TheCable

Oby Ezekwesili, former minister of education, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari to avoid ostracising the entire Igbo ethnic group over the agitations of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Reacting to the military’s Operation Python Dance II exercise in the south-east region and the present state of unease in Abia state, Ezekwesili said Buhari as a leader “must build a bond” with all his people.

She said all the people in the north can’t be categorised as Boko Haram insurgents, and as such, the people of the south-east do not deserve to be treated as “incendiary agitators”.

Ezekwesili, co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group, said it is unbecoming of a leader to “send signals” that he abhors a group of people under his leadership.

In a series of tweets directed at Buhari, she said: “Do not alienate the entire Igbo ethnic group cos of a few that govt can use appropriate mechanisms to respond to any misconduct.

“All people of north-east Nigeria are not equal to Boko Haram. All people of south-east Nigeria cannot be equal to incendiary agitators.

“The leader of a country cannot be friends only of those he/she likes. No. That is not leadership. The leader builds up groups. Not divide.

“You cannot lead only those that worship and swear by you. You are the leader. You must carry the burden even of those that detest you.

“It the lowliest form of churlishness that is unbecoming of a leader to send signals that you dislike anyone of the groups you lead.

“A real leader does not suffer from the destructive disease of ethnic prejudice. It endangers his/her people & real leaders cannot bear such.”

Whoever handles the @AsoRock handle should please kindly help give my thread on REAL LEADERSHIP to OUR President @MBuhari .

Advertisement

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) September 13, 2017

NONE of YOU can CLAIM GREATER NIGERIANNESS than some of us. I AM NIGERIAN and WILL ALWAYS BE. LEADERSHIP MUST BE FOR ALL… AT ALL TIMES.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) September 13, 2017

Advertisement

There ARE WAYS that a LEADER ASCENDS the MORAL HIGH GROUND and LEADS A CONVERSATION on UNITY. DONE WELL, the MISCHIEVOUS LOSE THEIR HOLD.

Advertisement

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) September 13, 2017

President @MBuhari , it is NOT YET TOO LATE for YOU to ASCEND that MORAL HIGH GROUND & BOND WITH ALL YOUR PEOPLE – EAST, WEST, NORTH, SOUTH.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) September 13, 2017

Advertisement

At a time when the WORDS spoken & written across the EAST-WEST-NORTH-SOUTH of our country are HARDENING, YOU, LEADER @MBuhari MUST ARISE!✍????

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) September 13, 2017

.@MBuhari Do NOT ALIENATE the ENTIRE Igbo ethnic group cos of a FEW that Govt can use APPROPRIATE MECHANISMS to RESPOND to ANY MISCONDUCT. https://t.co/MSjYU8MntR

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) September 14, 2017