Politics
Biafra: Don’t Condemn IPOB, Understand Their Agitations – Tinubu Tells Nigerians
National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, has said Nigerians should not condemn but listen and understand the agitations by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
He said this while delivering the Keynote speech at the 2017 Annual Dinner of the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) at King’s College, Lagos.
The APC leader, who said the cry for separation had gained traction among average people due to the chronic failure of government to meet basic aspirations, however, warned against any attempt to split the country.
Tinubu noted that gargantuan challenges were facing the country but explained that they were not enough to call for the dismantling of the federation at a time some parts of the world were taking advantage of integration.
He said: “It is a rather curious lapse that a nation with such diversity as ours has not taken the time to give our legal marriage its proper functional underpinning. In other words, we all lined up to call ourselves Nigerian without gathering to discuss what it meant.
“Thus, we inhabit a nation that has not sufficiently defined its governance. We may be defined by political borders and boundaries but we have not glued ourselves to collective purpose and vision. Too many of us are born in Nigeria but not of it.
“Thus, our society is not a collective enterprise as important to each of us as our own personal endeavor. It is but a platform, an arena, to claim whatever one can by whatever means available. In too many ways we resemble a wrestling match instead of the nation we were meant to become.
“Thus, we argue over matters that long ago should have been settled. The longer such fundamental questions fester, the more extreme become the proposed answers.
“Thus, we have people clamoring for secession in one part of the country and the murmur of such a course grows stronger in other sections.
“These other areas resent that some have advocated secession. Blame and recrimination become the political currency. Statesmanship falls in short supply. The dominant urge is to confront instead of reconcile.
“It would be wrong to mistake this for a tempest in a teapot. If not careful, we may be tossed about like a teapot in a tempest.
“We must listen to what is being said so that we can determine what is really meant.
“Let us be frank. Many who cry separation do so because their personal ambitions will be better served by such a thing. They believe they will have greater chance at political power under a different arrangement. Yet the cry for separation has gained traction among average people; this is due to the chronic failure of government to meet basic aspirations.
“If over the years, government had delivered on the promise of growth, prosperity, and justice, those calling for such extreme remedies would be but a small fringe of little consequence.
“Our task is not to condemn but to listen and understand. I care not at all for this proposed solution. But I dare not discount the concerns and problems that have led many people into advocating such a thing.
“Here, I want to plainly state my position. I am a firm believer in Nigeria. I believe this land will become a great nation and a leader among other African nations. We can resolve our dysfunctions in a manner that will make this nation rise as a standard of decency, justice and prosperity for all Nigerians.
“So many excellent people have devoted themselves, even given their very lives, to give life to this nation. I dare not cast aside their hardy and brave work as if it were nothing. Many things we now enjoy and see as good are due to these people. We have benefited from their labor and sacrifice.
“Being more pragmatic, separating the nation into small pieces resolves nothing and creates additional problems. The world marches toward integration. Europe, America, Asia seek trade and commercial pacts that will make them more integrated markets. Notwithstanding Brexit, the EU grows more integrated in the functions of governance by the day. Thus, while nations more powerful and developed than us seek to pool their wealth and might, some of us seek to whittle this nation into smaller pieces.
“Such a thing would make us more vulnerable to outside influences. We would forfeit our rightful place on the world stage and as a leader of this continent.
“Moreover, not every split solves a problem. The political mentality, either good or bad, that defined a group before the split will remain after the divide. If one is imbued with factionalism, that perspective will remain even when the immediate problem is surmounted. Division will manifest differently, but manifest it will.
“A new factional bigotry will arise to replace the old. The cycle of tension and unrest will take its inexorable toll. Just ask the people of South Sudan if their woes ended when they left Sudan.
“When your heart is geared toward division, you will seek it within a single tribe, even a single family. The gossamer of ethnic unity will be ripped apart by sub-ethnic squabble. An angry man outside his home remains angry inside it as well and a thief steals from both stranger and friend.
“Driven by such a mentality, even someone you once called your brother becomes a nuisance, then a burden, and ultimately your enemy in short order.
“Thus, I oppose talk of break-up and all other exotic political arrangements tantamount to it. That I am a foe of disunity does not mean I have blinded myself to the truth that our nation is in need of great repair.
“We all see the nation for what it is. Some look further to see the nation for what it is not and they rush to condemn it.
“I choose to see the nation for what it can be and thus seek to nurture and cultivate it so that this Nigeria may bring forth the fullest blossoming of its riches, resources and ingenuity of its diverse people.”
