Dr. Junaid Mohammed has reacted to the statement credited to the former governor of Anambra state, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, that the Igbo tribe have not been treated fairly in Nigeria in terms of political positions.
Ezeife stated the appointment of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu as the Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is an insufficient move for President Muhammadu Buhari to prove his loyalty to the Igbo people.
Dr. Mohammed, who is the convener of the Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, criticised Ezeife's stance, insisting that the Igbos have enjoyed favourable treatment.
The Punch reports that he also stated it was wrong to reward the Igbos simply because of the Nigerian Civil War, which lasted between 1967 and 1970.
Mohammed said: “If it is about Buhari making the appointments based on merit, I have no problems with it. I don’t believe Buhari or Nigeria owes any Igbo anything. I don’t care what Ezeife says; if they had seceded, there would have been no Nigeria today. As people who acted outside the interest of Nigeria as a country, to expect compensation is a very odd logic.
“If the Igbo don’t like it, they can attempt secession again. If they do, they must be prepared to live with the consequences. Nobody owes them anything and nobody is out to compensate them for anything.”
“They (critics) should tell us which ethnic groups have been favoured by Buhari in the course of making his appointments in parastatals and agencies. Those who are making those allegations, particularly the Igbos, have not told us exactly which parastatals.
“For example, an Igbo man has just been appointed as the head of the NNPC, one of the most important government agencies in Nigeria. And over 50 per cent of those appointed before him were also Igbos. So, if people decide to be mischievous, there is nothing anybody can do about it. As far as I am concerned, those appointed have been good and credible persons.”