APC leaders warn party leadership that southeast needs speakership post to combat rise of Ipob and Massob

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) leaders from across the southeast have urged their party's leaders to ensure that the next speaker of the Federal House of Representatives comes from their zone if they want to stem growing calls for secession among Igbo youths.

Yesterday, Enugu, Onitsha and several Igbo cities were shut down after secessionist organisation the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (Massob) called for a stay-at-home day to mark the 52nd anniversary of defunct state. Biafra was declared on May 30 1967 and yesterday, Ipob and Massob asked that it be marked across the southeast geo-political zone with a sit-in.

Over the last four years, Nigeria's 35m Igbos have bemoaned the fact that the Buhari administration has marginalised them when it comes to appointments, federal projects and infrastructural development. As a result, support for Ipob and Massob has grown significantly, contributing to a successful stay-at-home day yesterday.

Now, the matter threatens to get out of hand next month when the ninth National Assembly elects its leaders on June 10 as the southeast geo-political zone has not been shortlisted for any position. With the presidency zoned to the northwest, the vice presidency to the southwest, the senate president to the northeast, the deputy senate presidency to the south-south and the deputy speakership to the north central geo-political zones, many APC members feel the speakership simply has to go to the southeast.

Yesterday, the Presidential Support Committee (PSC) and the South East Equity Alliance, made up of leaders of the APC in the southeast geo-political zone urged the party to cede the position of the speaker to Ndigbo. Prince Chamberlain Adiaso, the southeast PSC coordinator, said they were backing Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, the member-elect, representing Okigwe South for the top job.

He argued that it is an injustice for the southwest to produce the vice president of the country and still wants to lay claim to the speakership position. In addition, he said that the people of southeast have about 25% of their votes to President Muhammad Buhari during the last elections, adding that zoning the speakership to the southeast was in line with the administration's promise of inclusive government.

Prince Adiaso said: “Barrister Emeka Nwajiuba being a detribalised Nigerian, should be considered for the position so that he can become a rallying point for the whole APC in the southeast geopolitical region. Nwajiuba is best qualified and most suited for the position because of his legislative experience.

“Nwajiuba as speaker would ensure the independence of the legislature and harmonious relation with the executive and judicial arms of government. We are calling on all well meaning Nigerian to allow the people of southeast produce the next speaker of the ninth assembly.”

Chief Nwoha Amaechi, the South East Equity Alliance spokesman and former speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, called on the APC and Nigerians to support the clamour for a progressive and fair national leadership equation. He added that a speaker of Igbo extraction was necessary for not only political fairness but natural justice considering the 25% votes given to President Buhari in the last election.

Also speaking, Barrister Kingsley Onunuju said the only way to put an end to issues of Ipob and Massob agitation was to ensure that the speakership position was zoned to the southeast. He said Hon Nwajiuba’s speakership would increase the popularity of APC across the southeast.