I am writing this article not because I am an Igbo Man of South East
extraction, but because I believe in equity, fairness, equal
opportunities and believer of one Nigeria.
I love President Muhammadu Buhari. His war against corruption and
corrupt leaders drew me closer to him. I love him more now that he has
an adopted Igbo name “Okechukwu”. This naturally makes him an “Igbo
man”.
In his inaugural speech on the 29th of May 2015, General Buhari
promised to be the president of all Nigerians. He pledged he would be
for everybody and he would be for nobody. He promised to be a father
to all Nigerians. Above all, he promised to fight corruption.
As an anti-corruption crusader, I quickly jumped into the boxing ring
to assist my President to fight corruption. The result is
overwhelming, as I and my colleagues have practically given corruption
fatal and ruthless blows in my state (Imo). We have stripped
corruption stark naked in Imo State, for the whole world to see.
Buhari cannot be in Aso-Rick (Abuja) to fight corruption in the 36
states of the federation without collaborative information from those
states. However, his most recent federal political appointments have
pinched me on my scrotal sack. What do I mean? When state Governors
made moves to have input in Buhari’s proposed ministerial list, the
President rebuffed it and many Nigerians supported him including this
writer (see attached). Let me put it to whosoever cares to listen,
that President Buhari has the right to appoint anybody into whichever
position he deems fit. If he wants, he can appoint all his aides and
ministers from one political ward in a local government area, so long
as they are credible people with integrity and dignity.
The ruling APC government has made several appointments, both at the
executive arm, legislative arm, service chiefs have been changed, and
heads of parastatals have been changed or named: yet not a single
person from the South-East geopolitical zone has been deemed fit to be
named. The remaining five geo-political zones of North-East,
North-West, North-Central, South-West and South-South have their sons
and daughters named into various positions of influence and authority.
Even the Presidential Advisory committee against corruption with
Professor Itse Sagay as Chairman, has no South Easterner as member. My
very good “Friend”, Governor Rochas Anayo Okorocha of Imo State is the
Chairman of APC Governors Forum in Nigeria. He is the Sign board of
APC’s presence in the South-East; being the only APC governor in the
South East. He led other APC bigwigs in the zone to campaign
vigorously for the party and this yielded results, in that the PDP
that used to post over one million votes in each of the states in the
South-East could not muster more than 700,000 votes in the 2015
election. This actually accounted to President Buhari’s victory. The
truth is that with the political appointments so far made at the
federal level, with nobody from the South-East being named, Okorocha
has been stripped stark naked and completely humiliated. Please, do
not get me wrong. I am not sympathizing with Okorocha. No. I am rather
laughing at him. He has been stripped naked, both at home (due to
corruption) and at the federal level (because it has been proved that
he is a nobody). CHAI President Buhari, it is very unfair.
Before now, Okorocha was boasting all over the place that “he has
Buhari’s ears”, “he has Buhari’s eyes”, “he has Buhari’s nose”, and
“he has Buhari’s mouth”. Perhaps, he forgot to add “I have Buhari’s
genitals”. This is not a laughing matter. I think Okorocha did not see
this insult and humiliation coming. Two weeks ago, the President’s
wife refused to visit Imo State despite being officially invited.
Nevertheless, I am calling on Nigerians, especially the people of
South-East geo-political zone to continue to support President Buhari,
despite the fact that they are no longer part of Nigeria, judging from
appointments so far made. Yes, the Igbos are no longer part of
Nigeria. The Managing Director of NNPC is not even from South-East, so
I know what I am talking about. Otherwise why single out one section
of the country for non-recognition. The only political position of
Deputy Senate Presidency did not come from the APC. Even at that, the
ruling party and government are busy plotting on how to take away that
position from the South-East. The position of Deputy Chief Whip at the
Federal House of Representative that was to come (zoned) to South-east
was halted by President Buhari, who reportedly told Speaker Yakubu
Dogara to observe party’s directive. Yet the same party (APC)
reportedly zoned the post of Secretary to the Government of Federation
to the South East, and President Buhari disobeyed the party by giving
out the position to somebody from the North. Federal character indeed.
The Second Niger bridge project has been halted. Alvan Ikoku
University of Education has been reverted to a College of Education.
Boko Haram suspects have been moved from the North to the South East.
President Buhari, this is very unfair.
The actions of President Buhari have given the people of South East
new ideas. I am therefore calling on the people of South East to stand
up now and be counted. The five South East Governors should come
together irrespective of party platforms and issue a statement
condemning this obvious threat to national unity. Our state Houses of
Assembly should pass a motion of National importance, condemning the
actions of Mr. President. The South-East caucus of the National
Assembly should condemn the undemocratic actions of Mr. President.
Other South-east leaders should follow this module.
Finally, the Igbos should go back to the drawing board. It is very
obvious that the civil war is not yet over. President Buhari, your
actions are indeed very unfair to the South-East.
I rest my pen.
–
Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha
Former Senior Special Assistant on Media
