Prominent Itsekiri son and former Director, Maritime Security in the office of the National Security Adviser, Navy Captain Abel Memuduaghan (rtd), has called on the Federal Government to look into the marginalisation of the Itsekiri nation in the political equation of the country.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday in Abuja, Memuduaghan said as an ethnic group with over 2.5m population, Itsekiri land produces more crude oil per head than any other ethnic group in Nigeria, thereby making it a major stakeholder in the Nigerian project.

He further said that despite the contribution of the Itsekiri Nation to the Nigerian economy, the Iwere (Itsekiri) people have consistently been treated like backwaters in the Nigerian political equation.

“Since 1999 no Itsekiri son or daughter has sat as a Senator in the National Assembly to speak for the Itsekiri people, and the only two federal appointment they've ever had since then were Dr. Roland Oritsejafor, as Minister of State for Defense before being removed unceremoniously by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and Barr. Temisan Omatseye, Director General, NIMASA, appointed by President Yar'Adua - also unceremoniously removed by President Goodluck Jonathan,” he said

The retired senior military officer further said: “Since the administration of President Jonathan till date, no Iwere son or daughter have been given appointment at the centre, either as a cabinet member, Ambassadorial, Service Chief, head of agency or even senior presidential aide.”

He therefore called on the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari “to right the wrongs by undoing this great injustice against the Itsekiri Nation, and consider not only qualified indegenes of Iwere for appointment in his administration, but also assist in focusing more developmental projects to the people, who have continued to contribute greatly, to the socio-economic development of the country.”

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