The Founder of Gregory University Uturu, Prof Gregory Ibe has applauded the appointment of eminent sons and daughters of the South East region including Gen. Ike Nwachukwu(Rtd.), Amb. Greg Mbadiwe, Sen. Joy Emordi and Sen. Uche Ekwunife by President Bola Tinubu into Governing Councils of some Federal Tertiary Institutions.
While appreciating the presidency for harkening to the concerns raised by Nigerians in constituting the Governing Councils of 51 federal universities, 24 federal colleges of education, and 37 federal polytechnics, Prof Ibe, however enjoined the President to correct the lopsidedness of the appointments which according him seem to favour other regions to the detriment of the South East.
In his words, “I want to officially commend the federal government for finally acceding to the pleas of Nigerians by constituting the Governing Councils of federal tertiary Institutions. However, while congratulating our father and leader Gen Ike Nwachukwu(Rtd.) on his appointment as the chairman of the University of Nigeria Governing Council, Amb. Greg Mbadiwe, as chairman of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Sen. Joy Emordi, as chairman of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education and Sen. Uche Ekwunife as a member of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, I want to use this medium to request the President to correct the lopsided nature of these appointments”.
Continuing he said, ” I appeal to Mr President to take steps to correct the sad history of glaring marginalization of the South East in the allocation of federal projects and sensitive appointments, which unfortunately precede his administration”.
“A situation where a zone that contributes over 35M of the entire population of Nigeria is awarded less than 50 appointments out of 560 slots is in my opinion unfair, especially when other regions are accorded more than 90 positions. This same partial treatment is the reason behind the allocation of only five ministerial positions to the South East as opposed to the 6 slots paraded by other regions”.
Arguing that national appointments are constitutional governed by the ethics of equity,fairness and the philosophy of federal character, Prof Ibe thereby enjoined the presidency to end the agitation for inclusiveness by allocating more sensitive appointments to the South East.
The Federal Ministry of Education had last week announced the Constitution of the Governing Councils of 111 government owned tertiary institutions.
Sleek Ogwo, ANIPR