Those who want to clinch power by whatever mean wouldn’t mind manipulating the history. Right from the outset, Yoruba people have never been losers in the political development of Nigeria. If you like, trace the history to the time colonialism started in the country, the time of amalgamation, any of the republics or military rules.
Against the falsehoods of some mischievous sections, Yoruba would not be a loser if it doesn’t clinch presidency in 2023, and comparing the year with 1993 and 1963 is illogical.
Indeed the ordeals of Obafemi Awolowo in 1963 hurt the West and Yoruba people, but Nigeria as a nation paid dearly. Thus, Nigeria was a worse loser than just the Western Region or the Yoruba people in the year following the calculated gang-up against Awolowo. And we all know that the leading Yoruba figures involved in that treachery paid dearly for their greed. Awolowo later returned to be celebrated.
The 1993 event was more of nemesis if one studies the events from 1978. And it ended up as the implosion of the alliance between MKO and his northern elites, especially the military rulers. The event almost made him benefit what should have belonged to Awolowo. Ironically, he was a principal actor against the same Awolowo in the second republic. Incidentally, he suffered a worse fate, not Yoruba people.
What Yoruba was supposedly robbed of in 1993 was given back in 1999 in such an unusual manner. So, how could anyone still say Yoruba lost? Abiola would very likely dance to the tune of the north than associating himself with his Yoruba compatriots.
And to say Yoruba is a loser if it loses 2023 presidency is a huge lie. Political calculations and sagacity of Yoruba people in the last eight years make many feel it won’t be out of place if Yoruba emerges in 2023, not by the principle of equity or turn-by-turn. Whether Yoruba wins or not, the southwest remains the best gainer in this republic in term of access to the highest political offices in the country. Out of the 23 years in this new dispensation, the zone has produced the most celebrated president for eight years; the most celebrated vice president for seven years as well as the Speaker for the House of Representatives for seven years (Folake Etteh, Dimeji Bankole and the incumbent Gbajabiamila). And by extension, another Yoruba man from the north central zone, Bukola Saraki, was a Senate president for four years. No other single nationality has got similar advantage since independence within such a period. And certainly, if a Yoruba person does not win presidency in 2023, either Senate presidency or speakership would be given to Yoruba.
*Olutunji Timothy*
*17/07/2022*
