The Presidency has accused the former Minister of Education and Co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls Group, Oby Ezekwesili of being a sectional leader whose comments seek to provide ammunition to separatist agitations. Oby Ezekwesili had on Wednesday called on President Buhari to rise above sectionalism and order immediate withdrawal of the military from the South East.
The Special Assistant to the Presidenct on Media and Productivity, Garba Shehu in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja accused Oby Ezekwesili of failing to condemn IPOB leader when he threatened to bring down Nigeria and triggered civil unrest in the country.
“The Presidency has advised the Co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls group, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, to demonstrate a great sense of responsibility in the face of national security challenges posed by the IPOB incendiary propaganda designed to cause civil unrest in the country. A prominent influencer like Mrs. Ezekwesili has a moral and patriotic duty not to give ammunition to any violent group that seems determined to pursue its separatist agitation through reckless and destructive methods.”
He added that “While it is convenient for the civil society activist to condemn the military and the government of President Buhari, Mrs. Ekekwesili didn’t find it appropriate, even once, to criticize the dangerous and violent propaganda being propagated by the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Oby, as they call her, tweets on everything. Why was she silent on this one?"
The statement said Oby “retreated to the background or lost her voice while IPOB supporters were violently molesting, harassing, attacking and jeopardizing the lives of indigenes and non-indigenes.”
It explained that her “hypocritical and timid silence while Kanu’s IPOB supporters were engaged in lawlessness and recklessness in violation of his bail conditions is a burden on her credibility as a national crusader who should be courageous to condemn criminality. This art of using a raincoat while taking a bath is nothing short of self deceit.”
The statement said those accusing President Buhari of marginalizing the Igbos are not aware that the current administration had put the nation's cash cows in the hands of Igbos.
“A President, who has put the nation’s cash cows, the Central Bank and the Ministry of Petroleum, in the hands of the Igbo; who has given four out of five states in the sub-region senior cabinet posts in his administration, including Foreign Affairs; and Industry, Trade and Investment, and is constructing the Second Niger Bridge after years of deceit and false starts, cannot be called a hater of the Igbo.”
