Lagos Guber Election & Ethnic Tussle - My Take

A lot of people talk tongue in cheek when it comes to discussing real issues of governance and topical national issues. I don't know maybe they are afraid to really hit the nail on the head or because of clout chasing on social media.

I really don't care how anyone feels about me, once I am convinced, after thorough evaluation of the subject matter, I lay it bare without caring whose ox is gored. Nobody can blackmail me with the tag of "tribalist". It is too late in the day.

My association with southeaterners (Igbo) is too deep and it criss cross so many facets...ranging from friends of more than 25 to 30 years to marital associations...so people should stop using tribalism to blackmail people.

I expect an Igbo man to be proud of his heritage, while a Fulani, Hausa, Yoruba, Birom, Ibibio, Isoko, Igala, Ebira man too should be proud of his heritage just like everyone else. You are first a Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Fulani, Ebira or Ibibio man before you can claim to be Nigerian. One comes before the other. Collectively, we must all be proud of our Nigerianess.

Now, it is also a natural tendency to want to protect, defend, and stand by your tribe when there is a conflict of interest. It is innate in everyone. What makes the difference and why some people stand on the side of fairness in times like this, irrespective of the fact of the matter/situation is because of education, exposure and a real sense of justice, and their world view of life.

Tribal bigotry is as bad as racial bigotry. They are like siamese twins and these are serious social issues that cannot be airbrushed or wished away. Even in the most advanced nations of the world, racial issue, like tribalism still remains a very touchy and controversial issue that brings the worst out of people because everyone is always trying to defend his turf.

It takes leadership that understands the interplay of these issues that can walk through the landmines unscathed. That's why it is so funny that the most cosmopolitan city in Nigeria is enmeshed in this kind of problem right now, where you see a lot of people throw cautions to the wind and say things that are terrible.

It is pertinent to note that Lagos is not the only city with a cosmopolitan outlook in Nigeria. Kano, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Onitsha I believe should qualify to be called cosmopolitan but out of all these cities, Lagos has been the only one that has moved the needle in the real sense of being truly cosmopolitan because of the choices a leader took since 1999.

A city is not just cosmopolitan because it has different ethnic group residing and earning thier living within it. It is also because there has been a deliberate effort on the part of the leadership to let other ethnic groups who are not originally from that city have a say in governance. Lagos is the only city in Nigeria where there has been deliberate effort by her leadership to foster this type of integration.

The president-elect, Bola Tinubu was the first governor in this Republic to demystify this by appointing into his cabinet people from other ethnic group, especially Igbos in Lagos. Unfortunately, he's the most "hated" right now amongst the people of the same demography truth be told.

His major sin? I dont know. But one I believe he has been accused of most is that he has Lagos in his grip, and he determines who becomes what. It's ironical because in all other states of the federation, every former Governor have tried to replicate such hold on their states by picking their successors but they were never successful at it.

Peter Obi tried it in Anambra by picking a former ED of his bank to succeed him, within a year, they fell out. Orji Kalu picked his successor, his former chief of staff, Theodore Orji, later they fell out and became staunch enemies. Chimaroke Nnamani picked his successor, Sulivan Chime, a commissioner under him, also they fell out. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state picked his successor, Ndom Emmanuel, his SGF and after less than 2 years, they fell out bitterly and they are still on each other's neck as I write this.

There is no gainsaying the fact that Lagos State remains the best governed State in Nigeria in all ramifications. Even the harshest critic of Tinubu cannot fault him when it comes to his choice of leaders to govern Lagos over the years. They remains the best of men we've had in governance since 1999 when this Republic started. Even the sins of Ambode has nothing to do with under-performance, rather it is political.

There is too much hypocrisy on octane level. Your leaders in your various states wants to be like Tinubu. Fact is, they don't have what it takes to manage men and resources, that's why their is dearth of continuity and growth in your various state, yet you accuse Tinubu of holding Lagos by the jugular. Same thing your leaders tried and failed in, while Tinubu was successful at.

Lagos cannot be governed by a neophyte. This is not a state you put in the hands of a young man without any record of achievement, public or private apart from his enviable academic record. This has nothing to do with his maternal roots..and people should stop using that as an issue in this election. Gbadebo by his ancestry is a Lagosian - blue blooded Lagosian but governing Lagos is more than just being a son of the soil.

Governing Lagos is not what you support a candidate for out of anger or vengeance because your favourite presidential candidate lost an election. It means you don't care what happens to the continous, sustained, and meticulouslly planned development of Lagos. And you think throwing up tribal and ethnic connections would be the answer to your quest? Lagos is a Yoruba state and it would remain one. It is highly disrespectful to say it is a no man's land. What you can't take, don't throw it on other people's faces.

Also, for the rabble rousers who suddenly remembered that they are Yorubas and this is "our land". Quit the hypocrisy! Lagos is a cosmopolitan state with 3rd and 4th generation of Igbos who are even more Yorubas than some of you. My younger brother's wife was born in Surulere but her family is from Imo state. She knows no other place than Lagos. She's a Lagosian and there are many like her. She's even the one teaching my nephew and niece how to speak Yoruba language.