Emmanuel
September 25, 2017 at 12:10 pm
Why this late?, and what do you intend to achieve?, maybe because the world has spoken, and even then yours a half-baked solution
Star Pretty
September 24, 2017 at 6:04 pm
Michael Amaliri
September 24, 2017 at 6:03 pm
Sabotour talking ur the reason nigeria is in a mess
Favour Heike Kalu
September 24, 2017 at 6:58 pm
Please mr man can you explain biko .enemies of progress is a pity that you guys will see truth and choose to support evil .Biafra agitation is not calling for war rather peaceful but you wicked souls tagged it bad name God is watching everyone .
Benson Ononogbo
September 24, 2017 at 4:30 pm
Tinubu is not comfortable the way the cabals are sharing power in Aso rock when he knows that Jubrin don’t have power of it’s own.
ThankGod Kc Ibe
September 24, 2017 at 3:38 pm
Because US government have said so abi? Follow follow!
They are now talking ndi ara.
Nnamdi Kanu said they must talk about Biafra whether they like it or yes. This guy is a prophet. They are all talking!!!!!! Hahaha
Uzoeto Benedict
September 24, 2017 at 3:11 pm
Why talking now when Buhari is not in the country
Itz Godswill Utulor
September 24, 2017 at 2:51 pm
We no where you’re going to!
Henry Danga
September 24, 2017 at 2:50 pm
fake news
Salis Abdullah Crc
September 24, 2017 at 2:49 pm
They deserved only bullet
Salis Abdullah Crc
September 24, 2017 at 2:48 pm
Boko haram has began like that
Austin Kasie Kelvin
September 24, 2017 at 2:29 pm
Very soon it will happen in your nake eyes Biafra will have their freedom you can go and kill yourself
Chi Bu Ike
September 24, 2017 at 2:08 pm
You are free to hate IPOB but ask yourself, are you also in contradiction of what IPOB is agitating for?
Israel Onuorah
September 24, 2017 at 1:59 pm
Good elder states man
Aneke Solomon Uchenna
September 24, 2017 at 1:33 pm
Tell them
Rubben Lukeman Aro
September 24, 2017 at 1:21 pm
Tinubu is slowly losing his grip on lagos and d west. He’ll soon become Ffk soon
Livinus Agim
September 24, 2017 at 1:16 pm
Brother tinubu is a freedom fighter, he is an experienced man, but they paid him evil for his good deeds.
Charles Osuigwe
September 24, 2017 at 1:00 pm
Everybody is now afraid. Only the truth shall survive
Amanfu Ukeje
September 24, 2017 at 12:59 pm
O,he said so? So he knws action begets reaction? Nobody initially who did not want one nigeria bt their had been a conspiracy against the eastern region based on feàr of “igbo”. But buhari,a natural sadist and igbo hater to the core heightened the conspiracy…his 95/5% policy of dividend distribution is an affront …thàt the weàlth that comes frm the east wl be used for north and west cos the east did not vote for him enmass, wot a warped mentality? Is thàt how trump dividing america? Buhari not ipob is ng’s problém. Ipob shld be hailed for heating the system without which there wld hv bn no noise of restructing. Yet,ar they ready? A just restructure càn stop agitation
Ibiam Chibuzor
September 24, 2017 at 12:39 pm
Biafra referendum
Biafra referendum
Paulinus Chukwunyere Agha
September 24, 2017 at 12:31 pm
Tell them
Jekwu Hansel Chukwueze
September 24, 2017 at 12:13 pm
Tinibu might not be as bad as we were ment to understand. Being following his altrances and political moves of recent and he looks like a man on a genuie mission
Donmarce Abuchi
September 24, 2017 at 12:04 pm
After set and down biafra must prevail.
Abraham Anyanwu
September 24, 2017 at 11:58 am
Remained blessed Sir
Isma'il Lawal
September 24, 2017 at 11:50 am
Their agitation has no meaning
Itz Vitus Suntex
September 24, 2017 at 1:18 pm
lawal why cant Nigeria allow the Igbos go?
Chidiebere Ugochukwu
September 24, 2017 at 11:48 am
Exactly
Prince Abraham Okoro Orji
September 24, 2017 at 11:47 am
God bless you
Ukwueze Ikechukwu Joseph
September 24, 2017 at 11:43 am
With due respect sir, be more elaborate. You stand a better chance and on better ground to call Buhari to order now. Do not wait until it is too late before you speak. You may consider another platform rather than the social media. A father cannot be at home watching his house on fire, and refuse to act.
Ken King
September 24, 2017 at 11:41 am
Men of wisdom and understanding re talking.
