The word ‘emi lokan’: ‘it’s my turn’, was used by the former governor of Lagos State while speaking with an emotional outburst at the gathering of APC stalwarts. Tinubu, in June, while canvassing for the support of his party members in Abeokuta, Ogun State before the presidential primary election held on June 6 and 7 at Eagle Square, Abuja uttered this Yoruba word that has since become the subject of debate in Nigerian political climate. Many have claimed that the coinage has added another ‘vocabulary’ to the Yoruba political dictionary.
In all honesty, ‘emi lokan’ is a sign of Tinubu’s political inventiveness and has indelibly secured for him a place among Nigerian politicians who have given this country interesting political expressions. However, Tinubu’s political sagacity is not the subject of this reflection. The discourse is on who truly deserves the ‘emi lokan’: Tinubu and the Southeast geopolitical zone?
The plural form of ‘emilokan’ is ‘awalokan’ – it is our turn – and by all measures, I dare to say that the coinage of awa ló kàn fits the circumstances and aspirations of the Southeast Geopolitical Zone. It is the turn of the Southeast to produce Nigeria’s next president. Everybody understood this and the demand was actually made by well-meaning Nigerians who asked the APC and PDP to zone their presidential tickets to the zone before the primaries. The call was defeated by the elites in the two parties who have been consistently accused of a grand plan to perpetually keep the people of the Zone out of the presidency.
In 1994, some Nigerian patriots led by the former Vice-President, Chief Sir Alex Ekwueme conceived an article of faith and principle of rotation of power that guarantee equity and inclusiveness for all the diverse components of the country. Thus, Nigeria was structured into six geopolitical zones; namely, South-South, Southeast, South-west, North-west, North-central and the North-east.
Since the coming in existence of this structure and beyond to the time of independence, the Southeast appears to be the only Geopolitical Zone that has been systematically kept out of the power sharing formula. By ethnic nationality, among the three ethnic groups that make up Nigeria – Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba – the Igbo of the Southeast is the only ethnic group that have produced the president. If we go by the north-south rotational system, Mohammadu Buhari, a northerner will be finishing his tenure next year. By all intent, it will be the turn of the south to produce Buhari’s successor. In the south itself, there are three geopolitical zones – Southwest, South-south and Southeast. Of these three zones, the Southwest had Obasanjo (1999-2007) and the South-south Jonathan (2010-2015). Only the Southeast is yet to have its turn. I strongly believe that the need for national cohesion and rebirth; for fair play, equity and justice demand that an easterner becomes the President.
People like Uzor Kalu have argued, “The situation in Nigeria is that without the support of other regions, it would amount to a shadow chase for a South Easterner to be President. This is the reason I have been in the frontline of the call that the two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should zone their presidential tickets to the South East as they did for the South West in 1999. In the absence of this zoning, I shall return to the Senate and stay away from the presidential contest.”
Contrary to the belief behind this expression, Mr. Peter Obi since he joined the Labour Party has shown that an Igbo man can form viable alliance with other groups. Obi has demonstrated that he understands and respects others in a way that has endeared him to people outside the Southeast. Nigerians from all works of life and ethnicity are without doubt convinced that voting for Obi will be voting for capacity, justice fairness and a united Nigeria. No wonder the Middle Belt Forum and AFENIFERE the Yoruba socio-cultural group have come out openly to endorse him.
Obi is currently doing what Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO) did when he masterfully, handshake-across the bridge getting people from every region of Nigeria to vote for him in the aborted Presidential election of June, 12, 1993. Without structure or bags of money, Obi has been able to galvanize electorates across Nigeria. The independent day march demonstrated the acceptability of Obi’s candidature across Nigeria.
The fact that Tinubu won the primary of their party was courageous and I respect people with courage and those who are innovative in the face of challenges. For example, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT), has all the odds against him, including from within his party as their parties primaries approached. He deviced ingenious ways of triumphing over the odds and emerged as the flag bearer of his party. This was a masterpiece. I don’t have to agree with him to recognize the feat! BAT, told the whole nation that it was his turn to be President but was it? No, Tinubu lied; it is not his turn. It is the turn of the Southeast and Obi is carrying the zone’s goodwill and mandate.
Finally, I like to be very blunt and I say that this country must not be one that you relegate merit and promote sentiment. Integrity makes difficult things happen, not ethnicity. Let the best man do the needful, build courage and contest for the election to win. So far, among the three frontrunners in this election, the only person who has displayed the type of integrity required to pull this country from the brink is Peter Obi. His integrity is already sending shockwaves across every facet of Nigeria. Look at the oil sector. They are burning oil vessels and discovering illegal oil pipelines because Obi said it. Every presidential candidate is now rushing palliative to flood victims because Obi said and did so. Obi is eminently qualified to be Nigeria’s next President: And the song of Nigerians should be “Obi lokam” not “emilokan”.
