Former governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has said President Muhammadu Buhari is pushing the South-East zone to contemplate seceding from Nigeria.

Ezeife observed that the current uprising in the South-East championed by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) was caused by President Buhari’s body language.

The former governor made the remarks yesterday in a telephone interview with Daily Sun.

He said Buhari’s body language smacks of so much hatred for people of the South East, insisting that current activities by youths in the region is simply a reaction to the president’s indifference to the plight of people of the zone.

His words: “Any time you beat somebody, the person is likely to cry. The South-East feels neglected and ignored. There are six principal political offices in the country as there are six geo-political zones. Each political zone should get one of those offices. They include the president, vice president, Senate president, chief justice, speaker and Secretary to the Gov- ernment of the Federation (SGF) and the least of them is the SGF.

“Among the zones in Nigeria, the South-East has been denied even the least of the offices. In addition, out of about 39 other appointments earlier made by Buhari, not even one came from the South-East.

“Again, Boko Haram criminals were packed to Anambra State until recently when I heard that they have been taken away. The

body language of the president has confirmed so much hatred for the South-East and what you are seeing is a reaction to President Buhari and his governance.” He maintained that Buhari who, he said, is stoking the fire of secession among people of the South-East zone, caused the actions of IPOB and MASSOB.

He said: “He is pushing the Igbo out of Nigeria by his actions. But I must say that every Igbo wants to be part of Nigeria. There are people like me who do not think only about Nigeria but the black man and God’s assignment for Nigeria.” (Daily Sun)

•Photo shows Ezeife.

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