In the name of money making, some of you have sold your land & family heritage for a morsel, and all you do is disturb hardworking people who legitimately acquire land to build asking for "owo omo onile". It is high time government across board come up with laws to stop the sale of cultural heritage around our major cities. Prince Harry and William's Uncle, Charles Spencer (Princess Diana's brother) is the 9th Earl of Althorp.

Althorp is the ancestral land of the Spencers. Procured in 1508 by John Spencer. Althorp estate was bought from his family's sheep-rearing business. It remains today one of the most prominent stately homes in England. The mansion, estate and farm land dates to 1688. That's where Charles Spencer lives today overseeing the estate and they make money for its use by people around the world for marriage ceremonies.

Such estate and ancestral land abounds all over England from generation to generation. Nobody is selling them to the highest bidder. You don't sell your land heritage and start shouting that some people call your city a "no man's land". I am deeply in support of the fact that Igbos don't sell their ancestral land. Why should they? When they are not as st*pid as you lots.

People need to smell the coffee, quit hypocrisy and let Sanwoolu continue with his developmental stride in Lagos. Governance is a serious business. It is not a play thing to score cheap political points because you have a thin skin that cannot take a defeat.

Enough said...

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0jnupvHY5hNEvHiiHqnzMHwbGqpQQYyZQXFYr9u7GN9sXzR2buX4ZnQEmLevqKo4ml&id=606201031&mibextid=Nif5oz

©️ Kay Lord, 050323.

Pic Credit: Althorp Estate.

Very intelligent write up. However the outcome of this election. Whoever wins should congratulate the losers.

Unfortunately, no one gives a hoot about your opinion.
If you like become a ritualist, it's your choice.

You are not more Yoruba than others and some of us have reliable ibo friends as Church members and business partners.

We can't suddenly become enemies with them because of MC Oluomo or Sanwo-olu.

For crying out loud Gbadebo is from a well-known family in Lagos.

Is Sanwo-olu,MC Oluomo,Tinubu Ambode or even Pa Jakande from Lagos?

We are more concerned about SHARIA that Tinubu promised Muslims in Lagos and you are here talking about ibos

VGlobal:
Lagos Guber Election & Ethnic Tussle - My Take

A lot of people talk tongue in cheek when it comes to discussing real issues of governance and topical national issues. I don't know maybe they are afraid to really hit the nail on the head or because of clout chasing on social media.

I really don't care how anyone feels about me, once I am convinced, after thorough evaluation of the subject matter, I lay it bare without caring whose ox is gored. Nobody can blackmail me with the tag of "tribalist". It is too late in the day.

My association with southeaterners (Igbo) is too deep and it criss cross so many facets...ranging from friends of more than 25 to 30 years to marital associations...so people should stop using tribalism to blackmail people.

I expect an Igbo man to be proud of his heritage, while a Fulani, Hausa, Yoruba, Birom, Ibibio, Isoko, Igala, Ebira man too should be proud of his heritage just like everyone else. You are first a Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Fulani, Ebira or Ibibio man before you can claim to be Nigerian. One comes before the other. Collectively, we must all be proud of our Nigerianess.

Now, it is also a natural tendency to want to protect, defend, and stand by your tribe when there is a conflict of interest. It is innate in everyone. What makes the difference and why some people stand on the side of fairness in times like this, irrespective of the fact of the matter/situation is because of education, exposure and a real sense of justice, and their world view of life.

Tribal bigotry is as bad as racial bigotry. They are like siamese twins and these are serious social issues that cannot be airbrushed or wished away. Even in the most advanced nations of the world, racial issue, like tribalism still remains a very touchy and controversial issue that brings the worst out of people because everyone is always trying to defend his turf.

It takes leadership that understands the interplay of these issues that can walk through the landmines unscathed. That's why it is so funny that the most cosmopolitan city in Nigeria is enmeshed in this kind of problem right now, where you see a lot of people throw cautions to the wind and say things that are terrible.

It is pertinent to note that Lagos is not the only city with a cosmopolitan outlook in Nigeria. Kano, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Onitsha I believe should qualify to be called cosmopolitan but out of all these cities, Lagos has been the only one that has moved the needle in the real sense of being truly cosmopolitan because of the choices a leader took since 1999.

A city is not just cosmopolitan because it has different ethnic group residing and earning thier living within it. It is also because there has been a deliberate effort on the part of the leadership to let other ethnic groups who are not originally from that city have a say in governance. Lagos is the only city in Nigeria where there has been deliberate effort by her leadership to foster this type of integration.

The president-elect, Bola Tinubu was the first governor in this Republic to demystify this by appointing into his cabinet people from other ethnic group, especially Igbos in Lagos. Unfortunately, he's the most "hated" right now amongst the people of the same demography truth be told.

His major sin? I dont know. But one I believe he has been accused of most is that he has Lagos in his grip, and he determines who becomes what. It's ironical because in all other states of the federation, every former Governor have tried to replicate such hold on their states by picking their successors but they were never successful at it.

