Ministerial Nominees: South-East Senators Protest Marginalisation Of Zone

By Osita Chidoka

“The South East Senators supported a motion tagged: “Urgent Need to Balance Geo-political Representation in the Ministerial Appointment”, sponsored by Senator Tony Nwoye and 14 other senators from the South East geopolitical zone.”

I commend the Southeast Senators for standing up against a growing conspiracy against the zone.

A few weeks ago I called on the President to resist the temptation of deliberate relegation of the Southeast zone in the commanding heights of the polity by supporting a Chairman of their Party from the zone. Many failed to see the import of that statement.

Past Presidents usually appointed 36 Ministers and an additional 6 (one per zone) to take care of other interests. To appoint 3 Ministers from one state and 9 from one zone is an egregious attack on our national sensibilities and consensus.

The Southeast is an integral part of Nigeria and should not be punished for the political choices of its people. Southwest for many years voted for Action Group/UPN/AD, they did not join the “Mainstream” and yet were not relegated in the national equation. The North voted massively for PDP (Obasanjo 1st term) and subsequently voted majorly for ANPP, CPC, and APC all with a Northern candidate, President Buhari for 16 years and nobody held it against them.

Southeast politicians in public office must insist on respect for the federal character and fight against this creeping relegation of the zone in public office. This evil plan was made a deliberate policy under President Buhari. As a nation, we must always remember that appointments to and promotions in the public service, and admissions to federal institutions are all going on under quota systems instituted to give a sense of belonging to all parts of the country.

President Tinubu has a golden opportunity to reverse this ugly trend that would only lead to national disunity. The President’s knee-jerk reaction to the coup in Niger is a lesson on consultation and a clear message on the urgent need to unite Nigerians towards the dream of a nation where no man is oppressed and the affirmation that though tribes and tongues may differ in brotherhood we stand.

I call on the Southeast legislators to stay the course in the fight to build a united Nigeria governed by rules and not prejudice.

Chidoka is a former Minister for Aviation