Igbo Political Forum (IPF), an umbrella association of South-East political leaders , has expressed concern over recent appointment made by the APC-led Federal government as, it claimed that it was skewed against the South-East geo-political zone.
Spokesperson of the group, Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu, cautioned that the exclusion of Ndigbo or any section of Nigeria under the evolving political arrangement in the country, would amount to a violation of the spirit and letters of the Nigerian Constitution and the Principle of Federal Character.
He also expressed regret that it would complicate the mutual ethnic suspicion among the federating ethnic nationalities in the country.
Reviewing the ongoing crisis over the choice of the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly, the National Secretary of IPF, noted that the forum of Igbo political leaders has been monitoring the unfolding scenario in the National Assembly with genuine concern and cautioned that, “ the ruling party must demonstrate sensitivity to the complex realities of the Nigerian nation.”
“Ndigbo have no regrets and no apologies whatsoever for the choice we made collectively or individually during the 2015 elections in exercise of our fundamental rights as citizens of this country,” Chief Iwuanyanwu stated.
He warned that any attempt to “punish” Ndigbo or to deny them their rights and privileges under the Nigerian Constitution would be vigorously contested.
He admonished President Muhammadu Buhari to learn from former president, Olusegun Obasanjo who accommodated the South-West zone in his administration despite the fact that people from the zone voted overwhelmingly against the PDP in 1999.
“In 1999, when majority of Nigerians voted for PDP, the South-West voted for Alliance for Democracy. This is in spite of the fact that their own son, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was the candidate of choice”.
“In the same election the North voted predomitly for ANPP”. “Obansanjo’s administration did not discriminate or “punish” the South-West or the core North, rather he brought them into the mainstream”.
He stated that there would be no justification whatsoever for President Muhammadu Buhari to run a government to the exclusion of Ndigbo or any ethnic group in the country.
Chief Iwuanyanwu expressed deep concern that all the appointments so far by the Federal Government including the leadership of the National Assembly have been one sided.
“It is also scandalous that of all the Service Chiefs and security chiefs recently appointed by Mr. President none of them is from the South-East Zone”.
While he congratulated the newly appointed service chiefs and National Security Adviser he, however, reminded them of their enormous responsibilities to the nation.
He called for their unquestionable commitment to the patriotic and courageous resolve of President Muhammadu Buhari to crush the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria and call for the total support of all Nigerian to ensure the success of the war against insurgency in Nigeria.
The IPF Secretary General described President Mohammadu Buhari as a genuine, patriotic Nigerian and commended him for his public declaration that he belongs to all. He advised him to be wary of the divisive and ethnic champions in the APC who are out to hijack his government and derail his patriotic vision for Nigeria.