[p]Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the leading socio-cultural organization representing the Igbo people, has expressed strong criticism towards the All Progressives Congress (APC) for assigning the position of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to the South-East region.
As debates ensue within the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration regarding key positions in the National Assembly, Ohanaeze has deemed the ruling party's decision to zone the deputy speakership to the Igbo community as "extremely offensive, repulsive, and provocative to Igbo culture."
Reports suggest that the APC is inclined towards Barau Jibril as the deputy to Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Meanwhile, Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu have been assigned the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.
In a statement issued by Dr Alex Ogbonnia, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ohanaeze expressed its opposition to the decision to limit the South-East region to the role of the House's second-highest seat.
"The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has observed with great concern the zoning of principal officers of the Senate and House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria," stated Ohanaeze.
Furthermore, it highlighted that the APC had allocated the position of deputy speaker to the South-East region.
"The Ohanaeze Ndigbo states that allocating the position of deputy speaker to the South-East is highly unreflective, disgusting, and provocative to the Igbo."
Consequently, Ohanaeze has instructed all Igbo legislators in Nigeria to exercise their voting rights for the top officials of the National Assembly independently, without consideration for their state, religion, or ethnicity.
To this end, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, under the leadership of Chief Engr. Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR (Ahaejiagamba), has issued a directive to all Igbo lawmakers in the 10th National Assembly, urging them to cast their votes based on their individual judgment.
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