power game. The Hausa/Fulani of course held on to effective power through a combination of Shehu Yar'Adua as Chief of General Staff and Danjuma as Chief of Army Staff. The Hausa/Fulani had kicked the Yoruba football up.

In 1998, when Sani Abacha and Moshood Abiola died, it was obvious that the Yoruba had been wounded by the annulment of the 1993 election that Abiola won and his death in detention. Again the Hausa/Fulani kicked up the Yoruba ball by inviting Obasanjo to take the presidential chair. Obasanjo did not become President by any Yoruba deliberateness, rather by the deliberateness of others who wanted to keep the Yoruba quiet and in tow. He was released from prison and offered the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party. The Yoruba presidential candidate lost in all the Yoruba states, but the kickers of the Yoruba football kicked him into Aso Rock.

The truth is that these Obasanjo presidencies were not Yoruba opportunities and it is not surprising that the Yoruba have very little advantage to show for both. Obasanjo himself is not keen to be identified as a Yoruba leader, he prefers the national and international turfs. Identifying too strongly with Yoruba interest will diminish him in his quest for international dominance. The Yoruba are thereby stranded with no leader of serious political clout to muscle in for them in the myriad of political and economic interests in the country. Pray, would Lamido Sanusi have gone ahead to cripple financial activities in the country through the manner in which the reforms in the five supposedly ailing banks was done, if there was a strong Yoruba political voice in Abuja, backed by the people, who could have exercised the Yoruba clout to call for moderation in Sanusi's crusade? The truth is that many Yoruba businesses are today in shambles because the banks are no longer lending; no thanks to Sanusi. The Yoruba are the greatest beneficiaries of bank facilities in building businesses. Today government policy has effectively crippled that avenue that will have dire consequences for the Yoruba nation and no voice can be heard on its behalf. The Yoruba foot ball has been kicked down.

Look at the Presidential Advisory Committee set up by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, in a 26-man body, there are only three maybe four Yoruba people, depending on the way you look at it. Mr Fola Adeola, Mr Kase Lawal, Mrs Mobola Johnson and Dr (Mrs) Sally Bolujoko. Some argue that there are actually three and a half Yoruba people there. Four out of 26 cannot be equity to the Yoruba people. But beyond the numbers, look at how someone has cleverly liquidated the Yoruba in this matter. With all respect to the Yoruba members of this body that is expected to be the think tank of government in the next 12 months, all members are not equal. Who is the Yoruba man of political stature in the group? Horse-trading is the word in groups like this and some regions are loaded with those who are practised in such trade.

The North has people like Theophilus Danjuma, Alhaji MD Yussuf former Inspector General of Police, Justice Alfa Belgore former Chief Justice, Dr Bamaga Tukur former Governor former minister etc, Alhaji Ismaila Isa former President Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria and billionaire businessman. The Eastern parts of the country is represented by the likes of Emeka Anyaoku former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Professor Ben Nwabueze foremost constitutional lawyer, Ambassador Preware ambassador plenipotentiary with wide political experience, Hon Chibudom Nwuche former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Kanu Agabi former Attorney-General of the federation. Did someone deliberately make the choices to ensure that the Yoruba representation is sufficiently weak to be politically intimidated?

These are the things that happen to a people who do not have visible political leaders. Chief Obafemi Awolowo combined the political and cultural leadership of the Yoruba. He won many battles for his people. Today there are cultural leaders for the Yoruba but there is no visible political leadership. The turf is vacant and the Yoruba nation is the poorer for it. Wanted urgently, a strong political leadership for the Yoruba. Not of pretenders and profit seekers but of those that are committed to ensuring equity to the Yoruba race in matters of national concern.

Ismail, an industrialist, lives in Ajuwon Ouarters, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The Yoruba are the greatest beneficiaries of bank facilities in building businesses. Today government policy has effectively crippled that avenue that will have dire consequences for the Yoruba nation and no voice can be heard on its behalf. The Yoruba foot ball has been kicked down.

That is what the North hired Sanusi to do.

Good observation.The yoruba representatives in the Presidential Advisory Committee are actually not strong politically.

kshow1:

Good observation.The yoruba representatives in the Presidential Advisory Committee are actually not strong politically.

How will their political strength change the price of garri in your life?

Politically, d yoruba race is finished.

Yoruba should quit whining and exhibiting unbridled greed for power. They have had 8 unbroken years of rulership. Between 1999 and 2007, the language at Aso Rock was Yoruba Yoruba. For the next 60 years they should be content with licking hausa, Ijaw and then Igbo nyash

mekusxxx:

Yoruba should quit whining and exhibiting unbridled greed for power. They have had 8 unbroken years of rulership. Between 1999 and 2007, the language at Aso Rock was Yoruba Yoruba. For the next 60 years they should be content with licking hausa, Ijaw and then Igbo nyash

So you will be happy if another person is licking your yansh?. That means you are capable of enslaving people so why complain about what the white people did to blacks?

Aloy+Emeka:

So you will be happy if another person is licking your yansh?. That means you are capable of enslaving people so why complain about what the white people did to blacks?

Hate us or love us, we rule in the background

SEFAGO:

Hate us or love us, we rule in the background 

Sefago,

Keep deluding yourself. Even the ministry of Health is no longer manned by Yoruba. Guess who took over. Hahahha!

Aloy+Emeka:

So you will be happy if another person is licking your yansh?. That means you are capable of enslaving people so why complain about what the white people did to blacks?

Whareva

what nonsense are you talking about. if yoruba have 4 out of 26 it is a bleach of the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria. So the other person is making sense.

becomricha:

what nonsense are you talking about. if yoruba have 4 out of 26 it is a bleach of the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria. So the other person is making sense.

