South East stakeholders have expressed concern over an alleged conspiracy against the geopolitical zone by President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The stakeholders, who spoke to Daily Independent, said there was a plot to ensure that nobody from the area was given a chance to climb the hierarchy of Nigerian political leadership from the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the office of the President.

These feelings were expressed by the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, and Pro-Biafran groups, including Bilie Human Rights Initiative and MASSOB, led by Engr Innocent Amadi and Chief Uchenna Madu, respectively.

Speaking with Daily Independent, Nwodo said that under Buhari’s watch, the federal character principle and the constitution that binds the country together had been discarded in preference to nepotism where the president, Chief Justice of the Federation, the Senate President, and security chiefs come from a section of the country and of the same religion.

He described what happened at the National Assembly as a huge joke and, according to him, the event did not represent the dreams of the founding fathers of Nigeria.

“Buhari is despotic and a nepotistic in character. He has no respect for the constitution and the federal character. We are vindicated and I thank God I did not campaign or vote for him.

“If another opportunity comes, we will do the same thing again. Igbo cannot be cowed down by Buhari. When Alhaji Shehu Shagari lost in the East during the then NPP versus NPN, he appointed many Igbo sons as ministers and special advisers in his cabinet.

“During his second tenure, Igbo voted for him massively. That was love, politics, and nation building. People have the right to vote whoever they want.

“Therefore, we cannot be intimidated into submission by anybody, no matter how highly placed. They are working to stop Igbo from climbing to the highest office in the land.”

On the way forward for Igbo and Nigeria, he said: “Nigeria must be restructured. I want the judiciary to redeem itself and save this country from imminent collapse by announcing the true winner of the 2019 presidential election.

“How can it be explained that the President, Senate President, Chief Justice of the Federation, and most of the security chiefs in this country come from the North and of Islamic religion.”

Also, president of the Billie Human Rights Initiative, Innocent Amadi, alleged that INEC was used to deny Igbo the opportunity of being in the leadership of the National Assembly.

“It shows that Igbo have been schemed out of the system since they deliberately used INEC to stop former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.

“Giving him certificate of return few hours after the National Assembly had concluded the selection of who their principal officers were indicates a serious conspiracy against Igbo.”

“Igbo legislators should come home for a closed door meeting.

“The timing was an indication of a calculated plan to ensure that he was not part of the politics at the National Assembly.

“INEC officials were part of the plan to take Igbo out of Nigerian politics at the centre, just like they were procured to execute the 2019 general election.”

Another Pro-Biafra group, MASSOB, led by Uchenna Madu, flayed President Buhari over the alleged interference in the activities of the National Assembly, insisting that the situation would obviously spell doom for Nigeria.

“It is very unfortunate that Nigeria, which claimed to be practising democracy, will insist on who the executive wants as Senate President.

“This is dictatorship in action. The people that emerged are not the people’s choice, rather Buhari’s errand boys.

“He has piloted the affairs of the country in accordance with his own wish and that of his kinsmen. Buhari has penetrated the Yorubas, deceiving them into believing that a Yoruba man can be celebrated with June 12 by honouring Chief MKO Abiola.

“While the rich is dancing in favour of honour, herdsmen are overrunning the Yoruba land, raping their women, kidnapping, killing them and destroying their farms.

“The present structure of the judiciary, legislature, and executive will fail.” (Daily Independent)

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