BC HISTORY
Saved by @CodyyyGardner

Here is the thing about these 2015 conversations that many appear to have refused to move on from.

They should be a teachable moment. Sadly, aren't asking the right asks. Too many people from my neck of the woods (SE/SS) keep insisting on narratives that won't stand scrutiny.

 I'll speak for the Igbo side, we are letting ourselves down in what should be a race to advance our agenda within #Nigeria https://t.co/LXAYqgXZEf
Yes, it is undeniable that there was an element of ethnic chauvinism in the coalition that came together against GEJ, but to attribute his loss simply to that factor is to completely miss the lessons of 2015, and as a result, set yourself up for another failure.
I'll talk about two of these:

First, Benue. In 2015, Benue state voted for Buhari.

No one within the set of people who keep shouting about ethnic jingoism ever seems to ask themselves why.

There are/were two reasons: first, Gabriel Suswam's government was unbelievably bad.
As of January 2015, Benue owed workers almost a year in salaries, and he never got as much as a reprimand from Abuja.

Instead, Suswam was mollycoddled by the GEJ govt.
Then there was the herdsmen matter, which was in Benue especially, already a crisis that culminated in the governor being shot at in 2014.

https://t.co/bDkC2QLy4r
Many people looked at those, then looked at the alternative, and decided (wrongly in hindsight but that is another matter), that the alternative served their interests better.

Benue people were fed up, and the 2015 vote, which was close for the record, was a major protest.
I've not even talked about David Mark and how his very longevity and perceived detachment came to be a problem for the PDP in his senatorial district.

To now reduce those decisions to the effects of "an ethnically driven PR campaign" is to do the Benue people a disservice.
But the bigger disservice is to the South-West geopolitical region.

Many of the people who shout about an ethnically driven agenda by Yoruba people against GEJ have probably never taken a look at Nigeria's voting patterns, at least since 1979.
For all their faults, and there are many, accusing the SW as a bloc of pursuing an ethnic agenda in national elections doesn't really stand up to scrutiny.

Persisting with this accusation risks alienating people we should be having more constructive engagements with.
FTR, I have looked at the numbers for all the elections since 1999 (no 2007), and the SW, in actuality, always has the biggest split of #Nigeria's GPZs.

The only time they came close to voting as a bloc was in 1999.

The pic below shows the breakdown of votes by GPZ in 2015.
Interestingly, it was the South-West and the North-Central that coincidentally had similar split voting patterns, which speaks to regions where the ruling elite do not dictate to the generality of the population.
Both the NC and the SW had voting ratios of 4:3 in favour of Buhari back in 2015.

The corresponding ratios for the SE and SS were 13:1 and 11:1 in favour of Goodluck Jonathan, while for the NE and NW, the ratios were 7:2 and 5:1 in favour of Buhari.
This indicates a strong herd mentality in the latter four regions, but even worse in the SE and SS.

Shouldn't it be something we honestly want to discuss amongst ourselves? A herd mentality eventually breeds a messiah.

FTR, this pattern has repeated itself since 1999.
Being from that area, I know that a herd mentality is the last thing people have there, so what it tells me is that there is something more untoward going on, and people need to ask themselves why that mechanism failed in 2015, but that is not the main thrust of this thread…
In June 2016, I wrote about the emergence of a Mason-Dixon line in #Nigeria and pointed out that for the foreseeable future, at least electorally, the NE/NW will be diametrically opposed to the SE/SS.

https://t.co/uJCOq0v1JT
These two regional blocs (SE/SS & NE/NW) are geographically contiguous within themselves, so it is not surprising.

Neither is it a bad thing to have opposed interests. It is how to bring those interests together that counts, and this is where my people are dropping the ball.
It is clear, following the disaster that Buhari has been, that the interests of the SE/SS are aligned with those of the NC and the SW, #Nigeria's swing regions.

This is where wise politicking comes in.
How do we, without the emotional blackmail of accusing people of a tribalism that does not really stand up to scrutiny, make the alliances that we need to advance our interests?

We, for example, have the common interest of weakening Abuja.
For the Igbo people of #Nigeria, I believe that our interests are best served if we have an alliance with the South-West.

With the South-South we already have a relationship that is both fractious and familial. We have to manage it properly.
With the SW, what ndị Igbo need is an alliance, one that is defined by our interests.

We have been hurt by the poor Buhari economy.

The Buhari economy has also hurt the SW, and even though many won't admit it, their treatment by the North has also hurt their pride.
Unfortunately, too many of our people have remained emotional in this matter, and are choosing to focus on, once again, an ethnic angle that at best does not stand up to scrutiny, and at worst, only a percentage of the South-West is guilty of.
Do we have to love the South-West to make an alliance with them?

No.

Do we have to trust the South-West to make an alliance with them?

