Ohanaeze tackles Tinubu for shortchanging South East in ministerial appointments

 

President Bola Tinubu’s selection of only five ministers from the South-East region has been criticised by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organisation.

Giving the South-East only five places, according to Ohanaeze President-General Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, is discriminatory and unjust.

Iwuanyanwu claimed in a statement on Thursday that the South-East only has five states, but other states have a minimum of six states.

The group’s president demanded “justice, fairness and equity for every ethnic group in Nigeria, including the Igbo.

“Recall that the states and geopolitical zones were created by the military administrations. All honest Nigerians know that the Igbo did not play much part during this exercise.

“As a result, the South-East was shortchanged with five (5) States while other zones have a minimum of six (6) states. This situation has placed the South-East in a very difficult position, politically, economically, and socially.

“Our political power has been reduced as we have a few senators and also in the House of Representatives; governors, House of Assembly and local governments.

“In federal revenue allocation, the South-East is denied the revenue that comes on the basis of States. In federal board appointments and other resource distributions, we are strategically shortchanged.

“We wish to observe that this situation was not caused by the current administration but we however appeal to His Excellency, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu to help us remedy the situation and restore justice, equity and fairness in Nigeria.”