…says it may lead to agitation
Ohanaeze Ndigbo yesterday frowned at the lopsided appointments of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, saying if such is not corrected it could lead to agitation that would not be in the interest of the nation.
The Igbo apex organisation also warned police authorities to release all members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, held in various police cells across the country, particularly those detained by Imo State Police Commissioner, Taiwo Lakanu, on assumption of duty in the state last month.
At an event to celebrate Igbo Day and honour past and present heroes in Owerri, Imo State capital, President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Imo, Ambassador Akpelu Azunna, noted that inasmuch as the organisation supports President Buhari’s government, “we frown at his appointments because they are lopsided.”
He said such appointments should be balanced because Nigeria is standing on a tripod, adding that any appointment that excludes any leg of the tripod is not good for the nation.
“We expect Buhari in any further appointment in future, to look more on the side of Ndigbo because Ndigbo gave him more than 25 per cent votes.”
Azunna contended that without the Igbo nobody can win election in Nigeria, adding that the zone should be considered for juicy positions to compensate for the sacrifices they made in the election that brought Buhari to power.
According to him, now that the nation is celebrating its 55th birthday, Ohanaeze as a non-partisan and non-sectarian body, supports one Nigeria but it should be one Nigeria that gives equal rights to all and sundry.
On the detention of MASSOB members, he urged the police authorities to set free those arrested for speaking their minds or asking for their rights without any condition attached for such release. He, however, advised those agitating for their rights to do so within the ambit of the constitution.
“Anybody that wants to agitate should do so within the ambit of the law. Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not against agitation, but it should be within the law and those arrested for agitating for what they feel is due them should be released immediately as Nigeria has major problem of Boko Haram to contain.”
Azunna also advised the government not to give room for agitations particularly when giving appointments, sharing of resources and siting developmental projects across the country, as these could give room for protests, especially where they are not evenly distributed.
He used the occasion to announce that every December 29 Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Imo State chapter, would showcase to the world all cultural values of Njirimarandigbo.
He appealed to every Igbo son and daughter to work hard in any place they find themselves to promote Igbo language, culture, tradition and all core values of Ndigbo, adding that they should portray good character in every area of endeavour.
This year’s event, he said, was low-keyed because of the sudden death in a motor accident of the state’s vice president, Dr. Ignatius Chineke. (National Mirror)
