Igbo Demands Cabinet Slot in Niger State, Says ‘They Develop The State’

The Igbo community in Niger State has called on Governor Mohammed Bago to appoint one of their own into his cabinet to reciprocate their contribution to the state’s internally generated revenue.

They also alluded to their support for the governor and averred that it would be in line with his promised ‘all-inclusive’ government.

The Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Niger State chapter, Chief Valentine Oparaocha, who spoke to our correspondent on Thursday in Minna, insisted that Bago’s cabinet would not be complete without, at least, one Igbo man on board.

Oparaocha said, “There is no part of the state you don’t find an Igbo man or woman. Go to any market, you will see them doing their best and contributing to the state’s economy, that is why we feel that it will not be out of place to ask to be included in the cabinet.

“Igbo people are naturally business inclined and contribute more than other tribes to the growth and development of Niger State, especially in Internally Generated Revenue, and we have remained committed to doing that.

“We voted for Bago because our son, George Dike, assured us of his sincerity to carry the Igbo people along. We voted for him even when we were sidelined in the largesse that was shared with the other 26 non-indigenous tribes in the state.

”Oparaocha added that Igbo youths in Niger State had always supported Bago.

“They told us to vote for him because he will not disappoint us and we did. We want the governor to treat us like some states by bringing us into the security and state executive council,” he added.

Credit: Punch