Tinubu's 'controversial' handshake across Niger

Many observers have consistently asked questions about what constitutes the Igbo ethnic nationality agenda within the larger context of the geographical entity called Nigeria. This goes against the seemingly divisive airs among the zone's stakeholders on the policy's major national issues. KUNLE ODEREMI examines issues surrounding the aspirations of the South East as a unit in the Nigerian federation, its politics, its challenges, especially in the context of rapid political emergence.

DECADES after the era of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Dr Michael Okpara, Ndigbo is still nostalgic for the two icons' forays into the corridors of power. Zik of Africa, as he was popularly known, was the first President and Prime Minister of the Eastern Region, while Dr Okpara became Prime Minister years after the country gained independence from Great Britain. Brittany. The duo are credited with laying the foundations for economic progress, development and prosperity, evident in infrastructure spending, which was unfortunately later undermined by the military coup of 1966.

The restoration of civil status on October 1, 1979 resonated with Zik as the de facto political leader of the Igbo, who despite a harsh challenge to the soul of Igboland by the leading position of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), has galvanized its people to retain political power in the area. With his party, then the Nigerian People's Party (NPP) forming government in the zone states, the governors rekindled hopes for progress in economic growth and development.

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But the quest for a president of Igbo descent remained elusive. Attempts by a renowned architect, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former vice president of Second Republic President Shehu Shagari, to break the curse were unsuccessful, although he nearly achieved the competition's goal for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket. He was overwhelmed by the intense tightrope politics of Northern power brokers and the establishment. However, the political sagacity of Dr. Ekwueme and like-minded people across a wide political spectrum in the political arena ensured that the principle of rotation of power became a cardinal and timely norm to foster integration and inclusiveness.

The Obasanjo presidency was apparently magnanimous in its victory after the 1999 general elections. ministries of choice. Succeeding Goodluck Jonathan was seen as having supported the trend, which sparked a wave of unrest from some of the actors in the Nigerian project of ethnic marginalization. The leaders of the agitators against the imbalance of representation in the federal cabinet had engaged the authorities in consultations and dialogue with the aim of the government redressing the imbalance of power and political interests.

As President Bola Tinubu prepared to assign portfolios to his designated ministers, Igbo leaders raised their voices over the disproportionate structure between the six geopolitical zones. A pan-Igbo organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has rallied Ndigbo against what leaders see as an enduring culture of Igbo marginalization in the central order of things. Its President General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, claimed that the Igbo had been aggrieved with five states while other areas had between six and 10 slots. In his words: “This situation has placed the Southeast in a very difficult position, politically, economically and socially. Our political power has been reduced because we have a few senators and also in the House of Representatives; governors, the House of Assembly and local governments. Iwuanyanwu, who has repeatedly aspired to the country's presidency, said it underscored the long-lasting marginalization of Igbo people in all major government appointments by the government. “In the distribution of federal revenues, the Southeast is denied revenues that come from the states. In federal council appointments and other distributions of resources, we are strategically disadvantaged. We wish to observe that this situation was not caused by the current administration but

we however call on President Tinubu to help us remedy the situation and restore justice, fairness and equity in Nigeria,” he stressed.

Subtle or moderate protest is also evident in the views expressed by other stakeholders in the South East on the imbalance in ministerial appointments. For example, the Vice President, Ben Kalu, made an impassioned plea to the All Progressives Congress (APC) National President, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje about this....