The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, has threatened to sue the federal government over alleged marginalization of the South East region in federal appointments.
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Tuesday.
Iwuanyanwu said the court action would determine whether the style of appointment by the federal government was constitutional.
He said Ohanaeze was concerned about the recent appointment of members of the federal executive council (FEC), where only five ministers were appointed from the South East out of 48.
He said this action had put the South East in absolute minority in the FEC.
Iwuanyanwu said Ohanaeze stood for equity and justice, and that equity and justice were fundamental prerequisites for an enduring harmonious relationship in a country such as Nigeria with many diversities.
He said “Ohanaeze is concerned about the obvious inequality and injustice manifested in the recent appointment of members of the federal executive council, FEC, All together forty-eight members were appointed and sworn in only five were appointed from the Southeast by the principle of federal character southeast ought to have gotten at least 8 ministers. This action has put the South East in absolute minority in federal executive council.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo stands for equity abd justice. Ohanaeze Ndigbo that believe that equity and justice are fundamental prerequisite for an enduring harmonious relationship in a country such as Nigeria with many diversities. The federal character enshrined in our constitution is a major steps towards the management of Nigerians many diversities.
“We have in the past few years, watched some people in authority deny the Southeast our rights. For example, there is no explanation whatsoever for giving southeast five states only where as other zones have six or seven states. This situation has put Southeast in a very serious handicap. For example many appointments are made based on equality of states. On this premise, Southeast have lost a lot of appointment opportunities.”
Iwuanyanwu said Nigerians would be told clearly whether denial of opportunities should be regarded as legitimate punishment for a group who did not vote for a political leader in the course of the trial by the judiciary.
He warned that Ohanaeze Ndigbo would have no choice but to go to court if the federal government failed to respond positively to its request.
“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,” he said.