Ophelia Ogbu
September 24, 2017 at 11:29 am
Their are now talking
Kingsley Nwabuisi
September 24, 2017 at 11:28 am
When THE JAGABAN speaks you can only ignore him to you detriments !!!
Emefor Emmanuel Chigozie
September 24, 2017 at 11:16 am
If the Nigeria government claim we can be together prove kanu wrong by conducting a referendum.
Pauloo Okos
September 24, 2017 at 11:14 am
No time is late .4 saying it alone.he is the baba
Mercy Gold Okechukwu
September 24, 2017 at 11:03 am
Mcheeewwww…
Kehinde Oyekola
September 24, 2017 at 1:53 pm
Meaning pls
Owolabi Piro
September 24, 2017 at 10:58 am
J A G A B A N O F The World.
Patrick Don
September 24, 2017 at 10:56 am
They are coming out small small, I love this
Valentine Obisike Chukwuemeka
September 24, 2017 at 10:52 am
thank you sir, those who ears let them hear.ipob is not a terrorist organisation.
Mc Byfour Live
September 24, 2017 at 10:45 am
Good morning Tinubu.
Rodriguez Pence
September 24, 2017 at 10:39 am
Tunubu, why leaving it late. Yorubas game plans have becoming counterproductive, that y he’s saying trash. U impose Buhari against the wish of the people, have you seen the payback parcel?
Ekene Udensi
September 24, 2017 at 10:37 am
HAHAHAHAHAHA…. God bless u sir… So gradually ppl are supporting ipob,???????… Wonder shall never end..
Paul Azi
September 24, 2017 at 10:30 am
The jagaban has made his point very clear, kudos!
Ezinwa Na Ukwa
September 24, 2017 at 10:30 am
All we asked is date of referendum very simple?
Iloatuluchi Onuorah
September 24, 2017 at 10:28 am
I have said it always that only the truth shall set us free.Truth is biblical and spiritual.
Gideon Emerem
September 24, 2017 at 10:22 am
FUCK YA FOOL
Ernest Jombo
September 24, 2017 at 10:20 am
Too late to speak out when lives have been lost
Adedapo Adebisi Adejuwon Barcelona
September 24, 2017 at 10:18 am
Please Nnamdi Kcownu come out Jagaban will not allow security to arrest you.
Awa Aso
September 24, 2017 at 1:22 pm
This BADOO boy,mchwwww!!!
Adedapo Adebisi Adejuwon Barcelona
September 24, 2017 at 1:28 pm
If ask this moron name Awa Aso to find me where Mchwwww was been sighted inside dictionary I’m 100% sure he will not be able to find it nonentity just see people writing it and copy them FoolAwaAso.
Adedapo Adebisi Adejuwon Barcelona
September 24, 2017 at 10:16 am
Please which tribe will Even suffer if at all Nigeria breakup today?
Ndenojuo Joqchine
September 24, 2017 at 12:08 pm
No tribe will suffer it,afterall which tribe is enjoying now,so the reverse will be the case
Adedapo Adebisi Adejuwon Barcelona
September 24, 2017 at 12:10 pm
Ndenojuo Joqchine
You use proverb….
Cos Chukwudi
September 24, 2017 at 10:16 am
Good politician
Ejike Livi
September 24, 2017 at 10:08 am
Truth sir
Blessed Chijioke Chukwuma
September 24, 2017 at 10:07 am
The only way out IPON will take there country back from the people who think to be King of forest.
People who own the country are slave in their country why?. This is the time if not we will be slave for next 50 or 100 years to come.
Boniface Young
September 24, 2017 at 10:06 am
Truth must over shadow lies
Kelvin Ikiogha Ebidah
September 24, 2017 at 10:04 am
tinubu tell your daura Maggot
Chinyeaka Chidozie
September 24, 2017 at 10:02 am
Tell them
Prince Adewumi Rotee Fariogun
September 24, 2017 at 10:00 am
Your own personal opinion
Ladan Abdu
September 24, 2017 at 9:55 am
spy yoruba they are hating you
Judy Chiny Choice
September 24, 2017 at 9:55 am
Too late
Nnoruka Onyedika Philips
September 24, 2017 at 9:53 am
Jumping from mango tree to palm tree. Because the world are gradually speaking
Obi Chimezie Okoronkwo-nnadiekwe
September 24, 2017 at 9:52 am
They knew ipob is coming back to them legally
Jose Bakker
September 24, 2017 at 9:50 am
Politicians are now cpming in IPOB matters
Prince TheSpectacular
September 24, 2017 at 9:53 am
He is saying the truth, after all he doesn’t need ipobs support to be what ever he wants to be In politics does he?