No.
We have to focus on our group interest, which is for the short to medium term at least, aligned with theirs, how to get the greatest number of our people out of poverty and into prosperity.
Given that the SW clearly has differing, and in many cases, opposed factions none of whom is dominant as the numbers show, how can we rather than antagonise them, work with them to advance the interest of the Igbo man, which is to have a growing economy in which to sell market?

More from History

Goldstein
Goldstein
@MrGoldstein7
At Wikipedia, we are told MLK and the other founders of the SCLC were inspired by Billy Graham. Right. Why would these guys be inspired by Billy Graham? Please ask yourself if that makes any sense.
HISTORY
Suhas S. Hardutt
Suhas S. Hardutt
@HarduttSuhas
THE BATTLE OF TALIKOTA and the destruction of Vijaynagar (Hampi)
26 January 1565

A tale of valor, deception and decimation.

A grim reminder that if we fail to protect our heritage, it will eventually crumble under the onslaught of "forces of anarchy".
(Elaborate thread)


This decisive battle was fought between the Vijayanagara empire and the Deccan sultanates resulting in a rout of Vijayanagara and ending the last major medieval era Hindu kingdom in south India.(1)

The seeds of 1565 encounter were sown more than 250 years earlier when the forces of the Delhi Sultanate, during the time of Alauddin Khilji and later Md Bin Tughlaq swept through southern India in an expansion spree.(2)

By middle of the 14th century, facing rebellions, Tughlaq withdrew to Delhi, leaving behind 2 empires, Bahmani, which ruled the Deccan from Kalaburagi, and Vijayanagara, which ruled most south India with its capital at Vijayanagar.(3)

The Raichur Doab, between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers, existed as a natural boundary between these two kingdoms, with wars often breaking out over control of this territory.(4)
HISTORY
Advertisement
Jonathan Ware
Jonathan Ware
@ReassessHistory
So when it first appeared in Normandy, the Sherman Firefly and it's meaty 17 pounder represented an ideal combo of reliable chassis, great gun and devastating firepower right?

Ummm...

Truth is a bit more complex. /1
#WW2 #SWW #History


Deliveries of Firefly to units only commenced in April 1944,
just a few weeks before Overlord & left minimal time for familiarisation.

Armoured Regiments mostly utilised Fireflies on a basis of 1 per troop of 4 tanks. /2


Finally each armoured regiment troop had access to integral, meaty, anti-tank firepower capable of dealing serious damage to any German AFV likely to be encountered. /3


The dual purpose 75mm gun was quite capable of laying down a reasonable HE shell or AP round for dealing with Panzer III or IV.

Firefly's 17 Pounder had.... problems with HE, but excelled at tank killing. So Tigers and Panthers would need to be wary. /4


Firefly's design history dated back to March 1943 when the General Staff published "Policy on Tanks" which effectively stated the majority of tanks should have a good HE weapon and...

[See image below] /5
HISTORY
\U0001f3f9\U0001f6e1\ufe0fVicharayoddh\u0101\U0001f6e1\ufe0f\U0001f3f9
🏹🛡️Vicharayoddhā🛡️🏹...
@AdwitiyaJha
Vijaynagara longbowmen.

Many of them were topless, While many wore Gambesons.
The gambesons they wore were of two types- Half gambeson(only chest), and full Gambeson shirts.

No footwear. A turban/tall helmet for headgear. No armlets.


@zuckmetaverse @prathgodbole @cestlaviepriya @TPeshwa @zhukov45 @SaffronRozario @MumukshuSavitri @prachyam7 @TheEmissaryCo @Hiraethh_____ @logolepsic_ @SailorSaab @monidipadey
HISTORY
Mark Ponte
Mark Ponte
@voetnoot
We will likely never be able to establish with certainty the identity of the two Black men painted by Rembrandt. There are no documents found, linking the painting to individuals. But we can make a reasoned guess. #BlackHistoryMonth #day20 #rembrandt #identification


First there is the problem of the date. The inventory with a reference to 'two Moors in one painting' was drawn up in 1656 in what is now the @Rembrandthuis; however, the painting that hangs in the @Mauritshuis bears not only Rembrandt’s signature but also the year 1661.


Was the painting made in 1656 while Rembrandt was still living and working in Jodenbreestraat, and not signed and sold until 1661, when he had moved to the Jordaan district? The 1656 estate inventory suggests this.

On the other hand, it is of course possible that Rembrandt painted several pictures featuring two black men. Nevertheless, supposing that it is one and the same
painting, then we can assume that the two men
were in the studio in Jodenbreestraat to be portrayed in or before 1656.

Of course there still are dozens of candidates, since there was a small Black community in the area. However, it is striking, and exceptional, that two men are portrayed instead of one, as was customary in this genre.
HISTORY

You May Also Like

Brian Armstrong
Brian Armstrong
@brian_armstrong
1/ Productivity tip: when I keep procrastinating on something I often trick myself by saying, "ok just work on it for the next 20 minutes" or some short period of time, "and then you can chill/relax guilt free" and give myself some treat (sugar, netflix, etc)

2/ Usually at the 20 minute mark (sometimes I set a timer) I'm so engrossed in what I'm doing that I don't want want to stop and end up working on it for the next hour or two. But getting started seems to be the hardest part.

