I have read most of the screaming literature churned out plentifully in scathing criticism of what has come to be known as Buhari’s lopsided appointments. I have always had a strong impulse to bare my mind.

But being an Igbo man and having a strong communal identity within my hometown therein, often made my opinion a near suicidal act. It is not always easy to stand singly against a crowd under the firm grip of primordial sentiments.

However, the recent article written by Ezugwu Okike which he called: ‘Buhari’s sin against Nigeria’s unity’ has filled my heart with concern and is propping me into yet another suicidal adventure (if that’s what it is).

The law of choice, priority and preferences (of one thing over another) is, no doubt, part of political behaviorism that most people summarily describe as INTEREST. This interest is always in a “permanent shifting position”.

What this means, in essence, is that I may like Ezugwu Okike (an ibo), for example, but because he may not satisfy my interest at a particular temporal time, I may go for Femi or Musa (a Yoruba or Hausa) who may fill that “interest void” far deeper than Okike, and vice versa.

But, very importantly, I may have to return to Okike to meet another interest, especially since he (Okike) is part of the whole circle of my general interest.

Now, it’s because of this science of “meeting the interest” that makes people socialize and politick with one another; serving others faithfully, defending them, decamping or patiently scheming out things in their own eventual advantages.

Surely, it’s through this complex process of politicking that an Osibanjo could move higher above a Bakare in the “choice ranking”, and Amaechi above Bafarawa, El Rufai above Malami and, or an Osita Okechukwu will drop below Rochas, and Ogbonnaya Onu above Ngige, etcetera.

In summary, politics demand loyalty, patience, perseverance and dexterity- if you’re in doubt, ask the sorry duo of Tom Ikimi and Annie Okonkwo who impatiently stormed out of APC with anger just few months after the formation of the party, despite being instrumental to it’s emergence.

Needless to say that others who weren’t there when this duo toiled expeditiously moved in to fill the voids they created and even reaped from the bounties of their labour.

As for Ibos, they need to understand that politics is not about noisy swashbuckling and ostensible display of acquired resources or disdained intelligence over other tribes- as Achebe conceded against his kinsmen in his memoir “There was a Country “.

From what he was saying, being impudent ordinarily attracts malice, much more when a people (referring to Ibos) display it with certain contemptuous disregards to the quiet nature of their various hosts.

Of course, I agree with him; you don’t extend a back hand to a man you’re expecting to have a gift. The pestle won’t enjoy the yam if it either delights in hitting the mortar with contempt or sidestepping it completely. Of what need will it even be considering that the pestle will always be rolled aside with the mortar in perpetual conjugality afterwards.

Buhari cannot be categorically dismissed as being tribalized on the basis of not appointing Ibos in non-ministerial positions. We must remember that the President contested election for a record four times…only winning in his fourth attempt.

Have we ever considered that there maybe those who consistently stood with him in all his four attempts: 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015? And we know they’re mostly Northerners and few Yorubas amongst which Femi Adesina stands out tallest.

At least, particularly, this Buhari’s first major political appointee has written a thousand pro-Buhari article on Daily Sun since 2002, most of which I read. Do we think they don’t deserve to be given priority before and above others who only joined him later in 2015 or never supported him at all.

Well, academically speaking, they should not be given any preference. But we are not talking academics. We’re talking politics, so they should. Yet Mr President would not totally see it that way.

But assuming the President is biased at any rate, and excusing his trademark inability to conform to political correctness (to the delights of many Nigerians, anyways), can the Ibos beat their chest as being entitled to equal share of the cake in this new government? I don’t think so, for such thing can only come as the working of grace.

As God himself reckons in John 4:38, “I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” And more like a reminder in Galatians 6:7 it forewarned, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” In other words, where a man soweth not he shall not reap except God permits. The Ibos have not sown.

But the Constitution has become their only saving grace, God’s permission to reap beyond the sow. Yes, because never has the jurisprudence behind the constitutional clause of “every state a minister” been more clearer than it is today.

Without doubt, it is now crystal clear that that provision of the constitution was enacted in order to veritably rescue a self inflicted situation like the one Ibos have unfortunately found themselves. I used the phrase “self inflicted” because I was privileged to witness the aloofness extended to the President during his campaigns in the East, particularly in Enugu.

However, as I have said, it seems right to say that the constitution has salvaged what would have been a catastrophe for any ethno-political group that may be either characteristically or mischievously disposed to barking the wrong tree (whether Ibos or not). Otherwise, the provision is also a disenabling tool against any grugding President to engage in the evil politics of winner takes it all.

And left with no other option, President Buhari has ordinarily employed this constitutional grace and averted any further crisis, while equally being disappointingly human. Meanwhile, while the premeditation of this writing is not to totally absolve the President from blameworthiness in his pattern of appointment, wisdom is for Ibos to reflect more on their current political situation (very necessary).

Their disposition towards “persecution complex”, self righteousness, and more lately, political intimidation of the state are tactics far too lame to form workable solutions.

Being a well-received, universally intelligent ethnic group, the Ibos should be more discerning to see their current woes as a result of mere political calculus that went wrong and quickly re-strategize for the coming future; or still, see it as a transient natural phenomenon that rides with the vagaries of politics other than a premeditated undertaking to undermine a “hated race”.

No doubt, the point of view expressed here maybe desirable, but no matter how agreeable it is, its limited appeal to an average Nigerian is not completely lost considering how our psyche has been inextricably tied to blind tribalism.

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Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

Article written by Izu Aniagu.