Who exactly is responsible for the birth of Nigeria? - Ayekooto Akindele

Let us check history dispassionately.

SW(including EDO & Delta) said they are ready.

SE said they are ready.

North said anyone that wants to go can go but they still prefer the British.

Ahmadu Bello preferred to remain in the North.
Zik wanted to rule Nigeria
Awo wanted to rule Nigeria.

The British also wanted the North to join.

Of the three Premiers, only that of the north did not want to rule Nigeria, at least directly. This shows that Regional government is no solution, there is something attractive at the center whether in the Regional or Presidential!

UNITY was the slogan of Awo when he ran for Premier in 1959. Zik joined forces with Bello to help Balewa and they won!

On the 1st of October, no tribe boycotted the independence day.

At what point did we change?

1963 elections. Thoroughly rigged by Akintola and Bello. So election process is an ISSUE.
This led to a bloody coup that killed not just Akintola and Bello but also Balewa. Seemed like those who 'won' in 1963 rigged poll were prime targets but Okotie eboh too was killed.

FREE AND FAIR ELECTION would have prevented that actually.

Then the Military? And their Unitary system. The truth is that Presidential system is good but ours was defined by military dictatorship. WE MUST REDEFINE OUR PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM

Ironsi tribalistically protected those who murdered the riggers of 1963 elections and that led to bloodier tribalism and later WAR.
TRIBALISM IS BAD. A leader must not be tribalistic.

Millions died but we still came back as one! THIS SHOWS THAT NO AMOUNT OF KILLINGS CAN KILL NIGERIA. Let us learn from history.

Even there is no love lost in the military too. Gowon was overthrown, Murtala was killed. In 1979, the two 'people' that caused the war united again at the center. LOL....CENTER IS A UNITER! Even Ojukwu was forgiven and Gowon returned from exile! Both had earlier ended up in exile. LOL.

In 1983, the worst election election in our history took place. Unlike in 1963 which was done by Balewa and Akintola, this was done by Shagari and Ekwueme! Equation balanced!

But like 1963, the rigged election did not stand as well. The Military again!!!!!! Blood flew more in the barracks. Vatsa, Orka etc.

To proof that free and fair election can solve our problems, in 1993, TRIBALISM and RELIGION bowed to a FREE and FAIR POLL. If not for the conglomerate of Opportunists led by IBB, Nigeria would have been freed but..........and here we are looking for a solution that is in our pocket.

Abacha convoke a Conference, he knew that was not the solution. In 1999, June 12 was ridiculed when some people said it is all about the Yorubas and they must be pacified. OBJ came in. Disaster unlimited! No problem solved.

Then OBJ rigged another election in 2007 and brought in an Ijaw man with Igbo name EBELE. It was worse. CORRUPTION was his second name. He too rigged himself in properly in 2011. CORRUPTION is no longer fashionable because EBELE abused it. And later played to the gallery by using a CONFAB to cover up.....LOL

In 2015, a relatively fair election was conducted. It was rigged fairly. BUHARI won through the help of Tinubu and others. Nigeria thought integrity will end their sorrow.

YES INTEGRITY will but Integrity must do justice too.

Like Conducting a credible CENSUS
Like Pushing for RESOURCE CONTROL
Like Equipping and ensuring independent INEC
Like being a father to all

Nigeria will not break easily but these conditions can be met easily if truly we are sincere!

Was Yoruba better off during OBJ?
Was the Igbo/Ijaw better off during OBJ?
Has poverty disappeared in the North even now?

So who is responsible?