As calls intensifies on President Muhammadu Buhari to consider a South-Easterner for the position of the Secretary to the Government we take a look at top politicians and personalities that Buhari can consider in making this appointment.

Two notable groups from the South-East had appealed to the president to consider a South-Easterner for the job. The two group namely Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Council and Igbo Amaka had decried the exclusion of the zone from all of the elective positions hitherto sorted out right now.

First is the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide. In a statement the group issued on Thursday, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, president general of the council, said this will enable equity, fairness in the country.

The group’s president alleged that the region had been schemed out of the leadership of the country.

“The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide had watched keenly the manipulated drama and scheme out of the south-east zone from the leadership of national assembly, judiciary and other security apparatus of the country, but rather than lamenting endlessly, We congratulate those who emerged as National assembly leaders,” he said.

“The will of the Almighty God and we the younger generation of Ndigbo accept these realities as an act of fate, and we urge Igbo leaders to shield their battle swords and quietly go into “ime Obi” and re-strategize ahead of time for the battle Royal ahead in 2023.

“We should borrow a leaf from the south-west who were in similar situations between 2007 till 2015 before they bounced back in the present moment with President Buhari.

In their reaction also, pan Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Igbo Amaka (AM) also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to consider South-East for the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The group speaking through its president noted that the zone had contributed so much in the development of the socio-economic and political lives of the nation.

Interestingly to note, this is not the first time such clamour will be made, sometime in 2017, the call fora notable position for the Igbos was also rife. In an interview with New Telegraph, a notable Igbo  leader, Mr. Chike Okoraofor who is President of South/East/South South professionals when asked what his thoughts were on the clamour had this to say:

It is an open secret that the region is being short changed regularly in this present administration. So if the slot is opened, it will only be fair that somebody from the South East or South South is considered to fill the slot for equity and fairness. It is not as if we are out there hanging to fill the slot of the SGF. I believe that the region deserves a lot more than that.

As a matter of fact, the South East and South South professionals were out to educate our people that they have potentials to excel within the present structure of Nigeria without relying so much on appointment. But in fairness and equity we would expect that we get the slot, but if our political leaders can come together and imbibe some of the opinions and ideas that we came up with to develop our region, we may not be so insistent on getting the slot and getting positions in government, because that is not what is going to lead to economic growth in the region.

Going by these opinions and call on the president, here are five notable Nigerians of the south-eastern stock that President Muhammadu Buhari can confidently pick from for the position:

1. Ogbonaiya Onu: A trained engineer, author and politician, Mr. Ogbonnaiya Onu was a first class graduate of Engineering from the University of Lagos.

He was the first civilian governor of Abia state and the immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Dr. Onu’s experience as an astute politician will come handy if he is appointed to the position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

2. Adolphus Ude: Adolphus Ude is the Acting Chairman of the All Progresives Congress in Enugu State. Ude, who is the Enugu State coordinator of the Youth Mobilization of the President Buhari campaign during the 2019 presidential election also makes this list and is a possible candidate for the position.

3. Austin Meregini: Mr. Meregini is a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia, Mr Austin Meregini also known as “Ugolee” definitely qualifies for the position and is a good option President Buhari can appoint to the position.

Meregini, was the APC Candidate for Umuahia East Constituency seat in the Abia State House of Assembly in the last general elections.

4. Senator Andy Uba: Popularly known as Andy Uba (born 14 December 1958), is a Nigerian politician who was elected Senator for the Anambra South constituency of Anambra State, Nigeria, in April 2011.

He ran on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress in February 2017; the leadership crises engulfing the former ruling party PDP may have motivated his decision.

5. Peter Obi: Mr Peter Obi sure is a name that will upset Nigeria politics if he is appointed. He was the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the February 2019 presidential election.

Regardless of his being a member of the opposition, the candidature of Mr. Peter Obi will be a solid option if Buhari is looking to adopt the divide and rule tactics. Mr. Obi’s acceptance to taking up the position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will definitely be the knock out for Atiku’s presidential election result challenge.

The president noted in his democracy day speech that he plans to run an inclusive government. That means that irrespective of religion, ethnic or party affiliation Buhari might be all out to shock everyone.

In all, given the reputation of the president, anything can be expected from him. Nigerians await with bated breadth to see who catches the president’s fancy to get the plum job as Secretary to the government of the federation.He is simply unpredictable! Just like he silenced Obasanjo on June 12 anything is possible with him.