3/ Key to this: you have to actually be ok with stopping after 20 minutes and being guilt free if that's how you feel. So it's not a trick, i have the option every time, I just often don't want to use it once i'm in the zone.
PRODUCTIVITY
Suhail
Suhail
@Suhail
1/ The first 18 months of starting a company is often life or death. I must've made 5 different companies that each failed within 9 mo. 😭 Each time the company failed I figured out what I could do better. Eventually startup #6 got to $40K/mo by month 18. Here’s what I learned...

2/ Stay focused! Ignore things that are a waste of time: meetups & conferences, meetings with no clear agenda, fundraising if you're not fundraising, reading lots of tech media articles, etc. Every week should feel like significant progress in the first year.

3/ Your first 5 hires will be the difference between life or death. Choose carefully. Be picky. Many of the things we do at the company still are a result of those early hires' legacy. Have fun as a tight knit team. It will change & evolve as you get bigger so enjoy this moment.

4/ Growth may be flat for the first 9 months. It's gonna be okay. Almost every company has experienced this: Airbnb had to sell cereal in-between, Slack failed as a gaming company first, Tesla sold only 147 cars after 6 years! You probably won't be an overnight success either.

5/ In the beginning, do customer support yourself. You will learn a lot about why your product sucks. I did 5,000+ support tickets when it was the two of us. Delight customers & fix things fast while you learn. It will help you build an amazing intuition about your customers.
STARTUPS
Advertisement
f1talks.pl
f1talks.pl
@f1talks
According to @RadioZET_NEWS PKN Orlen (major Polish oil refiner and petrol retailer) is considering entering F1 as a fuel sponsor (supplier) and personal sponsor of Robert Kubica. #F1

Yesterday Kubica was at Orlen's headquarters and met with Polish Prime Minister. #F1
ALL
Sam
Sam
@SamKhan999
This day was inevitable. Indian Muslims always lived in La La Land. They bad mouthed real well wishers & slept with the enemy who never considered them as part of them. In Gulf, Indian Muslims were busy with Javed Akhtar & Sonu Nigam. Never interacted with South Asian diaspora

Now when Indian Muslims are thrown to wolves it’s Pakistani & Bangladeshi Muslims with whom they kept distance are the only ones feeling their pain. None of the people who they invited for Eid Milan. Qawali & Mushaira are there for them. Such people invoke wrath upon themselves

Indian Muslims never spoke for Kashmiri Muslims. Distancing from separatist was understandable but we never even bothered to highlight their human rights violation & rapes carried out by forces. We could have sent them humanitarian help we didn’t. Our silence made us complicit.

When Sania Mirza married Shoaib Malik it was something legal. A Muslim married another Muslim. Entire Hindutva media went after her. They launched a witch-hunt for months. No Indian Muslim stood by her. All were silent. Now days come when Muslims are arrested for marrying a Hindu

Indian Muslims particularly the elite downplayed communalism in India by saying it will pass or Hindu majority is good. Fringe are bad. They misguiding others. Muslims were always others. Indians were happy to see Muslims sing & dance & eat their food but never considered as own
INDIA
History Of Rajputana
History Of Rajputana
@KshatriyaItihas
**Thread on Bravery of Sikhs**
(I am forced to do this due to continuous hounding of Sikh Extremists since yesterday)

Rani Jindan Kaur, wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh had illegitimate relations with Lal Singh (PM of Ranjit Singh). Along with Lal Singh, she attacked Jammu, burnt - https://t.co/EfjAq59AyI


Hindu villages of Jasrota, caused rebellion in Jammu, attacked Kishtwar.

Ancestors of Raja Ranjit Singh, The Sansi Tribe used to give daughters as concubines to Jahangir.


The Ludhiana Political Agency (Later NW Fronties Prov) was formed by less than 4000 British soldiers who advanced from Delhi and reached Ludhiana, receiving submissions of all sikh chiefs along the way. The submission of the troops of Raja of Lahore (Ranjit Singh) at Ambala.

Dabistan a contemporary book on Sikh History tells us that Guru Hargobind broke Naina devi Idol Same source describes Guru Hargobind serving a eunuch
YarKhan. (ref was proudly shared by a sikh on twitter)
Gobind Singh followed Bahadur Shah to Deccan to fight for him.


In Zafarnama, Guru Gobind Singh states that the reason he was in conflict with the Hill Rajas was that while they were worshiping idols, while he was an idol-breaker.

And idiot Hindus place him along Maharana, Prithviraj and Shivaji as saviours of Dharma.
HISTORY