President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure to appoint people from the south eastern region is not going down well with everybody as Paul Ikonne, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated his concern on the issue.
Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday, August 11, in Abuja, Ikonne said leaders of the party from the region are being ridiculed by supporters of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Premium Times reports.
“To be very honest with you we are under pressure, serious pressure, because the PDP people and those that didn’t believe in the APC are just mocking us but we are not disturbed,” he said.
The APC chieftain, however, expressed optimism that Buhari would fulfill the promises he made to the people of the South Eastern region.
Ikonne said: “During campaign he came to South-East and he made promises and I believe he will keep to his promises. I have no doubt in my mind that when Mr. President turn to South-East he will balance the equation.
“Don’t forget that there still some key positions left that he has not filled, so I am optimistic that at the end of the day he will do justice to the South-Easterners.”
Calling on people to be patient, he stated that the PDP was only trying to create feelings of disappointment and disaffection among APC supporters in the south east.
Ikonne also applauded President Buhari for appointing Ibe Kachikwu as the group managing director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
According to him, Kachikwu had the qualities to help the president in his fight against corruption at the NNPC.
It has been more than two months since President Buhari took over from Goodluck Jonathan and Nigerians are patiently waiting for who will form his cabinet. The president had earlier said he was in no hurry to nominate ministers, wondering why there was so much anxiety over the make up of his cabinet.
Many people felt that the alleged marginalisation of the south east region by Buhari had been put to rest with Kachikwu’s appointment but it was not so as many realised that he is from Anioma in Delta state. This sparked arguments between ethnic groups in Delta and Rivers states who have Igbo origins and core Igbos from the south east of Nigeria.
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