A sociopolitical organization, Ndigbo United Youth Forum (NUYF), has protested the exclusion of the southeast in President Muhammadu Buhari’s newly approved five federal universities, describing the Federal Government’s action as another display of disregard for equity and fairness.
The Igbo forum, in a statement by its National leader, Mazi Nnaemeka Akachukwu on Wednesday, opined that total disregard for the welfare and feelings of the Igbo region, political exclusion of the Igbo man and economic suppression of the southeast region when all round inclusiveness of all the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria is in dire need for reconciliation, peace and progress.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the establishment of federal universities in Jigawa (North West), Abuja (North Central) Bauchi (North East) Osun (South West) and Akwa Ibom (South South).
No approval was given to the southeast.
The NUYF in the statement, maintained that the Buhari-led government has continued to sideline and alienate the region in a provocative manner coupled with his open disregard for the sensibility and sensitivity of the Igbo man.
It further stated, “What this current administration is doing to the psyche of an average Igbo person, is certainly worse than what we were subjected to, during the 30 months orchestrated genocide that the world is still labelling a civil war.
“It’s on verifiable records, how this administration has both actively and passively worked against the Igbo interest –non inclusion of the South East region in most of her socioeconomic planning, and blatant discrimination against Ndigbo in key national appointments. Muhammadu Buhari has never appointed any Igbo person from the South East in any of his key security positions, he has also uttered very reckless and “un-presidential” remarks against Ndigbo, viz, 5%, Dot people, genocidal threats that pitched him against Twitter etc”.
Continuing, the Forum said, “We wish to categorically tender our complete dissatisfaction with this yet, another undue marginalization of Ndigbo in his newly approved 5 Federal Universities. Education is power, yet after giving other regions a new University, the South East was left out, which means that this administration is clearly out to deny Ndigbo the real means of attaining power–Education!
“We won’t accept this broad daylight marginalization, the spiteful gesture is unacceptable. We call on all lovers of Justice to rise up and vigorously condemn and contest this abnormality. The hydra-headed monster of Injustice of president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration against Ndigbo, is the single most effective catalyst that has been fueling the insecurity and agitation in the southeast. The resultant effects of his inexplicable hate for Ndigbo, has pushed a lot of Igbo youths to frustration and criminality. It’s a case of simple common sense; if you are told in very clear terms that you are not welcomed in any gathering, the tendency will be for you to want to exit such a hostile gathering. That is the exact position of Ndigbo in today’s Nigeria of Buhari”.
The NUYF concluded, “enough is enough, President Buhari should stop fueling the embers of discord and disunity, via his surgical target of Igbo interests; for such is a direct threat to National unity and stability. The Igbo man is everywhere in Nigeria, he should be always treated with the highest degree of respect, acceptance and fairness. Let President Muhammadu Buhari, as a matter of urgency, approve a Federal University for the southeast region”.
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