In 2023,  every Yoruba should vote for Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling APC.  The time is now to act  collectively to stop the impending “doomsday”. A Yoruba man as President, even if that Yoruba man is deaf, blind and dumb, will help safeguard Yoruba land from invaders.

Why Nigeria is now at a crossroad.

Nigeria is at a critical point at the moment. In her entire history, the country has never been so divided as it is today, apart from the Civil war, between 1967 to 1970. The rising spate of insecurities, militancy and agitations for secession in different part of the country is not only worrisome but also disturbing. Religious and ethnic based violence are widespread. The centre can no longer hold and things are falling apart. Everything is going wrong and nothing seems to be working. Nigeria that was once touted as the “Giant of Africa” has now been reduced to a laughing stock and object of ridicule in the committee of nations.

During the protracted military rule in Nigeria, the Southern part of the country was subjected to a lot of injustices, discrimination, neglect and marginalization. With the dawn of democracy in 1999, it was hoped by many that this narrative would be reversed. But 23 years down the line, the situation has become worse.

The political structure of the country is skewed in favour of the North. It has produced more Heads of State than the South in the 62 years of the country’s history. The North have more States, more Local Government Councils and more representation at both Houses of the National Assembly. Most key and “juicy” political appointments goes to the North. From Service Chiefs to Heads of Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies. It is lopsidedness all the way.

President Muhammadu Buhari have been accused of nepotism and favoritism. He has given undue advantage to the North at the detriment of the South. He has exhibited flagrant disregard and non-adherence to the principle of Federal Character. This negates the basic tenets of equality and fairness that representative of democracy advocates.

With the way people from other ethnic groups are making incursion into the South-West, it is high time the Yorubas rally round, support and vote for one of their own to become President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu perfectly matches this requirements. Let me borrow the timeless words of the legendary Hubert Ogunde that says in the Yoruba language:” Yoruba ero inu o”. This literarily means that the Yorubas should think deeply.

Why it is important for the Yorubas to support Tinubu despite his supposed many ills?

The Yorubas need to take a cue from the Northerners. They supported and voted massively for president Muhammadu Buhari despite his health challenges and many other flaws. Political behaviors and voting pattern of the electorates, this days is largely influenced by ethnic and tribal sentiments and consideration. Everyone wants his or her kinsman to be president. Maybe you should learn from the Igbos who now sing the praise of their son, Peter Obi, and see him as the next best thing since slice bread.

The Yorubas should put aside party affiliations, grievances and other issues that may have with the personality and the candidacy of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by coming out to vote massively for him in the 2023 Presidential Elections. The Yorubas stand to benefit more from the presidency of Asiwaju than from that of any of the other presidential flagbearers. The ambition of Asiwaju should be viewed from the prism of the overall long-term interests of the South-West region.

We do not need any soothsayer or to look into the crystal ball to know that the former Vice-President and the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will garner most of the votes in the North. Why can’t the Yorubas do the same for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is one of their own. It’s high time the Yorubas change their orientation and do what is politically expedient. Nigerian politics is now tribalistic in nature, and in its entirety, good governance comes a distance last. Support Atiku and Obi as a Yoruba man at your own peril! The next time that Igbo man sells a Peter Obi to you, ask him or her why not a Seyi Makinde. Why must it be someone with an “Obi” as surname! Don’t fool yourself, omo Odua, its all about their kinsman.

The Peter Obi Phenomenon.

The Igbos are solidly behind Peter Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State and the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party. Most of the votes from the South-East will go to him and neither to Atiku nor Tinubu. Assuming Peter Obi or any other Igbo gets to power he or she will only cater for and further the interests of fellow Igbos and the South-East region.

In fact, the Igbos in power will further perpetuate all sorts of injustices and discrimination against the Yorubas.  This may not be violent in nature or be in the from of the use of the barrel of the gun, but it will still be subjugating and highly detestable, anyway.

The Igbos will appropriate most if not all of the nation’s resources to themselves and to the South-East region. This comes natural and highly expected, going by their nature of banding together. Just evaluate any institution the Igbo man commands.

Moreover, Peter Obi will not emerge the country’s next president come 2023. The seen and unseen factors that abhors good governance will prevent him from getting to power. There is no way he can become president if does not have massive votes from the North. But the truth is that the Northerners will not vote for him. The North have a clannish mentality. Therefore, any Yoruba indigene who chose to vote for a Peter Obi due to ignorance will be giving Atiku an advantage.

The real battle is between Atiku Abubakar and Bola Ahmed Tinubu. By extension the electoral battle line is drawn between the North and the South-West. Peter Obi is inconsequential in the overall picture. No number of votes he gathers in the South-East, the South-South and even in the South-West can see him through.

Nigeria is too tribalized for the Yorubas to support a Peter Obi or Atiku presidency.

The best way the Yorubas can stay relevant in Nigeria is to lay claim to power as much as possible. This is because in Nigeria, power is not just an end in itself, but a means to an end. Political power means a lot in this clime. Resource allocation is at the prerogative of those at the corridors of power.

The die is cast. The Northerners will vote massively for Abubakar Atiku, the Igbos will vote for Peter Obi. Why can’t the Yorubas vote for their own — Bola Tinubu, after all, he is Yoruba.

What we have in the country at the moment is the reenactment of the regional and tribal politics of the First Republic Nigeria. The Yorubas should understand the times. The youths should forget about their supposed grievance against Tinubu. A bigger prize is what they should desire — someone who can further your interest in a fragmented Nigerian state.

The Yorubas and indeed the South-West region stands to gain more from the Presidency of Bola Tinubu. Every president will first look after the interest of his kinsmen and region.

If the Yorubas turn against Tinubu for whatever reason (some of these might even be genuine) and he fails to secure the presidency, blame yourself when the Fulanis and the Igbos come calling to lay claim to Oduduwa land. The next time that okada man stabs you and gets away with it in the heart of Lagos State, or when the Igbo man lay claim to your ancestral land because he is able to use his financial strength to swing things his way … remember your stupid idealism to hate a Tinubu who could have swung things your way.

This is the golden opportunity for the South-West to be at the helm of affairs. Posterity will judge us on how we use this opportunity.