A group of Igbos under the auspices of the Amalgamated Union of Northern Igbos has threatened to dump President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 if he sacks the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah over alleged bulletproof cars scandal.
Addressing a news conference in Kaduna, the President of the group, Mazi Chima Amadi, said the attention of the group has been drawn to the deliberate, calculated and sustained campaigns against the Minister of Aviation, warning President Jonathan to be very careful with the way and manner he handles the issue.
The group said that the unwarranted campaigns of calumny against the minister is a systematic and calculated attempt to make President Jonathan to sack the minister and also to "create disharmony between the two, deprive Nigerians of her quality, efficient and result-oriented services and ultimately reap from the resultant backlash during the 2015 general elections."
The group said that Jonathan "should not succumb to pressure and blackmail because Oduah is one of his most valuable assets and will not be in the best interest of this country to deny us the service of this rare gem." While highlighting some of the achievements of the minister in office, Mazi Amadi said: "For the first time in over 30 years, the aviation sector is wearing a new look with scaling up of efficient service delivery and 21st century modernisation.
"We also warn Mr. President that any action, based on these frivolous accusations against Princess Oduah will draw the wrath of the Igbo nation. We will not hesitate to mobilise our people against Jonathan if he succumbs to the desires of the undesirable elements; to be fore warned is to be fore armed."
The group added: "President Jonathan has a good rapport with the people of the South-East, a factor that contributed to his winning over 97 per cent of the Igbo votes during the 2011 presidential election.
Princess Oduah is Igbo from South-East, where she is revered and highly respected. If President Jonathan succumbs to pressure and sacks her, the Igbo will turn their backs on the president in 2015, even if he replaces her with another Igbo.
"These people have been planning day and night to hinder any form of success by this administration and furthermore do all they could to scuttle Jonathan's 2015 ambition. Part of their strategies is to make the President part ways with those whose intellect, goodwill and ideas contributed to the President's election victory in 2011 and to create disharmony between the president and his electoral strong hold."
Source: Oduahgate: We'll dump Jonathan if ... –Northern Igbo (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/oduahgate-well-dump-jonathan-if-northern-igbo/)