The North running rings round the South

Kayode Fayemi

Executive Governor of Ekiti State

In the midst of the Covid - 19 pandemic, NIN or no SIM, Boko Haram or Herdsmen, the politics of 2023

Presidency is making the North, once more the beautiful bride.

The South East is in turmoil. Sunday Igboho is filling a leadership vacuum in the South West. Governor Wike is playing father Christmas.

Look no further for the cause of the actions and inaction of southern politicians.

The South West are eyeing Presidential slot or at worst, the Vice Presidency. The South East believe the Presidency is theirs for the taking. The South South or Wike is scheming to be Vice President.

To dare is to give Filip to one's dream. No harm there, except that we are making ourselves a laughing stock.

I say a laughing stock because, when it pleases us, the northerners are our problem but when we need them, we lick their feet.

The North is monolithic. They have the Bayajidda legend and the exploits of Dan Fodio to thank. Was it necessary to remind Abubakar Atiku that speaking Fulfulde does not make him a Fulani?

To us in the South, that is hogwash. There were slave families in the South but nobody lets things like that inhibit him. If those who know you call you dishonorable, you can always get a northern Alhaji give you crumbs and you polish the crumbs to come flaunt before your southern friends, family and foes.

In the South, we are very competitive. This is not necessarily bad but too much of anything is bad.

I attended a University where the motto is to restore the didnity of man. In our pursuit of ambition, we forget dignity.

Today, beyond politics, the most burning issue in Nigeria, is insecurity but make no mistake about it, the plot will once more, be lost on the altar of politics.

Does it surprise you that at a time when Ondo is trying to whip herdsmen into place, Ekiti is saying the opposite?

The answer is simple. In the politics of today, Governors occupy a pride of place and Ekiti State Governor is the Chairman of the Governors' forum. He is very much in the loop of things.

In the North, you have to be a Muslim. You have to be Fulani with a clear link or allegiance to Sokoto. Any other thing or person takes a back seat.

It is settled.