Abaribe also accused Tinubu of breaching the constitution, saying his cabinet reshuffle didn’t reflect federal character
By Kehinde Okeowo
Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s recent cabinet reshuffle, insisting he showed the people of South-East “renewed shege” with the move.
He made this known while speaking on the exercise, which saw the appointment of Bianca Ojukwu as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Earlier in the week, President Tinubu through his media aide, Bayo Onanuga announced the creation, merger and scrapping of some ministries.
He followed it up with the removal of five ministers while appointing seven and reassigning 10 others to new portfolios.
One of those relieved of her duties is former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju-Ken Ohanenye, who hails from the South-East.
Reacting to the development, Abaribe claimed sacking a South-East Minister and replacing her with another “doesn’t feel like progress.”
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Speaking during the chat, the federal lawmaker said, “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.”
He went on to accuse President Tinubu of breaching the constitution, stressing that the reshuffled cabinet did not reflect federal character.
“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.” Abaribe added.
He further noted that, despite the South-East’s calls for equity and fairness, the incumbent president decided to overlook the region.