TRIBALISM AND DISUNITY

TRIBALISM AND DISUNITY PROBLEMNIGERIA’S TRIBALISM AND DISUNITY PROBLEM

MY FRIENDS.THIS IS AN INTERESTING SPEECH GIVEN BY Sanusi (SLS), based on a book titled “Nigeria, Africa’s failed asset”!!!HE ECHOES MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY ON THE ISSUE OF TRIBALISM AND DISUNITY; PERHAPS, BECAUSE I HAD DONE THE RESEARCH AND CAN VERIFY HE IS HISTORICALLY CORRECT!!!

 

Sanusi Lamido’s Response To Sir Olaniwun Ajayi’s Book by idiopathic: 6:17pm On Feb 08, 2011Sanusi Lamido’s response to Sir Olaniwun Ajayi’s book titled “Nigeria , Africa ‘s failed asset?”

A refreshing perspective – Interesting read!!!

 

Please if you write a silly book, don’t invite Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to make a presentation. , I guess Olaniwun Ajayi has learnt from this. Sanusi faults Olaniwun Ajayi on Northern domination.The Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, surprised guests present at the Muson Centre for the launching of the book of Sir Olaniwun Ajayi at the Muson Centre in Lagos .The book titled: ” Nigeria , Africa ‘s failed asset?” attracted many important dignitaries, intellectuals and some governors.

 

The argument by discussants centered on whether or not the colonial masters laid the foundation for the problems Nigeria is currently facing. Many argued that the British loved the North and that was why it gave more than 50 percent of the National Assembly seats to the North at independence.Sanusi, however, stole the show when he spoke. His speech was anchored on the plank that the British and Nigerian rulers are responsible for the state of the situation Nigeria finds itself today.Below is his unedited speech.

 

“Let me start by saying that I am Fulani (laughter). My grandfather was an Emir and therefore I represent all that has been talked about this afternoon. Sir Ajayi has written a book. And like all Nigerians of his generation, he has written in the language of his generation.”My grandfather was a Northerner, I am a Nigerian. The problem with this country is that in 2009, we speak in the language of 1953. Sir Olaniwun can be forgiven for the way he spoke, but I cannot forgive people of my generation speaking in that language.”Let us go into this issue because there are so many myths that are being bandied around. Before colonialism, there was nothing like Northern Nigeria, Before the Sokoto Jihad, there was nothing like the Sokoto caliphate. The man from Kano regard himself as bakane. The man from Zaria was bazazzage. The man from Katsina was bakatsine. The kingdoms were at war with each other. They were Hausas, they were Muslims, they were killing each other.”The Yoruba were Ijebu, Owo, Ijesha, Akoko, Egba. When did they become one? When did the North become one? You have the Sokoto Caliphate that brought every person from Adamawa to Sokoto and said it is one kingdom. They nowsaid it was a Muslim North.”The Colonialists came, put that together and said it is now called the Northern Nigeria. Do you know what happened? Our grand fathers were able to transform to being Northerners. We have not been able to transform to being Nigerians. The fault is ours.Tell me, how many governors has South West produced after Awolowo that are role models of leadership? How many governors has the East produced like Nnamdi Azikiwe that can be role models of leadership? How Many governors inthe Niger Delta are role models of leadership? Tell me. There is no evidence statistically that any part of this country has produced good leaders.You talk about Babangida and the economy. Who were the people in charge of the economy during Babangida era? Olu Falae, Kalu Idika Kalu. What state are they from in the North?”We started the banking reform; the first thing I heard was that in Urobo land, that there will be a curse of the ancestors. I said they (ancestors) would not answer. They said why? I said how many factories did Ibru build in Urobo land? So, why will the ancestors of the Urobo people support her?”We talk ethnicity when it pleases us. It is hypocrisy. You said elections were rigged in 1959, Obasanjo and Maurice Iwu rigged election in 2007. Was it a Southern thing? It was not.

 

“The problem is: everywhere in this country, there is one Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba and Itshekiri man whose concern is how to get his hands on the pile and how much he can steal.Whether it is in the military or in the civilian government, they sit down, they eat together. In fact, the constitution says there must be a minister from every state.”So, anybody that is still preaching that the problem of Nigeria is Yoruba or Hausa or Fulani, he does not love Nigeria . The problem with Nigeria is that a group of people from each and every ethnic tribe is very selfish. The poverty that is found in Maiduguri is even worse than any poverty that you find in any part of the South.The British came for 60 years and Sir Ajayi talked about few numbers of graduates in the North (two at independence) . What he did not say was that there was a documented policy of the British when they came that the Northerner should not be educated. It was documented. It was British colonial policy. I have the document. I have published articles on it. That if you educate the Northerner you will produce progressive Muslim intellectuals of the type we have in Egypt and India. So, do not educate them. It was documented. And you say they love us (North).”I have spent the better part of my life to fight and Dr. (Reuben) Abati knows me. Yes, my grandfather was an Emir. Why was I in the pro-democracy movement fighting for June 12? Is (Moshood) Abiola from Kano ? Why am I a founding director of the Kudirat Initiative for Nigerian Development (KIND)?

