The pan-Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has rejected the zoning of the position of the Deputy Speaker to the South East in the 10th National Assembly.
The Eagle Online recalls the All Progressives Congress endorsed Hon. Benjamin Kalu for the position of Deputy Speaker.
This followed a meeting of the NWC of the party, which holds the majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
But reacting to the development, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide rejected the position of the Deputy Speaker in a statement on Friday.
The statement, by Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, said with the rejection, lawmakers from the zone are free to vote for any leader of their choice for the 10th National Assembly.
Ogbonnia said in the statement: “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has watched with grave concern the zoning of principal officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We have also observed that the All Peoples Congress (APC) zoned the position of the Deputy Speaker to the South East of Nigeria.
“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo states that allocating the position of the Deputy Speaker to the South East is highly unreflective, disgusting and provocative to the Igbo.
“To this end, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, CFR (Ahaejiagamba) directs all the Igbo Lawmakers in the 10th National Assembly to vote according to their discretions irrespective of state, religion or ethnicity.”
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