THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015
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NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY Who is who in the House of Representatives ONDO PDP APC •Dokun Odebunmi (Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere) •Babatunde Kolawole (Akoko Southwest/Southeast) LP • Friday Olemija (Akoko (Northwest/Southeast) • Segun Ogunwuyi (Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/ • Dr.Bode Ayorinde (Owo/Ose) Oriire) • Afe Olowookere Akure (South/North) DELTA • Bamidele Baderinwa (Idanre/Ifedore) PDP PDP •Leo Ogor of PDP (Isoko North/South) • Mayowa Akinfolarin (Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo) •Julius Pondi of PDP (Burutu North/ South) • Adeniyi Omogbehin (Irele/Okitipupa) •Nicholas Mutu ( Patani / Bomadi) • Kolade Akinjo (Ilaje/Ese-Odo) FCT • Dr Joseph Akinlaja (Ondo East/Ondo West) APC ENUGU •Zakari Angulu Dobi (Abuja South) All PDP PDP • Toby Okechukwu (Oji-River/Aninri/Awgu) •Zephania Jisalo (AMAC\Bwari) • Stella Ngwu-Igbo (Etiti /Uzouwani) ABIA • Denis Agbo (Udenu/Igboeze North) PDP • Denis Amadi (Udi/Ezeagu) • Uzoma Abonta (Ukwa) • Kingsley Ebenyi (Isi-Uzor/Enugu East) • Solomon Adaelu (Ugwunagbo/Osisoma/Obingwa) • Chime Oji (Enugu North/South) • Darlington Nwokocha (Isiala-Ngwa North/South) • Dr. Chukwuemeka Ujam (Nkanu East/West) • Sam Onuigbo (Ikwuano/Umuahia) • Ikechukwu Ugwuegede (Nsukka/Igboeze South) • Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje (Bende) RIVERS • Nkeiru Onyejiocha (Isuikwuato/Umunneochi) All PDP • Uko Nkole (Arochukwu/Ohafia) • Betty Apiafi (Abua/Odual/Ahoada East) KWARA • Prince Uche Nnam Obi (Ahoada West/Ogba/ APC Egbema/ Ndoni) • Rasaq Atunwa (Ilorin West/Asa) • Jacobson Nbina (Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo) •Abubakar Amuda-Kannike (Ilorin East/Ilorin South) • Kingsley Chinda (Obio/Akpor) • Tope Olayonu (Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun) • Awaji Inombek Abiante (Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro) • Muhammed Zakari (Baruten/Kaiama) • Randolph Oruene Brown (Bonny/Degema) •Aliyu Ahman Patigi (Patigi/Edu/Moro) • Boma Goodhead (Akuku Toru/Asari-Toru) • Funke Adedoyin (Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero). • Kenneth Anayo Chikere (Port Harcourt I) BORNO • Blessing Nsiegbe (Port Harcourt II) APC • Dumnamene Ransom Dekor (Khana/Gokana) • Mallam Bukar Gana (Kukawa/Mobbar/Abadam/ • Emerengwa Boniface Sunday (Ikwerre/Emohua) Guzamala) • Chief Jerome Amadi Eke (Etche/Omuma) • Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Monguno/Nganzai/Marte) • Gogo Bright Tamuno (Okrika/Ogu-Bolo) • Mahmud Lawan Maina (Dikwa/Mafa/Konduga) KOGI • Mohammed Sanda Ngamdu (Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri) APC •Mohammed Nur Sheriff (Bama/Ngala/Kala/Balge) • Abubakar Bello (Okene/Ogorimagongo) • Bello Ayuba (Jere) • Idris Lawal (Ajaokuta) • Dr Asabe Vilita Bashir (Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok) • Hassan Omale (Ankpa/Omala) • Muktar Betara Aliyu (Biu/Kwaya/Kusar/Shani/Bayo) • Benjamin Ikhani (Dekina/Bassa) • Abdulkadir Rahis (Maiduguri Metropolitan Council) • Buba Jubril (Lokoja/Koto) • Jibrin Satumari (Askira/Uba/Hawul) • Kabiru Ajanah (Okehi/Adavi) YOBE PDP APC • Emmanuel Egwu (Idah/Ofu/Igalamela/Ibaji) • Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Tarmuwa/GujbaGulani/ • Sunday Karimi (Yagba) Damaturu) • Tajudeen Yusuf (Kabba/Ijumu) • Goni Bukar (Geidam/Bursari/Yunusari) IMO • Yakubu Sidi Karasuwa (Karasuwa/Nguru/Machina/ APC Yusufari) •Austine Chukwukere Ideato North/South) • Samaila Gadaka (Fune/Fika) • Chike Okafor (Ehime Mbano/Ihite Uboma/Obowo) • Yau Galadima (Bade/Jakusko) PDP PDP • Ezenwa Onyewuchi (Owerri) •Alhaji Sabo Garbu (Potiskum/Nagare) • Jerry Onyeri (Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba) EKITI • Bide Ekeh (Aboh Mbaise/Ngor-Okpala) All PDP • Obinna Onwubualiri (Isiala Mbano/Okigwe/Onuimo)• Kehinde Agboola (Oye/Ikole) • Goodluck Opiah (Oguta/Ohaji Egbema/Oru West) • Thaddeus Aina (Ido Osi/Moba/Ilejemeje) • Jerry Alagbaoso (Orsu/Orlu/Oru East • Ayo Oladimeji (Ado Ekiti/Irepodun Ifelodun) • Henry Nwahuba (Ikeduru/Mbaitoli) • Olumide Oni (Ijero/Ekiti West/Efon) • Nnanna Igbokwe (Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Mbaise) • Segun Adekola (Ekiti Southwest/Ikere/Ise Orun) KANO • Akin Awodumila (Emure/Gbonyin/Ekiti East) All APC OSUN • Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya (Albasu/Gaya/Ajingi) APC • Garba Ibrahim Mohd (Gwale) •Lasun Yusuf (Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu) • Alhassan Ado Garba (Doguwa/T/wada) •Adeyinka Anyantunji Ajayi (Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe) • Sani Bala (Tsanyawa/Kunchi) •Mrs. Ayo Omidiran (Ayedade/Irewole/Isokan) • Tijanni Abdulkadir Jobe (D/Tofa/Tofa/R/Gado) •Ajibola Famurewa (Ilesa East/Ilesa West/ • Munir Babba Danagundi (Kumbotso) •Atakumosa East/ Atakumosa West) • Nasiru Garo Sule (Gwarzo/Kabo) •Amere Gafaru Akintayo (Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa) • Danburam Abubakar Nuhu (Municipal) •Prof. Mojeed Alabi (Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo) • Ahmed Garba Bichi (Bichi) •Julius Olufemi Fakeye(Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila) • Badamasi Ayuba (Danbatta/Makoda) PDP • Nassir Ali Ahmed (Nasarawa) •Oluwole Oke (Oriade/Obokun) • Aliyu Sani Madaki (Dala) •Albert Adeogun (Ife North/Ife South/Ife East/Ife Central) • Muntari Muhammed Chiromawa (Kura/G/Malam/ LAGOS Madobi) APC • Nasiru Baballe Ila (Tarauni) •Olufemi Bandele Adebanjo (Alimosho) • Aminu Suleiman (Fagge) •Diya Oyewole Babafemi (Somolu) • Abdulmunim Jibrin (Kiru/Bebeji) •Ayodeji Adebayo Joseph (Apapa) • Garba Umar (Takai/Sumaila) •Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla Mushin II • Shehu Usman Aliyu (Rogo/Karaye) •Akinloye Babajide Hazeez (Eti-Osa) • Sani Mohd Aliyu (Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya) •Bamgbose Joseph (Badagry) • Sulaiman Aliyu Romo (Bagwai/Shanono) •A. A. Abdulkabir (Ibeju-Lekki) • Basher Baballe (Minjibir/Ungogo) •Olajide Jimoh Abdulraheem (Lagos Mainland) • Musa Ado (Gezawa/Gabasawa) •Enitan Dolapo Badru (Lagos Island I) •Muhammad Ali Wudil (Wudil/Garko) •Olufemi Gbajabiamila (Surulere I) • Mustapha Bala Dawaki (D/Kudu/Warawa) •Balogun Yakub Abiodun (Lagos Island II) OYO •Olabintan Timothy (Oshodi/Isolo I) APC •James Abiodun Faleke (Ikeja) • Olasumbo Olagbemi (Oluyole) •Babajinmi Adegoke Benson (Ikorodu) • Adedapo Lam-Adesina (Ibadan North East/Ibadan •Elijah Oluwatayo Adewale (Ifako-Ijaiye) South East) •Adaranijo Taofeek Abiodun (Agege) • Oladele Olatunbosun (Orepo/Orelope/Olorunsogo) •Agunsoye Oluwarotimi (Kosofe) • Ayoade Ojoawo (Ibarapa Central/Ibarapa North) •Tasir Olawale Raji (Epe) • Taiwo Akintola (Egbeda/Ona-Ara) PDP • Temitope Olatoye (Akinyele/Lagelu) •Oghene Emma Egoh (Amuwo-Odofin) • Adeola Olasupo (Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa) •Olatunji Soyinka (Surulere II) • Boladale Olatunbosun (Saki East/Saki West/Atisbo) •Nwulu Tony Chinedu (Oshodi/Isolo II) •Akeem Adeyemi (Afijio/Oyo East//Oyo West/Atiba) •Rita Orji (Ajeromi/Ifelodun) •Adeleke Adeola (Ibarapa East/Iddo) •Obasa Tajudeen (Ojo) • Dada Awoleye Accord • Saheed Akinade-Fijabi (Ibadan Southwest/Ibadan •Dauda Kako Are Mushin I •TO BE CONTINUED Northwest)
Why are politicians playing ethnic card in Lagos? Does ethnicity have limitations in determining the outcome of elections in a cosmopolitan state like Lagos? Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the activities of politicians playing the ethnic card and how far they can go.
