A former Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over fresh appointments into boards of key federal agencies, but asked the President not to forget the South East region in his next appointments.

Recall that President Tinubu had in May, appointed 12 Northerners for top jobs in federal agencies.

In the new appointments on Friday, the North also has a share as son of former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) and others were appointed.

The South also has a share of the fresh appointments, but the South East is missing.

Ndume in a statement on Saturday said the narrative that the South East has been abandoned and would not count in patronage distribution should not be allowed to fester for long.

“It is even a breach of the Federal Character principle, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution to strip an entire region of adequate representation.

“This is a big misstep that must be corrected. Every part of the country deserves a sense of belonging in a federation.

“While I acknowledge Mr. President’s steadfastness with this appointments, we are hopeful that subsequent nominations will reflect broader national inclusiveness, by accommodating more individuals from the South East.

“This appointments and the one he did last May when he gave 12 key agencies to competent individuals from the North are assuring enough. It goes to show that he is a responsive leader who listens to criticisms and surrenders to genuine and legitimate agitation.

“These two appointments will reassure the North, particularly its elders that President Tinubu is not a leader that will deliberately promote an agenda to alienate the region which stood with him during the last general elections.”