Senator representing Abia South in the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has lambasted President Bola Tinubu’s recent cabinet reshuffle, adding that the South-East continues to experience “renewed shege” under Tinubu’s administration.
Abaribe’s remarks followed the appointment of Bianca Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, which came amid a broader reshuffle involving the removal of five ministers, appointment of seven new ones, and reassignment of ten portfolios.
Tinubu’s reshuffle also included the dismissal of Uju-Ken Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs, a move Abaribe contends fails to bring meaningful change for the Southeast.
Speaking with Arise TV, Abaribe stated, “For my constituents, nothing has changed. They don’t refer to it as ‘Renewed Hope’ but rather as ‘Renewed Shege (Suffering).’
“The South East, in particular, is questioning the supposed changes. Removing one South East minister only to replace them doesn’t feel like progress.”
The lawmaker accused Tinubu of breaching the constitution, stressing that the reshuffled cabinet did not reflect Federal character.
Abaribe added: “The president has breached it for the last 18 months. We thought that with these changes, maybe there will be some adjustments that will also put some balm on what is going on in the minds of people from the South East.
“I want to tell everyone that the Igbos want fairness and equity, which are in the constitution. Treat us as you are treating everybody else.”
The lawmaker urged that Igbos be treated equally and voiced frustration that the region’s demands for equity and fairness continue to be overlooked.