 

“There are good Yoruba people, good Igbo people, good Fulani people, good Nigerians and there are bad people everywhere. That is the truth. “Stop talking about dividing Nigeria because we are not the most populous countryin the world. We have all the resources that make it easy to make one united great Nigeria . It is better if we are united than to divide it.”Every time you talk about division, when you restructure, do you know what will happen? In Delta Area, the people in Warri will say Agbor, you don’t have oil. When was the Niger Delta constructed as a political entity? Ten years ago, the Itshekiris were fighting the Urobos. Isn’t that what was happening? Now they have become Niger Delta because they have found oil. After, it will be, if you do not have oil in your village then you cannot share our resources.”There is no country in the world where resources are found in everybody’s hamlet. But people have leaders and they said if you have this geography and if we are one state, then we have a responsibility for making sure that the people who belong to this country have a good nature.

“So, why don’t you talk about;

we don’t have infrastructure,

we don’t have education,

we don’t have health.

We are still talking about Fulani. Is it the Fulani cattle rearer or is anybody saying there is no poverty among the Fulani?”, he said.

 

NOW MY FRIEND, – WHATS YOUR OPINION OF THE TRIBALISM AND DISUNITY PROBLEM? –

DO YOU AGREE WITH HIM, OR NOT? – OR BETTER SUGGESTION?

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65 Comments
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Diana Johnson
Diana Johnson Thanks for this Greg…Sanusi Lamido speaks the truth.
April 24, 2013 at 9:33pm ·

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Djtits UO
Djtits UO Too simple to be a lie!
April 24, 2013 at 10:15pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Thank you Diana, for agreeing.
He is a maverick, who speaks his mind….
Very logical with facts to back him up too.
April 24, 2013 at 10:20pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Alsu, hahahahaa! Abi o!
I like the way u put it!! 😉
So it seems he is saying the finger pointers are the problems?
April 24, 2013 at 10:22pm ·

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Djtits UO
Djtits UO It always is! When one points a finger they seldom see that 3 points back at them! Try point at a your wall now and look at your palm!
April 24, 2013 at 10:38pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator GBAAAAM!
April 24, 2013 at 10:42pm ·

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Ignatius Nwachukwu
Ignatius Nwachukwu · Friends with Greg Eweka

Sanusi said the truth, Nigeria need TRUE leders like that of Azikiwe Awolowos etc
May 5, 2013 at 6:32am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Ignatius Nwachukwu, my thoughts exactly!
May 5, 2013 at 3:24pm ·

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Nicholas Mensan Gaba
Nicholas Mensan Gaba I agree with him. I have always postulated that dividing Nigeria will not solve any problem. The corruption , dishonesty and lack of conscience will continue in the divisions. We are bad people with “federal character”.
May 5, 2013 at 3:49pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Nicholas, my brother, you are right!
So i wonder why about 50% of 9jrns still toy around with separating the country being a solution. Why?
May 5, 2013 at 7:19pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Recent happenings, just make unity dicey o!!!
Abi, how una see am?
May 15, 2013 at 8:55am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator I wonder if our culture is part of our disunity problem!!!
After all lets consider, how many tribes we have in a relatively small portion of land compared to the rest of the world?
May 29, 2013 at 8:47am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Also just wondering if one of the longterm side effects of polygamy is a talent pool of disunited children equipped to be tribal by default!!!
Deep calleth unto deep??
May 29, 2013 at 8:49am ·

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Jide Obe
Jide Obe You got to hand it to SLS. He is bluntly factual.
May 29, 2013 at 8:56am ·

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Ukpon'refe Kennedy Aimiuwu
Ukpon’refe Kennedy Aimiuwu Sanusi has said it as it has never been said! Over to our generation!! The generations before us have benefitted immersely from NIGERIA as a country! Shall we follow Asari Dokubo, Uwazuirike MASSOB, OPC and the Ango Abdulahis to ruin the future for the next generation?
May 29, 2013 at 9:07am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Ukpon’refe Kennedy Aimiuwu, exactly my thoughts exactly in light of recent developments in 9ja??
May 29, 2013 at 9:14am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Racism or Tribalism, i wonder which one is worse, or are they the same?
June 16, 2013 at 10:25pm ·

