Tinubu govt at war with Igbo people – Ohanaeze

The Njiko Igbo Forum, an affiliate of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has declared that the Nigerian Federal Government is on warpath with Igbo population.

The forum, in a statement released by the President of the Forum, Rev Okechukwu Obioha, stated that the people of the South-East region are not appeased by the government’s efforts to mitigate the impact of the recent petrol subsidy removal.

Rev Obioha strongly frowned at what he described as insensitive and discriminatory policies implemented by successive administrations, characterizing them as a severe infringement on the psyche of the Igbo populace within the nation.

He pointed out that despite numerous years having passed since the civil war, the South-East community still feels marginalized and subjugated.

Drawing attention to the neglect of the Eastern rail corridor, Rev Obioha contended that this abandonment signifies the government’s disregard for the Igbo’s inclusion in its development agenda.

“The absence of equity, justice, and fairness is evident. No amount of palliative measures provided by the Federal Government to the South-Eastern region can sufficiently compensate them, especially as the Eastern Rail Corridors continue to languish in neglect,” Rev Obioha asserted.

These assertions come at a time when protests are escalating within the region due to discontent over the distribution of ministerial positions by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The North-East holds 10 ministerial slots, the South-West has 9, while the South-East trails behind with its allotted 5 slots.

However, the final list of ministerial portfolios announced by the Tinubu administration reveals only four major ministers and one junior minister from the South-East.

The appointed ministers are Doris Anite (Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment), Uche Nnaji (Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology), Nkiruka Onyejeocha (Minister of State, Labour and Employment), Uju Kennedy (Minister of Women Affairs), and David Umahi (Minister of Works). This allocation has further intensified the sentiment that the conflict between the federal government and the Igbo community is ongoing and deeply rooted.