File: Igbo red cap chiefs

The apex umbrella organisation of Igbo ethnic group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has expressed anger over failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint one of their stock as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) even after, according to it, the ruling party zoned it to the region.

In a statement signed by its President General, Chief John Nnia Nwodo on Wednesday, the group said the President has failed again to play father figure which his office demands in presiding over a plural and divergent society.

“The President’s action has further denied the people of the region a strong place in the executive arm of the administration.”

The group expressed regret that the President by his action, has failed to seize the opportunity of running an inclusive government and assuaging the feelings of Ndigbo by side tracking them again in the appointment of the SGF.

“It also shows the President’s insensitivity to the over flogged issue of marginalization of Ndigbo by his administration.

“We had thought that the recent meeting of South East leaders with the President at the Aso Rock Villa opened an avenue for a new relationship with the zone which appointing an SGF from the area would have helped to cement especially as the ruling party originally zoned the position to the region.”

Chief Nwodo noted that the President’s remarks on the South East Ministers in his cabinet during the meeting could not have been a good reason to continue sidetracking them over a position that was zoned to them, especially when such appointment would have helped to heal wounds and reconcile a disgruntled people.

He also said it is saddening that Buhari, who according to him, has had the enviable opportunity of working across the country in his military career and has been a huge player in the polity for almost two decades, cannot find somebody from the South East he can trust for the SGF position.

Nwodo advised the President to open his mind and have a positive attitude about Ndigbo, whose contributions to the socio economic and political development of the country is not in doubt.