Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, recently addressed the persistent religious and ethnic tensions undergirding Nigerian politics.
In an interview with Channels TV, Fayose brought up the long-standing disparities between different ethnic groups that impact the public’s perception and reaction to political leadership.
Fayose expressed his concern during the interview about the pervasive ethnic bias that contaminates discussions in Nigeria regarding political leadership.
He backed up his claims with examples, mentioning how accusations of North-hatred or targeting of Muslims and Fulanis are common when a Hausa leader assumes power.
A Yoruba leader’s ascension to power is often accompanied by similar appeals to ‘Oduduwa’ interests and regional pride. Concerns regarding potential separatist ambitions might also emerge when a prominent Igbo leader brings up long-standing issues, like as the Civil War.
These dynamics, according to Fayose, reveal the intricate interplay between ethnic and regional loyalties, which significantly affects Nigeria’s political structure.
These disparities, he said, exacerbate the nation’s challenges, which already include social upheaval, economic uncertainty, and insecurity.
He stressed the crucial need of concerted efforts to eliminate religious and racial barriers as a means to a more inclusive and united society.
Recognising the complexity of Nigeria’s challenges, Fayose called for a united front to solve issues affecting all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliations.
“When a Hausa man is in power, they will say this is against the North,” he said, quoting him. They’ll claim that Muslims are their targets. They are aiming for Fulanis. They will assert, “Now it is our turn; Oduduwa will not allow this” while a Yoruba guy is present.
If there’s an Igbo guy around, they’ll bring up the Civil War and how they want to steal Nigeria. There are a lot of challenges in our country….Seē _ Morē