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From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has threatened a legal action against the Federal Government if it continued to marginalise the South East in its appointments or fail to paying attention to its demand for an additional state.
President General of the Igbo apex group, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who spoke to newsmen in Owerri, said the Igbo deserved equal rights like every other zones in the country.
He frowned at the appointments of 48 members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which he regretted has only five from South East.
Iwuanyanwu pointed out that by the principles of the federal character, South East ought to have eight ministers, noting that inequality has put the zone in absolute minority in FEC.
The elder statesman who said Ohanaeze believes in equity and justice as an enduring harmonious relationship in Nigeria with many diversities noted that the federal character enshrined in the constitution was a major step towards the management of the diversities.
“We have in the past few years ,patiently watched some people in authority deny the South East our rights. For example, there is no explanation whatsoever for giving South East five States whereas other zones have six or seven States.
“This situation has put South East in a very serious handicap. Many appointments are made based on equality of States. On this premise, South East have lost a lot of appointment opportunities.
“In legislature,South East has lost a whole state legislative assembly, House of Representatives and three senators. The impact of this is also felt during the presidential primaries where delegates are drawn from states and local governments.
“We have also incurred a lot of financial losses in the past 30 years as revenues are allocated on the basis of equality.”
He said he was irked by the treatment he was given by the Federal Government, while protesting the marginalisation of the South East in the ministerial list, stressing that the recent appointments showcased his doubt about the inclusion of the zone in the scheme of thing in Nigeria.
However, he said the South East is committed to the peace, progress, and development of all parts of Nigeria. He, therefore appealed to the president and the National Assembly to look into the case of the zone and ensure that a state is created to address the injustice of having only five states.
“In the course of the trial by the judiciary, Nigerians will be told clearly whether denial of opportunities should be regarded as legitimate punishment for group who do not vote for a political leader.
“If the Federal Government fails to respond positively to this request, Ohanaeze Ndigbo will have no choice than to go to court to seek for proper interpretation of our constitution,” Iwuanyanwu said.
