The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, has provided President Bola Tinubu with a list of 13 demands as he assumes office.
President Tinubu was sworn in on Monday at the Eagles Square in Abuja.
In a statement made by the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, he stated that the President would need to allow Igbos to benefit from his economic policies.
He further urged the government to focus on a railway line that stretches from Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri and ensure that there are no economic leakages in the seaports.
Speaking with Media Talk Africa, Isiguzoro disclosed that the Igbos, who are majorly known as traders, would benefit from his economic policies that favour free-market trade.
Isiguzoro also emphasised the importance of bringing on board tested and trusted technocrats into the government instead of corrupt politicians.
He warned against the recurrence of recycling old politicians based on party affiliations, stating that a government of national unity would better tackle the challenges against President Tinubu’s electoral victory.
“Tinubu must go beyond APC and bring in technocrats from PDP, LP, and NNPP,” he added.
On the religious front, Isiguzoro demanded that Tinubu ensures that his government does not have an “Islamization” agenda, adding that Nigerians were scared of having both a Muslim president and vice-president and possibly a Muslim Senate President and Speaker.
To balance this situation, Isiguzoro suggested that the Senate presidency position should be occupied by Akpabio, citing the latter’s “track record of achievements as an uncommon governor.”
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo leader also expressed his interest in the economic aspect of President Tinubu’s administration, stating his support for President Tinubu as he did when the President was governor of Lagos State.
Isiguzoro urged President Tinubu to address issues that have gone wrong with Nigeria and ensure that all political prisoners, including Nnamdi Kanu, are released.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretary-General further urged the President to ensure that federal character principles are reflected in all his appointments and merit remains the watch-word for all his appointments.
“Tinubu should know that with Ndigbo beside his government, the sky will be his starting limit,” he concluded.