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Fidelis Edosomwan
October 29, 2013 at 2:43am ·

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Yinka Theisen
Yinka Theisen Very nice! No share button, kindly permit me to copy and paste.
October 29, 2013 at 3:05am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Yinka Theisen, yes indeed you can re-post this, cheers.
October 29, 2013 at 9:53am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Speaking of solution my brother, have u seen this Zed Ayeni
October 29, 2013 at 9:53am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Camilius Egeni, how about this for a solution sir?
ie provide the basic amenities, not loot them, & expose those who loot them….
October 29, 2013 at 9:56am · Edited ·

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Vincent Chidi Emenike
Vincent Chidi Emenike · 28 mutual friends

Chief Greg Ekhator, this is what am talking about. You hit de nail badly with this post. All what sanusi said is the apex of all our problems. We should be ashamed of our generation period.
October 29, 2013 at 11:00am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator My bro, indeed, we should be ashamed of our generation, & some of our friends inability to see things judiciously from the right perspective. It is very shameful, & the worse thing is its not even down to education or enlightenment, because some of the folks espousing these narrow parochial views are very well educated…
October 29, 2013 at 11:19am · Edited ·

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Vincent Chidi Emenike
October 29, 2013 at 11:54am ·

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Vincent Chidi Emenike
Vincent Chidi Emenike · 28 mutual friends

I think the question we should be asking now is how do conquer or cure this madness. Because, tribalism has eaten up most of these fellows to the extent they see it as a normal thing in life, and if there is no preventing measure taken they might even turn to racist towards their same race.
October 29, 2013 at 12:04pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator I suggest :
1. The moral custodians should be taken to task by the people, or well meaning United 9jrns.
2. we should measure of the basic amenities is provided by the govt, to all sections of 9ja, so equity can be transparent.See More
October 29, 2013 at 12:40pm ·

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Zed Ayeni
Zed Ayeni Greg Ekhator – He did this in 2011 and here we are still asking the same question and fighting the same fight without progress. Wow- GOD bless Nigeria. I love the article
October 29, 2013 at 6:01pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Zed, exactly!! We need to really rally some momentum for anti-tribalism & unity! Otherwise d status quo will use d age old tactic to divide & conquer us
October 29, 2013 at 6:05pm ·

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Zed Ayeni
Zed Ayeni Greg Ekhator – How do we start. I know it takes one person to start. I am all in. How do we set it up and who else will actually step up. I wonder.
October 29, 2013 at 6:07pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator This made my 2013 year in review!!!
December 11, 2013 at 7:21pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator I HOPE WE ARE GETTING BETTER O?
January 22, 2014 at 9:46am ·

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David Okoturo
David Okoturo Bendel was an example of model but the so called elite destroy it. Sam Ogbemudia is still regarded as a true statesman by all ethnic tribe that make up old Bendel
January 23, 2014 at 12:26am ·

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David Okoturo
David Okoturo With the so called my tribe better pass you syndrome, it will only get worse. GEJ suppose to be PhD educated(l doubt) has joined the bandwagon with E K Clark et al as mentors.
January 23, 2014 at 12:30am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Yes, & its such a shame, but the man no get liver, i nor even know whether na GEJ dey talk or pesin dey talk thru am
January 23, 2014 at 12:31am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator You see naw!
Corruption is fighting back, what are we going to do?
February 22, 2014 at 9:10am ·

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David Okoturo
February 22, 2014 at 9:50am ·

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Ayodele T Alex
Ayodele T Alex this speech is extremely correct, i’ve always enjoy the opinion of this man Called Sanusi. i think we need to think right and act right.
February 22, 2014 at 11:02am ·

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Charles Akhimienmhonan
Charles Akhimienmhonan Sanusi wad right!
February 22, 2014 at 11:18am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator I have quite a few friends who should read this article o
March 9, 2014 at 9:41pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator “The problem is: everywhere in this country, there is one Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba and Itshekiri man whose concern is how to get his hands on the pile and how much he can steal.Whether it is in the military or in the civilian government, they sit down, they eat together.
~ SLS
April 26, 2014 at 12:57am ·

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Pride Osayamwen
Pride Osayamwen Tribalism and Disunity are a natural phenomena; can’t be stopped only minimized using enforceable rules / laws of society. Whenever you land from an airplane in London or the United States, there are always people who don’t want you there but why are See More
April 26, 2014 at 3:57am ·

