The youth wing of the socio-cultural organisation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has condemned senator-elect Orji Uzor Kalu for endorsing Femi Gbajabiamila for the speakership of the 9th House of Representatives.
Instead, the group endorsed the candidature of Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha who represents Isuikwato/Umunneochi federal constituency of Abia state, saying that the former governor must have endorsed Gbajabiamila for his selfish reasons not the interest of the South-east region.
The youths said they consider Laku’s support and endorsement of Gbajabiamila, who represents Surulere I federal constituency, as a sabotage of Igbo interest noting that Kalu has disappointed the Igbo race.
A statement signed by the leadership of the group Tuesday expressed shock and dismay saying that “a respected Igbo leader in the mold of Kalu can so openly work against Igbo interest for personal gains”.
The statement jointly signed by the deputy national leader, Dr Kingsley Dozie and publicity secretary, Osmond Nkeoma, insisted that the position of the speaker of the 9th House of Representatives should be ceded to South-east geopolitical zone in the spirit of equity and natural justice.
Ohanaeze argued that since the North-west and South-west respectively had produced the president and vice president and the position of senate president has already been zoned to North-east, it would be gross injustice to deny the South-east the opportunity of producing the speaker of the House of Representatives.
“Ndigbo are critical partners in the Nigeria project. The Igbo tribe is one of the tripods on which Nigeria stands, and we cannot be excluded from the country’s political equilibrium.
“How can the South-east which has sacrificed so much for Nigeria’s independence and development be so disdainfully excluded from the political space of the country and Kalu, who should be pained by this sad development, will rather choose to sing the praise of the masterminds of our woes?
“Igbo youths will not take it lightly with anyone who connived with our tormentors to turn us into servitudes or attempt to make us strangers in our own land”.
Ohanaeze said the position of Ndigbo concerning the zoning of principal officers of the incoming National Assembly had not changed, insisting that the speakership position should come to South-east.
The youths further said Hon Onyejeocha had the needed capacity and competence to be speaker, adding that the four-term lawmaker still enjoy the full support of Ndigbo.
They cautioned Igbo political elite against taking any step that could jeopardize the collective interest of Ndigbo.
