Thursday’s sack of three out of the four Service Chiefs by President Goodluck Jonathan has apparently not gone down well with Igbo youths, who viewed the development as an act of marginalization against the South East geo-political zone.
The youths are particularly irked that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, who hails from the region, was among those removed from office, saying the move was a calculated attempt aimed at alienating the Igbo race from the scheme of things.
The Youth Wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo, while kicking against the appointment of new Service Chiefs, called on the National Assembly to reject same as it lacked federal character.
According to a statement by the presidency yesterday, which announced the sweeping changes, Air Marshal Alex Badeh from Adamawa State takes over from Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim as Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General Kenneth Minimah from Rivers State takes over from Lt.-General Azubike Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin from Kogi State takes over from Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu from Lagos State takes over from Air Marshal Badeh as Chief of Air Staff.
Speaking in the same vein, the Federated Council of Igbo Youths, FCIY, frowned at what it described as a planned attempt to put the Igbo nation in the back seat by the current administration and called on Ndigbo to resist the ongoing alienation of the race.
Reacting to the new appointments, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, wondered why in all the new appointments made, there was no person from the South-East considered worthy by President Jonathan to occupy any of the positions.
Information Nigeria reports that Ihejirika, who was first appointed by President Jonathan in 2010, is the first military officer from the South East to be made Chief of Army Staff since 1966, when Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was the General Officer Commanding, GOC, of the Nigerian Army.
So what do you want to do? Plan a coup? As nigerians we must wake up and understand the act of governance. Mere reshufflement you said is an act of marginalisation youths of igbo community wake up, grow up. The president is only doing what is right for the nation. Just pray for God’s wisdom for him to overcome all the files placed before him with the right frame of mind. He needs our prayers. He meant no harm just the modus operation of good governance. GOD BLESS NIGERIA.
@Takon elijah why are u mentionin coup?u stil have dat ancient tribal grudge. Dnt 4gt u re in a social media nt in ur kindred meeting.U should grow up!
Well gudluck dey try but we dey watch,he shud learn hw to manage dat sit,instead of sacking some of his member nd bringing in those that wil help him in the 2015 election
We igbos should withdraw our support for goodluck jonathan in 2015 let him relax he has done well.Igbos shoul rise up now against marginalisation no betrayal and sabotage again let’s work as 1.long life nigeria long life ndi igbo
Wen re we going to stop dis tribalism of a thing hum? Is as simple as sacking football manager who didn’t perform let’s some1 else try too nigerian are tired of bokoharam I pray God to make the new chiefs succeed God bless Nigeria
we Nigerian we need to wake up and make one Nigerian we should not be saying igbo,Yoruba or north by so doing we are doing our self and the one we do our self is not up to the one we do our children. our leader stop liking innocent children. give the younger one way to move Nigerian forward. we can do more better Dan. u do any one of u who is going there because u want to make money ur name is sorry and ur children.
Good moning my fello Nigerian, i wish to unvail the hidden treasure that has been abused by the president of the country, as you can see there have being a real physical cumbat between the igbo’s and hausa’s since from the days of our fore-fathers. So the removal of lt. Gen Azubuike ihejirika is a BIG SLAP & at the same time a BIG BLOW to south easth people. So mr. President we don’t know what you most have had in mine to destroy what you have build in igbo land, just to achieve your 2015 presidential ambition, but let me tell you the truth because you may wine the election but it will not be easy for you. Moreover in a nutshell 2015 is pregnant & you never can tell what will happen in Naija. so be very careful in what ever change You erupt.