FEDERAL OPPORTUNITIES: COMPARATIVE UTILISATION OF  ADVANTAGES AMONG MAJOR TRIBES*

The quota system has provided all states and or tribes access to  Federal  opportunities . 

It must be established the section of the country that choose to form central government at any democratic regime may have longer period of utilisation of access to Federal  opportunities  before the other.

We must also acknowledge some opportunities are more juicy than others.   Each section sharpening their lobbying and politics to grab the Juicy they could lay hand upon upon of the Federal opportunities.

Each section of the country keep , handover or extend opportunity that come their way to their kinsmen.

In comparison of conversion and extension of Federal advantages and opportunities , the North rank highest. 

The Northern Nigeria has the, almost permanent opportunity of forming central government at any democratic regime. They convert that advantage so well and so much. They have opportunity of harvesting Federal advantage earlier in juicy positions and they kept that so jealously, extending it from one kinsman to another. 

 The Northerner at position of advantage  bring their kinsmen closer and further establish them in the strategic position.

The Easterners ( Ibos) follows the Northerners in the harvest of Federal opportunities. They were early comers in forming Federal Government with the bigger North courtesy of  Dr  Nnamdi Azikiwe.

 They may not have enough juicy position as the North but they have huge Federal presence and make a good conversion of such opportunities.

The Ibos spread and extend opportunities to their kinsmen  as much and as far they can go. They were never selfish . They replace ,multiply and elevate themselves.

There are federal ministry one will visit and start feeling Ibos from the staircases

The last comers in  the Federal access are the yorubas for the stubborn position of opposition in the first and second Republic as posited by our leaders. 

The yorubas missed the early rush so they have no significant presence or dominance in any ministry but for quota system that helped . 

The quota system assisted in the increased presence of the yorubas in the  Federal agencies and parastatals

One characteristics that decimate the population of the yorubas is amazing selfishness. They are not keen at bringing their kinsmen closer. They keep opportunities away from their people. They work against a potential among their kinsmen  as they are either envious or suspicious of each other . I have seen them selling opportunity than spreading it. 

They will rather allow opportunity slip if they have no immediate family to pick it up. The Yoruba don't multiply or position themselves around Federal opportunities.

I have met good numbers of new appointees making huge headways  at Federal level from among the Northerners and Easterners . They have been sufficiently empowered, strategically positioned and firmly established

Please ask all our Yoruba kinsmen retiring home as permanent secretaries, director generals, head of parastatals and agencies including ex ministers who did they established , who did they left behind in Abuja . 

I tell you a good number of them cannot go back to that office without becoming a stranger . One can only harvest if you have planted at all

*Seele níí jé ṣee ba*

 

This position is outcome of 17 years observation at the Federal Capital Territory and robust relationship amidst Federal Civil servants and representatives from major sections of the country

Idris Ismail

E8/58

Ile Ajeja Oje 

Ibadan