Although I disagree with Chike Ofili in his assertion that all the people of Southern Nigeria are descendants of the Igbo tribe but he seems to have done a major research in revealing the fact that we are genetically related. The Yoruba, Igbo and Niger Delta people are from the same parent and evidently had settled in the same kingdom many years ago. Quoting him" in the case of Igbo -Yoruba ancient relations, that cultural history has neglected and made unbelievable has found new help in science which supports the fact from five big American universities that have established blood relations between the Igbo and the Yoruba to be as high as 97% full proof' Although their parents may have been either Igbo, Yoruba or Niger Delta but the truth is there's a strong evidence of the same blood flowing through the veins of the people of the South. It goes beyond the event of the birth of the colony and protectorate of Southern Nigeria in 1906. It goes beyond sharing the same geographical, political and economic space and fate in the Nigerian State. It goes beyond the cultural affinity that we tend to portray. There's a pointer to our root, the path of destiny. Beyond the many languages spoken, beyond the many religions practiced, beyond the many political parties and beliefs, beyond the geographical and economic expression, beyond the tribal tattoos and piercings, there lies the gateway to our truest identity and the path of destiny, the very evidence of strong blood relations, the bond of oneness, the chain of brotherhood and brotherliness. But, often times, this obvious truth of genetic connection seems to be suppressed or displaced for some selfish reasons. The truth is that we can divide ourselves into several tribal, political and religious parts and regard the other components as no longer part of us. But we can not divide the blood that flows through our veins, we can not challenge destiny that has designed blood instead of water to run through our body. And provided you share in that ancestral blood that formed the present Yoruba, Igbo and Niger Delta, we are brothers and sisters. We are one.
And if we share the same ancestral parent, you are not only Igbo or Yoruba or Niger Delta, you are all put together. You are a southerner, you are my brothers and sisters. There's need to return to our thrilling past, to our heritage. We can not desert our heritage and expect to make progress comparatively. There's need to return to reunite with our brothers and sisters.
On this note, I welcome you home, my brothers and sisters, to the umbrella body that represents the original you, the future you, the interest and people of Southern Nigeria. I welcome you to Southern Nigeria People's Forum, the vision geared towards uniting and protecting the people of the South.
We must not allow tribal, religious and political affiliations to continue to dictate our destiny. You may be from any of the states in the present South East, South South and South West geopolitical zones of Nigeria. You should know that the regions known as Western Nigeria, Eastern Nigeria or mid western Nigeria are only political divisions for administrative ease. It was for the same administrative ease or rather to divide the bond that binds the region and reduce our power making our great endowments irrelevant that the present South East, South South and South West geopolitical zones of Nigeria were created. It became even worse when the initial Western, Eastern and Mid Western Nigeria were broken into 18 States of Abia, Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Edo, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Kwara Etc. From that moment, a Yoruba man from Oyo started seeing his Ogun brother as an enemy. The Igbo man too of Enugu started seeing his Anambra brother as an enemy. This is the kind of ruin that political division has brought upon a family, a people with evident of blood ties.
To further aggravate the ruin in the region, Christianity and Islam came into play. A lot of people started seeing their brothers and sisters in other religions and political parties as enemies. This new southern Nigeria is not the same as the once peaceful and united region bequitted to us by our ancestors. The situation has so deteriorated that the Yorubas and Igbos are now always at loggerhead for irrelevant issues. But I can bet that the fight for zonal, Ethnic, religious or political supremacy has not helped us in anyway. Instead, it has turned us into slaves and strangers in a country we should be heirs. It has only succeeded in reducing the power, freedom and prosperity the people of the region are supposed to enjoy. It has only limited the height we would have attained in the country. Why would you see the success of your brother from another tribe or religion as an obstacle to your aspiration? This was not so when Ralph Moor or Walter Egerton brought the different components respectively to form this great sub country.
We have to look back to where we are coming from if we will ever make progress as a people. The South of Nigeria is too blessed to groan in poverty, unemployment and under development the country. We should be living like the proverbial Roman Golden king for the great human and material endowments of the region. But instead we are reduced to beggers of opportunities for survival. Our traducers are celebrating. This is not right.
This is the vision of Southern Nigeria People's Forum: to unite and protect the people and interests of southern Nigeria.We shall be launching the unity campaign with the following programmes
*Southern Nigeria Unity walk*
In the course of pursuing our vision of uniting the region, we shall be launching Southern Nigeria Unity walk *SNUW*, a regional Southern consciousness campaign or street walk across the region in all the zonal headquarters of Ibadan, Enugu and Port Harcourt to be championed by all the zonal vice president Generals.
*The Southern Nigeria Achievers Award*
We shall be hosting the first ever Southern Nigeria Achievers Award to honour and celebrate sons and daughters of the region who have distinguished themselves in their respective professions. We intend to use this avenue to gather stakeholders to brainstorm on the plight of the region and come up with modalities to reposition our region. Key note speakers shall be invited to speak on topical issues affecting the people.
*Miss Southern Nigeria beauty pageant*
We shall be raising an ambassador, beauty queen that will advocate for unity amongst the various states and ethnic nationalities of southern Nigeria. We hope to parade a *Queen of southern Nigeria* who will use her beauty and brain to unite the region for greater prosperity.
*Southern Unity Raffle Draw*
We shall be floating a unity raffle draw for all the people of the region as a way of empowering them as well as a means of gathering them for the purpose of unity.
In all of these, a lot in terms of time, energy and finances will be needed. Sponsorship and financial support will be required to bring this vision into fruition. We appeal to all stakeholders of the region to get involved and offer us their moral and financial support when and where necessary. Support the unity of Southern Nigeria and make the region great again.
Note:
We are not advocating for unity to enable any component break away from the country. We are simply advocating for unity to enable us grow into a more prosperous political and economic entity in the Nigerian State.
The unity of the Igbos, Yoruba and Niger Delta is possible and non negotiable
Her political and economic prosperity is possible
Enough of the suspicion and mistrust amongst brothers and sisters of the same family
Enough of betrayals and sabotage of efforts to trace our antecedents of bloodline, heritage and to find the path to our collective destiny.
Enough of Igbo - Yoruba - Niger Delta rivalry and battle for supremacy
Enough of the collaborations with our oppressors to continue to oppress, exploit and abuse and mismanage our resources.
Enough of all those discouraging and defeating opinions and actions about our unity.
Together we can achieve our dreamed height.
Together we can.
Thank you for believing in me and identifying with this vision.
SNPF: Uniting the South
*Eriacy Confidence Oba
President General.
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