Peter Obi tried it in Anambra by picking a former ED of his bank to succeed him, within a year, they fell out. Orji Kalu picked his successor, his former chief of staff, Theodore Orji, later they fell out and became staunch enemies. Chimaroke Nnamani picked his successor, Sulivan Chime, a commissioner under him, also they fell out. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state picked his successor, Ndom Emmanuel, his SGF and after less than 2 years, they fell out bitterly and they are still on each other's neck as I write this.

There is no gainsaying the fact that Lagos State remains the best governed State in Nigeria in all ramifications. Even the harshest critic of Tinubu cannot fault him when it comes to his choice of leaders to govern Lagos over the years. They remains the best of men we've had in governance since 1999 when this Republic started. Even the sins of Ambode has nothing to do with under-performance, rather it is political.

There is too much hypocrisy on octane level. Your leaders in your various states wants to be like Tinubu. Fact is, they don't have what it takes to manage men and resources, that's why their is dearth of continuity and growth in your various state, yet you accuse Tinubu of holding Lagos by the jugular. Same thing your leaders tried and failed in, while Tinubu was successful at.

Lagos cannot be governed by a neophyte. This is not a state you put in the hands of a young man without any record of achievement, public or private apart from his enviable academic record. This has nothing to do with his maternal roots..and people should stop using that as an issue in this election. Gbadebo by his ancestry is a Lagosian - blue blooded Lagosian but governing Lagos is more than just being a son of the soil.

Governing Lagos is not what you support a candidate for out of anger or vengeance because your favourite presidential candidate lost an election. It means you don't care what happens to the continous, sustained, and meticulouslly planned development of Lagos. And you think throwing up tribal and ethnic connections would be the answer to your quest? Lagos is a Yoruba state and it would remain one. It is highly disrespectful to say it is a no man's land. What you can't take, don't throw it on other people's faces.

Also, for the rabble rousers who suddenly remembered that they are Yorubas and this is "our land". Quit the hypocrisy! Lagos is a cosmopolitan state with 3rd and 4th generation of Igbos who are even more Yorubas than some of you. My younger brother's wife was born in Surulere but her family is from Imo state. She knows no other place than Lagos. She's a Lagosian and there are many like her. She's even the one teaching my nephew and niece how to speak Yoruba language.

In the name of money making, some of you have sold your land & family heritage for a morsel, and all you do is disturb hardworking people who legitimately acquire land to build asking for "owo omo onile". It is high time government across board come up with laws to stop the sale of cultural heritage around our major cities. Prince Harry and William's Uncle, Charles Spencer (Princess Diana's brother) is the 9th Earl of Althorp.

Althorp is the ancestral land of the Spencers. Procured in 1508 by John Spencer. Althorp estate was bought from his family's sheep-rearing business. It remains today one of the most prominent stately homes in England. The mansion, estate and farm land dates to 1688. That's where Charles Spencer lives today overseeing the estate and they make money for its use by people around the world for marriage ceremonies.

Such estate and ancestral land abounds all over England from generation to generation. Nobody is selling them to the highest bidder. You don't sell your land heritage and start shouting that some people call your city a "no man's land". I am deeply in support of the fact that Igbos don't sell their ancestral land. Why should they? When they are not as st*pid as you lots.

People need to smell the coffee, quit hypocrisy and let Sanwoolu continue with his developmental stride in Lagos. Governance is a serious business. It is not a play thing to score cheap political points because you have a thin skin that cannot take a defeat.

Enough said...

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0jnupvHY5hNEvHiiHqnzMHwbGqpQQYyZQXFYr9u7GN9sXzR2buX4ZnQEmLevqKo4ml&id=606201031&mibextid=Nif5oz

©️ Kay Lord, 050323.

Pic Credit: Althorp Estate.

40Bullets:
Unfortunately, no one gives a hoot about your opinion.
If you like become a ritualist, it's your choice.

You are not more Yoruba than others and some of us have reliable ibo friends as Church members and business partners.

We can't suddenly become enemies with them because of MC Oluomo or Sanwo-olu.

For crying out loud is Gbadebo is from a well-known family in Lagos.

Is Sanwo-olu,MC Oluomo,Tinubu Ambode or even Pa Jakande from Lagos?

You're not a smart person. From the post, the writer didn't pick a side over the other. However the outcome of the elections. The losers should accept the losses in peace and not start crying the elections were rigged because it didn't turn out in your favor.

Go and read again.. This time around with your sense in tact.

There's what is called the spirit of a letter

burp18:
You're not a smart person. From the post, the writer didn't pick a side over the other. However the outcome of the elections. The losers should accept the losses in peace and not start crying the elections were rigged because it didn't turn out in your favor.

40Bullets:
Go and read again.. This time around with your sense in tact.

There's what is called the spirit of a letter

You are the senseless one in this case, since you can only reason with your anal orifice, there is no point making you to see the objectiveness of the writer. You can go on his Facebook page and throw your tantrum there. The link is available for your use.
NB: No matter your response here, you won't get a corresponding reply, because for people like you it's ''case closed"