Pa Ayo Adebanjo at Peter Obi's Rally. Photo Credit: the Cable A few days ago, some sociocultural group leaders in Nigeria met in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, to discuss the way forward concerning the 2023 presidential election in the country.
At the meeting, the leader of the pan-Yoruba ethnic group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo was also at the meeting where he was quoted to have threatened war, if his preferred presidential candidate, Mr Peter of the Labour Party failed to win the 2023 presidential election.
According to the Cable, Pa Adebanjo stated that "...We will give it what it takes. It is either bend or break. If Obi does not win, forget a country called Nigeria. If we lose this election, there will be no opportunity for a non-Christian, a non-northerner to be president again.
"...Have it at the back of your mind that Obi must be declared president. Anything contrary to this, we should forget about Nigeria.”
Digest
No one should need much explanation to discard Pa Adebanjo's claim that if Peter Obi loses the 2023 presidential election, it would be hard for southern Christians to produce President in Nigeria.
The simple question required to discharge this claim by Pa Adebanjo is "how many Southern Christians and Southern Muslims have become president of Nigeria?
Resolving this, it is evidenced that Jeremiah Olusegun Obasanjo, and Goodluck Jonathan who were presidents of Ft Nigeria for about 18 years, including the Obasanjo's military years, are Christians. Not only this the likes of Oladipo Diya and Yemi Osinbajo who have been Vice President of Nigeria are also Christian.
Then, how would the failure of Peter Obi to become President of Nigeria unwrite the story, where only Southern Christians have been presidents and vice presidents from the South whereas no single Southern Muslim has ever climbed the throne of Nigerian presidency?
Most, unfortunately, it is not people of Pa Adebanjo's age and calibre that should be expected to be instigating violent words, regarding the 2023 presidential election.
No one's political ambition w
should be considered worth the life of any citizen. If Pa Adebanjo should be adamant with his claim that people should forget a country called Nigeria if Peter Obi loses out at the forthcoming, presidential election, it may imply a proposal for another round of civil unrest, and crises and, may God forbid, loss of life and underdevelopment of the country under the next administration, courtesy of the violence that is being incited by Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
Let us digest these further:
1) Is Pa Adebanjo's position on the Southern Christian presidency justifiable?
2) Does the ambition of Peter Obi worth the threat that is being given to the unity of Nigeria?
3) Shouldn't there be a government measures to punish such utterances that may incite troubles in the country?
Category: Forum
Tag: Nigeria pa Ayo adebanjo politics today Nigeria news today
Written by Nicolas Smith (nicolas)
Published 2/6/2023 7:54:41 AM