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Nathan Nath
Nathan Nath Great speech!
April 26, 2014 at 5:07am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Pride, indeed d law is supposed to discourage discrimination! But I do not recall even one discrimination lawsuit in 9ja! Funny that?
April 26, 2014 at 7:20am ·

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Pride Osayamwen
Pride Osayamwen We would see laws and their enforcement when the judiciary wakes up from their slumber. Until then, every man / woman for him / her self. Our lawyers will probably make more money challenging government for no fixing roads, thereby leading to loss of See More
April 26, 2014 at 3:42pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
April 26, 2014 at 6:37pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator In light of the new war of terror, nkor?
May 21, 2014 at 7:24pm ·

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Tony Osagie
Tony Osagie My brother National Character in itself encourages tribalism . I appreciate the talk of Ogbemudias time . But you must understand that the policy of the federal government then was development . Take a look at history all the governors at that time excSee More
June 26, 2014 at 6:23am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Reminder!!!
July 18, 2014 at 10:07am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator You have the Sokoto Caliphate that brought every person from Adamawa to Sokoto and said it is one kingdom. They nowsaid it was a Muslim North.”The Colonialists came, put that together and said it is now called the Northern Nigeria. Do you know what hapSee More
September 27, 2014 at 12:48pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator You see what i mean now,
in hindsight!!
SLS is now the Emir of Kano, so no one can accuse him of angling for power!!See More
March 5, 2015 at 8:28pm · Edited ·

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Femi Obiomah
Femi Obiomah Nice article used to hearing this from the likes of mataima Sule, and the likes. They deliver excsllent speeches down south and do something else up north. I have never heard of when they offer refuge to victims of religious riots perpetuated by their See More
March 6, 2015 at 3:22pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator In light of the recent election victory by GMB the dynamics have now changed completely again!!!
Your thoughts?
April 4, 2015 at 9:55am ·

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Femi Obiomah
Femi Obiomah We must start with the constitution. Federalism must be fully implemented. Sharia must be fully removed or all other religious laws must be included
April 4, 2015 at 11:25am ·

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Charlie Chirah Abboh
Charlie Chirah Abboh Well any reasonable Nigerian who has studied history and politics will definitely agree with mr. Sanusi and Greg Ekhator his thinking is in line with all have been discussing here throughout this election. We have a Nigerian problem, not an hausa, ibo See More
April 4, 2015 at 11:46am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Charlie Chirah Abboh, GBAAAM GBAAAM, GBAAAAAAAAM!
You have hit the nail on the head again wella!!!
April 4, 2015 at 11:54am ·

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Femi Obiomah
Femi Obiomah There is side of ethnic overlords oppressing their less privileged. The aspects SLS did not mention is the act of attacks and subsequent murder of other people by the people they deceive and oppress. We can never get anywhere if SLS and his colleagues See More
April 4, 2015 at 11:55am ·

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Femi Obiomah
Femi Obiomah We can’t have 2 constitutions in one especially when they contradict each other. One says there’s freedom of religion the other says its illegal to change from Islam
April 4, 2015 at 11:58am ·

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Niyi Obembe
Niyi Obembe Greg Ekhator thanks for sharing this again. SLS due to our pettiness was not allowed to take Nigeria to higher grounds. He certainly like all humans have issues but all I have personally seen of the guy – oozes highest level of integrity. Only if he can park his tenure as Emir on hold and come to provide nigeria once a again his service – I know Kano wants him Maryam but Nigeria needs him too!
April 4, 2015 at 12:12pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Niyi Obembe, the guy SLS has given his quota, and according to him, he is contented enough to even exit the planet based on his accomplishments.
If i were him, i wouldn’t ever take up any public position due to his experience
April 4, 2015 at 12:28pm ·

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Ruby Ochoniya Aduku
Ruby Ochoniya Aduku You get power o! Na inside this una cold your brain dey function so?
My own brain don freeze! Nice one! (y)
April 4, 2015 at 8:56pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Ha ha ha!
Na the cold dey make d brain motivated to work.
For inside d brain dey too fried to work properly

April 5, 2015 at 4:19am ·

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Paschal Nwosu
Paschal Nwosu we need a certain decree of disunity for progress.political unity is unattainable in a true democracy
April 5, 2015 at 10:05am ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator Tony Osagie, concerning tribalism, you need to read this note
December 19, 2015 at 10:06pm ·

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Greg Ekhator
Greg Ekhator In context of what’s happening today. We should remind our selves to collectively reflect on this & then share.
June 13 at 9:48am ·

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