House of Reps’ northern caucus under fire over Akunyili
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Written by Kunle Oderemi

THE call by the northern caucus in the House of Representatives on the Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, to resign has pitched it against some Nigerians from the three geopolitical zones in the southern part of the country.

A group, Southern Protectorate Movement (SPM), on Monday, warned the caucus against intimidating the minister for faithfully discharging her duties.

It also demanded a public apology from the caucus for asking her to resign because of her comments on issues concerning the ill health of President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Instead, the organisation said it was those deceiving the nation over the condition of the president, who had remained incommunicado since he returned to Nigeria after three months in a Saudi Arabian hospital that should vacate office.

The group, in a statement signed by Messrs Lekan Adeyemi, Etim Bassey, Felix Idahosa, Ebiweni Ebiokpo and Chukwuma Nwokedi advised acting President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore the call, accusing the caucus of pursuing a selfish agenda.

It stated: “We call on the leadership of the House to stop forthwith these divisive meetings of ethnicity bent, which is holding Nigeria’s development hostage. We also demand the unconditional apology from the so-called northern caucus for the show of arrogance. The caucus has forgotten that the resources from the South are sustaining them.”

The SPM, which accused such caucus as being responsible for the “continuous exploitation of the south, deceit of the Nigerian state and her people,”said it (the caucus) was not comfortable with the frankness of the minister in performing her functions rather than lying about the prevailing situation in the country.

“Is it not a known fact that a cabal has imprisoned our President (Umaru Yar’Adua), making him inaccessible for over a 100 days? Why can’t the caucus address this issue that has been troubling Nigerians instead of chasing shadows?”

Another group speaking out.
Which will be next?

The Northern caucus started this dangerous development. This outcome was to be expected.

Beaf:

The Northern caucus started this dangerous development. This outcome was to be expected.

ummmmmmm

Igwe.:

show me any sensibly man amongst them, what a disgrace to our nursing democracy.

how sad