W
ILL the next governor of Lagos be governor of Igbo or Yoruba? The answer is no. The next governor should be the governor of all Lagosians, irrespective of tribe and religion. But, why are desperate politicians dividing the state along ethnic lines to gain an upper hand at the governorship election billed for Saturday? Why are they unscrupulously fanning the embers of disunity in the Centre of Excellence? Since Independence, Igbo and Yoruba have co-existed peacefully in Lagos. During the civil war, many Igbo hurriedly returned to the Southeast. Yoruba protected their property. The proceeds from their rents were handed over to them when they returned after the war. Igbo settlers have enjoyed the courtesy of their accommodating hosts, who have never discriminated against them. Since 1999 to date, the Lagos State government has also accorded Igbo in the city-state a sense of belonging. Their lives, property and businesses have been protected. In terms of teaching and civil service employment, there is no discrimination against them. Igbo has a commissioner in Lagos State Executive Council. There is also an Igbo senior special assistant in the Governor’s Office. The Publicity Secretary of the ruling party- the All Progressives Congress (APC) - is an Igbo. But, ahead of the general elections, the cordial relations have been ruptured, following the resort to ethnic politics by the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to observers, the PDP invaded the zones in the metropolis where there is a high concentration of Igbo to commercialise the election and incite them against Yoruba-speaking APC candidates. Unprecedented financial inducement and hate campaigns filled the air. The resort to ethnicity has jerked up the fortunes of the PDP in five federal constituencies where the PDP won the House of Representatives election. But, the opposition party failed the test of numerical strength at the senatorial poll. During the campaigns, PDP leaders made highly inflammable statements which aroused tribal consciousness. Some of them dreamt of an Igbo State, which, in their imagination, would be carved out from Lagos State in the future. There was also an inexplicable promise of a rival monarchy, whereby Igbo will have their Ezes in the Lagos State Government Gazette. More slots were promised the Igbos in the State Executive Council. In fact, other struc-
tures have to be re-built structure to accommodate more Igbo in the scheme of things. Thus, when the PDP campaign train rolled into the largest auto spare parts market in Ladipo, Mushin, mainland Lagos, the PDP leaders queried the composition of the market unions. They said since it is a supposedly Igbo-dominated market, Yoruba should not be market leaders. The Igbo traders hailed the sensitisation. The next day, the Igbo stared agitating for a change in the leadership of the unions. They insisted the Yoruba should give way. There was commotion. But, the police moved in to quickly restore order. Irked by the attempt to create ethnic tension, a PPD chieftain, who loathed the ethnic campaigns, said it may backfire later. “Igbo have been accommodated by Yoruba in Lagos. I know Yoruba in the Southeast do not enjoy the same courtesy. That is why no Yoruba has served as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). Can Igbo do all these in the North? Are they not telling the Yoruba that they can lord it over them in their Southwest? The resort to ethnic card is dangerous. I know there may be an imminent tribal re-awakening among Yoruba in Lagos and the repercussion may be inimical to national unity. It may not be now. But, it cannot be foreclosed,” he said. Another party member, who is from Aworiland, retorted: “I blame our fathers who engaged in indiscriminate sale of land to foreigners. We their children do not even have inheritance again, in terms of lands. In the light of the Igbo’s ambitious move to dominate Lagos politics, I know that the Awori Descendants Union will not reflect on the dangers that lie ahead. They will apply the break.” Gradually displacing the peaceful co-existence in the metropolis is an intense clamour for ethnic consciousness. The offensive slogan - Lagos is a no man’s land - is being exploited with impunity. According to watchers, a clash of ethnic interests can be avoided if politicians refrain from playing the ethnic card. The feeling of tribalism did not exist in Lagos of fifties when Yoruba voted for the nationalist, the late Dr. Nnamidi Azikiwe, to represent Surulere in the House of Assembly at Ibadan. Then, prominent Yoruba politicians, including Otunba Theophilus Benson, Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, Chief I.S. Adewale and Prince Adeleke Adedoyin mobilised support for the late Zik of Africa. He was not per-