Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige has dismissed a statement made by the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, who accused President Muhammadu Buhari of marginalisiing persons of Igbo extraction.
Nwaorgu had on Friday said the organisation backed former President Goodluck Jonathan against Buhari in the 2015 presidential election because Buhari had always been unfair to Igbo.
Nwaorgu said, “We know him very well, during his first outing from 1983 to 1985, what did he do? Shagari, number one person (in the previous civilian administration was placed under) house arrest, Ekwueme, the number two, who had no constitutional functions (was sent to) prison. Igbo took note. He came out again as Executive Director, Petroleum Trust Fund, what did he do? Have you checked the allocations of PTF? Sixty-six per cent of all our petroleum money went to the North-West, his zone. He gave us (South-East) 6.2 per cent.
“With that pedigree, what will encourage people to say please come on? If we had said come on it would have put us in a poor shape that we can’t analyse well. We analysed well, and we have been vindicated.”
Reacting to Nwaorgu’s claim, Ngige, whho spoke with journalists at the Annual Convention and 2016 Graduation Ceremony of Bina Foundation, a non-governmental charity organisation, in Enugu, said contrary to Ohanaeze’s claims, Buhari’s antecedents showed that he loved Ndigbo.
Ngige said, “I am sure the statement did not emanate from Ohanaeze. It is the personal opinion of the Secretary-General, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, my personal friend.
“Ohanaeze has a means of expressing its views in a press statement by the President-General and such a statement must emanate from Imeobi (inner caucus).
“When you go to Buhari’s antecedents, you see his love for the Igbo – his Brigade Commander was an Igboman.
“After the war, he did not kill prisoners of war. He brought back his classmates, J.C. Ojukwu and the other man from Ojoto in Anambra State.”
Ngige added, “Buhari is a good man, he keeps to himself. He is disciplined in office, he doesn’t drink. He doesn’t smoke. He is a man who does any work efficiently.”
Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.
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