appointments by the federal government,
saying the development was against the federal character principle of the
country.
The group which regretted that despite complaints in many
quarters,government had continued to exclude people of the South East
geo-political zone in the leadership of any core career or political position
in the country,said it was compelled to speak out again following the
confirmation of Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan as substantive Head of Civil
Service of the Federation.
The LPN made its position known in a statement by its
convener, James Okonkwo and Secretary, Isa Pai in Abuja on Tuesday, entitled:
“Head of Service: Again, Buhari scorns South East.” According to the LP, the
appointment of Yemi-Esan confirmed “the president’s disdain and utter contempt
for people of the South East.” The statement reads, “While we hold nothing
against Dr. Yemi-Esan, it is unfortunate and grossly insensitive that the
President could ignore strident calls to give a sense of belonging to all
Nigerians especially a critical stakeholder as the South East. “For the
avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the 1999 constitution in Sections 14 (3)
and 153 are clear on inclusion and non-segregation of any part of Nigeria in
the federal system.
“The sections specifically centres on
the creation of the Federal Character Commission. One of the duties of the FCC,
as prescribed by the law that set it up, is to work out an equitable formula,
subject to the approval of the President, for the distribution of all cadres of
posts in the civil and public service of the federation and of the state, the
armed forces, the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies, corporate
bodies owned by the federal or a state government and extra-ministerial departments
and parastatals of the federation and states. “But today, there is no sign of
any south easterner, Igbo in particular, heading any of the core career or
political posts in the country. We are constrained to ask: what is the offence
of the Igbo man or woman in Nigeria? What the President ought to do is to have
appointed a South Easterner to the position of Head of Service. The zone does
not lack people of requisite knowledge, capacity and competencies to be Head of
Civil Service of the Federation. “In the spirit of inclusion, equity and
equality, we demand unequivocally, the rescinding the announcement of Dr.
Yemi-Esan as Head of Civil Service of the Federation and a civil servant of
Igbo extraction be announced. “Let it be known that the composition of government
or any of its agencies at this time does not in any way reflect the federal
character of Nigeria and neither does it promote national unity, and or command
national loyalty. “It is important to state that since Ebele Okeke was
appointed by the late President Umar Musa ‘Yar’adua on July 12, 2007 as the
first female Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the South East has
been shot out. And this is unfortunate. “It is our request that Dr. Yemi-Esan
should not be sworn-in on Wednesday so that the famed tripod of Nigeria will
not have a broken leg. To continue in this direction demonstrates that the
actions of Mr. President does not command national loyalty.”