SEVERAL Igbo political associations have criticised President Muhammadu Buhari's recent ministerial appointments claiming that it marginalises the southeast as ministers from the zone were given inconsequential portfolios.
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Leaders of bodies like Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and Njiko Igbo, have described the portfolios assigned to Igbo ministers as disappointing. In the appointments, Geoffrey Onyema from Enugu State was named foreign minister, Ogbonnaya Onu from Ebonyi State was named science and technology minister, Chris Ngige from Anambra State was appointed labour and productivity minister, Anthony Onwuka from Imo State was named minister of state for education and Okechukwu Enelamah from Abia State got the trade, investment & industry portfolio.
According to Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the president of the Ohanaeze Youth Wing, who spoke on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ogbonnaya Onu and Chris Ngige deserved more influential ministries. He added that Okechukwu Enelamah should have been appointed minister of finance instead of Kemi Adeosun from Ogun State.
Mazi Isiguzoro said: “We are disappointed that somebody of the calibre of Dr Ogbonnaya Onu was assigned to the science and technology ministry and even Dr Chris Ngige should have been appointed as the health minister instead of labour and productivity. Igbo ministers did not get juicy portfolios, except perhaps Ibe Kachikwu and Rotimi Amaechi, who are our brothers from the south-south.
“We are not happy that we did not get the juicy portfolios, although we are happy that our brothers from the Niger Delta got. Nevertheless, the era of impunity has gone and we expect all the Igbo ministers to perform excellently, so expect them to close ranks and work towards developing Igboland.”
Njiko Igbo president Reverend Okechukwu Obioha, said President Buhari relegated Igbo ministers to the background in his cabinet. He added that the association was not surprised with the development, however.
Reverend Obioha added: “They are adding more salt to the injury and we expected that. We can see that Ndigbo are not wanted in this country and at the moment, the sharing of the national cake is between the north and the southwest.
“What will Ngige be doing as labour and productivity minister when the federal government is not employing anyone, or creating jobs? Even the Foreign Affairs portfolio that was given to an Igbo man is of no consequence because already Buhari has travelled to most of the countries and he will continue to do so."
He added that President Buhari has travelled more in six months more than the immediate past president travelled in six years, so the foreign affairs minister will just be a rubber stamp. According to Reverend Obioha, President Buhari has taken the ministry of petroleum resources for himself, making an Igbo man the minister of state virtually giving Ndigbo nothing and the problem will lead to more agitation for Biafra.
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