LAGOS, Nigeria – In a controversial turn of events, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-political organization has accused President-elect Bola Tinubu of inheriting hatred for the Southeast from President Muhammadu Buhari.
The organization’s national Vice President, Damian Okeke-Ogene, made the remark on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in response to the notable omission of the Southeast from Tinubu’s inauguration committee.
Okeke-Ogene asserted that this exclusion had exposed Tinubu as a tribalist, and it would be difficult for him to change his opinion about the Igbo people.
He further questioned if this omission indicated that Tinubu would continue the marginalization of the Southeast, following in the footsteps of President Buhari.
The national Vice President did not mince words, stating, “Igbophobia is in his veins, and by not including Igbo people in the handover committee, he is only trying to reopen old wounds.”
He also pointed out that Tinubu’s pledge to continue where the incumbent president left off fueled the accusations.
Moreover, Okeke-Ogene emphasized that those plotting to divide Nigeria would ultimately fail. However, he made it clear that Ohanaeze has not yet accepted Tinubu’s election, adding, “Whatever he is doing is personal to him.”
The accusations against President-elect Tinubu have ignited a debate around the country, raising questions about the unity and inclusiveness of Nigeria’s political landscape.
