Secretary General of apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Joe Nwaorgu, has called on his kinsmen to remain calm despite their snub by the current administration.
Ndigbo have been complaining bitterly over the failure of the current government led by president Muhammadu Buhari to appoint any person from the southeast region.
Addressing newsmen in Enugu, Monday, against the backdrop of the appointment of principal officers in the presidency and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Nwaorgu said that the call for Ndigbo to remain calm had become necessary because of the numerous telephone calls from his kinsmen who have all been complaining over the development.
He said that some Ndigbo who have called on the issue had queried “whether Ndigbo are still regarded as part of Nigeria.”
The Ohanaeze Secretary General enjoined Ndigbo not to overreact either by word or otherwise to this ugly situation of total exclusion.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges Ndigbo to continue to be nation builders anywhere they are and not to be downcast by what has happened.
“Ohanaeze strongly believes that a President of Nigeria is the president for all Nigerians and that equity and fair-play for all Nigerians will be respected,” Nwaorgu said.
Also speaking in the same vein on telephone from Abuja, Monday, a former Minister of Health, Professor A.B.C Nwosu said that he was not surprised that the appointments excluded Ndigbo.
According to him, “many Ndigbo expected this to be so even during the campaigns and that was why they voted the way they did.”
He stated that “Ndigbo should not be troubled by this development because they have seen and survived worse situations in Nigeria and there is no cause for mourning the present development.
“Ndigbo should continue to be strong and committed to nation building and await the envisaged remedial action as stated by the presidency even though, personally, I do not see any position that will equal the position of the Secretary to Government of the Federation and its centrality in the exercise of federal power in Nigeria.”
Prof. Nwosu advised that upon conclusion of major appointments, Ohanaeze Ndigbo in consultation with Igbo organizations like Aka Ikenga, Ndigbo Lagos, World Igbo Congress, Igbo World Assembly, Izu Umunna, Igbo Leaders of Thought and so on should summon a meeting of Igbo leaders and elders to review the situation.
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