Ha! this guy sef!

mekusxxx:

Yoruba should quit whining and exhibiting unbridled greed for power. They have had 8 unbroken years of rulership. Between 1999 and 2007, the language at Aso Rock was Yoruba Yoruba. For the next 60 years they should be content with licking hausa, Ijaw and then Igbo nyash

just curious why do u guys in nairaland refer to yorubas as Yoruba and ofe mmanu?, Nairaland was the first time i came across such words for yoruba peep?

I wonder when young NIGERIANS will drop this Tribal bigotry .

For 50 years, it has not worked for us as Nigerians, Can we try another option.

becomricha:

what nonsense are you talking about. if yoruba have 4 out of 26 it is a bleach of the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria.  So the other person is making sense.

Lwkmd  

Unilorin Kwenu!

becomricha:

what nonsense are you talking about. if yoruba have 4 out of 26 it is a bleach of the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria. So the other person is making sense.

Becomer, don't mind you detractors. Idea is need Shebi? . You might just help us with the relevant maps

To all you becomerich detractors, please remove "L" and add the "R" joor!

Becomrich7:

It is . What jonathan need to do is add more yoruba to the group. The constitution does not allow it. Check. The president is not allow to even attend any south south meeting or niger delta. He must be seen as fair.

Yorubas cant have 4 of 26. The least it can be is 6 or 7 of a group of 26. there is no zoning in the nigeria constitution. So what Jonathan need to do is add more people period. It may be an over sight.

Is four not a lion share since we have over 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria?

Greedy ngbatis
They love women
They love owambe
They love power
They love money
They love amala and gbegiri (yak)
They love corruption and fraudulence
What do they hate sef?

Dis post is useless, ethnicity and politics are no longa a good mix, ok Awolowo used it in developing the south west ages ago, that was ages ago. I will neva vote 4 any1 based on tribe religion oe gender. Why are nigerian youths devoid of logic and good thinking.

@Mekusssxx
U are just a jealous and frustrated loser!

^^^^

jealous of . . . what seun

Why does everything have to be about tribe and ethnicity Why cant we reason for once??

Nonsense!

Not even 10,000 ignorant Sanusis can bring down the enviable Yoruba nation!

@mekusxxx
You must love these same things to be hateful of those who enjoy them, stiff competition hey.   Otherwise you are just a nut case.

As for those complaining about lack of power, the day you realize that your only real power comes from developing and guarding your own corner of the world so well that other regions are jealous that is the day you will be cured of relying on political caucuses. If the governor of Osun, for example, stopped wasting the people's money on frivolities and builds on Awolowo's education legacy or did the kind of things Lagos is doing now the possibilities are endless. That goes for all the Ibos, Ijaws, Hausas, Fulanis, Edos and whatever you want to call yourself. If you dealt with Ohakim's buffoonery in Imo State may be the east has hope. If the people of Zamfara realized that Ahmed Sanni is a thief of no small proportions, but one who doesn't shy away from cutting the hand of ordinary folks for stealing goat, while hiding behind the name of God then power would have come to the north. If Sharia were to be any good for modern times  Abacha's sons should be missing limbs left, right and center.

Nobody is kicking the Yorubas around, the Hausa elites are kicking the Yoruba and Ibo elites all over the place. That is the entire story. They are a band of thieves among whom there is no honor, so what do you expect. Don't you wonder why they always manage to find an easterner to become the INEC commissioner? In turn the elites in each region are kicking their people around in pursuance of their egoistic goals.

mekusxxx:

Greedy ngbatis
They love women
They love owambe
They love power
They love money
They love amala and gbegiri (yak)
They love corruption and fraudulence
What do they hate sef?

I disagree with this article. it should be replaced with Igbo as football.

Without prejudice I think Yorubas are one of the powerhouse of this entity called Nigeria, they Lord over Lagos (the commercial hub) plus their almost even spread between muslim and christians enables them to play and fit very well with the North- SOuth Politics,

Cohomology:

Nonsense!

Not even 10,000 ignorant Sanusis can bring down the [b]enviable[/b]Yoruba nation!

enviable? nah i dont think so, Not to take anything away from Odua people. But I think I like my Igbo peeps, just as a Bini man, Ijaw, Urhobo, hausa, efik or whatever all love their peeps,

I am 100% happy with being igbo and wouldnt have it any other way.

And Yorubaman made this place available for all you haters to post. You must be ingrates. Either u like or not Yoruba rule and others follow.

yemmight:

And Yorubaman made this place available for all you haters to post. You must be ingrates. Either u like or not Yoruba rule and others follow.

yoruba rule yoruba finish, commot odua land and see if yoruba even get mentioned, ethnocentric fool

igbo boy:

yoruba rule yoruba finish, commot odua land and see if yoruba even get mentioned, ethnocentric fool

You are a fool, how do you talk about yoruba without odua? You're real igbo boy without any history.

Becomrich7:

Emeka alloy, what nonsense talk about 250 ethnics group. Are all the ethnics group the same. They dont have equal population.


You cant expect to give an ethnics group with 40 million. The same number of seat with an ethnics group with 1 million. How fair is that. Look at akwa ibom to lagos. Just lagos only of the over 300 cities the yorubas have. Now you want to give akwa the same number of seat. Does that make sense to you. That is not possible.

Number of seat in the nigeria constitution is based on population and not zone and not ethnics group. There is no rotation in the nigeria constitution.

That why we have said. Remove the yorubas,edo,delta and bayelsa  . either into benin republic or form a country.

How did you correctly rationalize the numbers to be equally representative according to the population density?. In other words, how did you derive the number of yorubas with respect to hausas and igbos taking their individual population into consideration?

yemmight:

You are a fool, how do you talk about yoruba without odua? You're real igbo boy without any history.

stop smoking cheap ibadan weed, it is clouding your senses