By EmekaAginam

The  Igbo World Assembly (IWA), the global union that represents all the Igbo organizations in the diaspora has called for  the inclusion of the Igbos in the formation of the new People’s Democratic Party, (PDP)  federal government led by President Goodluck Jonathan.

IWA an umbrella organization that represents the apex national organizations in the various countries of the world including  USA, UK, France, Spain, Finland, Netherland, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Russia, Australia, Denmark, Japan, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden and Canada.

The group in a  statement jointly signed by Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, President-General,  and   Mr. Oliver Nwankwor , Secretary-General urged   President Jonathan  to give the Igbos their fair share in the distribution of the federal and national assignments within the PDP

“ Mr. President, the Igbos are humbly requesting for commensurate rewards for our efforts.
IWA has heard that the PDP  after receiving over 5 million votes delivered by governors and people of Igbo states in the Southeast, has decided to reward Ndigbo with the inconsequential position of Secretary to the Federal Government.

“ The largest ethnic group in Nigeria and Africa, with over 50 million people resident in every Local Government Area in Nigeria, has been told that they will not be the no  1 (President), or no 2  (Vice President), or no 3  (Senate President) or no 4  (Speaker of the House of Representatives). Even the position of the Chairman of the party has been taken away from the South East  zone also.

“Our leaders never got any commitments from the PDP regarding the role of the Igbos in President Jonathan-led PDP government before delivering over 90% support in each state of Ala Igbo.

“With votes delivered and a government getting ready to be sworn in, we are left with an empty bag with amala, politically speaking.

“IWA is insisting that the reward system must be commensurate with the support the party got in the zone.

“The PDP as a political party got total support from Igboland and so should be compensated in the National Assembly by either the Senate presidency or the speaker of the House of Representatives.

“IWA states that South East  zone is entitled to this because of the investment and sacrifice that we made in the Nigerian power equation. IWA demands strong Igbo representatives at the national table within the PDP and in Nigeria.

“IWA demands that the PDP-led federal government assigns the two positions: Senate President and Secretary to the Federal Government or Speaker of National Assembly and Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria to deserving Igbo indigenes. It is the right and fair thing to do. We earned it. We deserve it, and now is the time for President Jonathan to act” the group said, adding that,  “It is the worst form of Injustice that there are no Igbos on the PDP palatial table as the national assignments are being shared.

“The PDP has continued to marginalize the Igbos and now is the time to stop that dangerous trend. Before the election began, the Igbo party Chairman of PDP, Dr. Nwodo was unjustly removed from his position.

“It is obvious that PDP as a party sowed the fratricidal seed of discord that led to the death of Dr. Nwodo’s chairmanship. One would have expected PDP to replace Dr. Nwodo with another Igbo person, but that portfolio was taken away from the Igbos. Besides, Dr. Nwodo, don’t Igbos have enough capable individuals to lead a national party in Nigeria? If PDP retains old zoning formula, why is the National Chairman of the PDP zoned to the Northeast instead of Southeast?

“Who is representing the Igbos as the PDP share the national assignments? Who is on the table for us? Why would former President Obasanjo who could not deliver his ward or state be calling the shots? Obasanjo, from Southwest, continues to hold the exalted office of the Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees.

“What positions are available for the Igbos in the PDP-led administration? SE zone must not be used to balance any political or religious equations.

“We earned it and there is precedence for this claim. In the just concluded elections, the Igbos in the Southeast delivered over 90% of the federal legislators under the banner of PDP.

“IWA contends that this type of stability, sanctity of the legislature, and religious balance cannot be achieved at detriment of the South East zone. Injustice anywhere in Nigeria amounts to injustice everywhere in Nigeria. The Igbos have earned their place in PDP by delivering most of their federal legislators, and it is now time to reward us commensurately. Where are the justice, fairness, equity, balance, and sense of give and take for the Igbos in the formation of the new government?

“PDP has taken over five millions votes from Ndigbo, and we demand authentic and genuine representation for our votes.  IWA hereby officially register our disappointment on the way things are being apportioned to Ndigbo in Nigeria presently.?” the group noted in the statement.