Former member of House of Representatives for Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency, Sam Onuigbo has said President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated goodwill to the South East zone in his appointments unlike what was obtained in the past administration.
Onuigbo stated this, yesterday, in a statement in Abia State capital, Umuahia, citing the appointment of Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, who is from the zone as the chief of naval staff as one of such appointments.
“Tinubu’s administration has started very well by ensuring that somebody from the zone is a member of the armed forces service chiefs. This is a sign of positive development,” he said.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, also expressed appreciation to Tinubu for appointing him as the representative of the zone on the governing board of North East Development Commission.
Onuigbo, who served as a commissioner in the state during Senator Theodore Orji’s era, noted that the zone is still expecting more opportunities to address its complaints of marginalisation.
He cited the number of states and local governments in the zone as some of its challenges, attributing it to what he described as a wrong foundation that predates the present administration.
“While the South South, South West, North Central, and North East have six states each, the North West has seven, while the zone has only five,” the former two term legislator said.
He lamented that going by this, the zone would always produce the least number of ministers and other strategic federal appointments if they are based on number of states.
“Over the years, even when I was in the House, we have been appealing for additional state to be created in the zone because states and local governments are used for the distribution of positions.
“So, this are some of the issues we are going to address in the near future by pressing for constitutional amendments to ensure the creation of an additional state in the zone to make them six.
“Now that we have made it clear that this shortfall is not in the interest of the zone, this time, I am hopeful that we are going to look forward toward achieving that which is in its interest,” he said.
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