Popular stand-up comedian, I Go Save has identified state of origin as the greatest challenge bedeviling the country
He claimed politicians have successfully created a division among the people who should stand in unison to criticising their underperformance using the tribal tool.
Born Otas Onodjayeke, the social critic bemoaned the damage being done by ordinary citizens who ought to hold the leaders accountable for poor leadership but have now been recruited by these same leaders as influencers to launder their images and defend them against criticism.
He accused the political influencers of operating from foreign lands and swift to tell residents not originally not from state of residence to leave.
I Go Save argued as long one was a tax payer in any state of residence, they automatically are now from the state despite not being originally from there.
The 44-year-old said: “It’s becoming worrisome, the level at which people take this state of origin thing in Nigeria.
“Most of our politicians are failing and if you criticise them, those who are supposed to be in support of you are always the first to shout, ‘Go back to your state.’
“Our politicians are failing but most of us dey we no dey fit criticise them.
“These days, politicians be like brands; people dey force people to like them. Instead of politicians to go ahead comission projects and show us their workings, or evidence of working, so dem no go dey explain during to their next election, na influencers now dem come dey pay.
“See road bad everywhere na. But if you curse these politicians, their influencers go con come dey shout say, ‘Go back to your state’.
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“And the bad thing is, these people shouting go back to your state, they’re somewhere in America; somewhere in Canada, Ireland, Dublin, United Kingdom to seek asylum in order to become legal citizens of those countries.
“But we go criticise our own, na una go first shout, ‘Go back to your state’. We are all Nigerians, we have a right to
Recalling years past, how our parents coexisted harmoniously, I Go Save continued: “I no know when all these start. I remember way back, our papa, dem coexist very well. Den enjoy everything, dem fit stay anywhere.
“Now listen, politicians don set us up against each other. Instead way we go dey criticise dem, who come from Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Binu, Delta, Abeokuta etc naim we come dey argue.
“If you travel round the country, almost every state you go, there’s an Hausa quarter. Go the quarter, na where the Hausa people settle down dey do their businesses.
“And almost every state you go to, dem get Igbo market. Abi na Iya amala? Amala restaurant, e dey many places for the country, that one na Yoruba business. Amala dey UK, e dey everywhere.
Stressing on the need for the governed lot fo permanently put an end to the tribal (state of origin) war and speak with one voice against inefficient leaders, the comic act added: “So, where this rubbish from dey come these days wey be say any small thing, you don shout: ‘Go back to your state.”
“It’s not making sense anymore. Let’s focus on developing Nigeria, making her work. Learn to be telling politicians the truth.
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“So that dem go fit build the country make e dey sweet all of us. So that your younger ones and friends dem no go dey japa.
“State of origin has become one of the biggest challenge in Nigeria currently. If we’re taking coexistence and integration, any place one resides in and pays taxes is his state. Irrespective of where you originally originated from.
“Na this our Constitution just dey spoil everything. You get the right to live and enjoy anywhere you like. So all this, ‘Go back to your state eh’, make una try stop am because it’s not making any sense anymore.
“I think you guys should grow up. Emancipate yourself from this chain, mental slavery our politicians are putting you into.”