President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent appointment of Bianca Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, sparking conversations on both sides of the aisle. Yet, beyond the surface, this appointment may not be the simple endorsement it appears to be. In a nation where politics and identity are deeply intertwined, this move seems to carry a subtle but significant message – one that could serve as a bitter pill for the Igbo community and its ongoing struggle for political inclusion.

The legacy of Bianca Ojukwu’s late husband, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, still casts a long shadow over Nigerian politics. 

As the leader of the Biafran secessionist movement, he symbolised a fight for Igbo autonomy and an end to the ethnic and political marginalisation that had, and still has, plagued the region. For many Igbos, Ojukwu’s legacy is not merely historical; it’s a living symbol of the fight for recognition and equal treatment in Nigeria’s political sphere. By extension, Bianca Ojukwu herself embodies a legacy of Igbo pride and resilience – a responsibility that makes her actions symbolic to her people.

So, why would this position be offered to someone with such a charged legacy? Some argue it might not be a genuine call to service but rather a strategic move, a way to neutralise a powerful voice within the Igbo community. In a political climate where the Southeast region has long felt sidelined, the appointment risks appearing as a token gesture, or worse, an attempt to symbolically placate a people without addressing their deeper grievances. For decades, the Southeast has been largely absent from Nigeria’s highest echelons of power, with minimal representation in key ministerial and economic positions.

The Igbo’s call for political inclusion remains unmet. Many hoped that with the 2023 elections, there would be a shift towards genuine federal character, ensuring fair representation across Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups. However, this expectation has been met with disappointment. The recent election cycle, which saw Bola Tinubu from the South West elected, left the South East once again feeling disregarded, fuelling longstanding frustrations over marginalisation.

The Igbo community’s push for a greater share in governance has historical roots that run deep. Post-Biafran War Nigeria was marked by reconciliation efforts that, in hindsight, appear more symbolic than substantive. The South East continues to bear the scars of that era, with infrastructural neglect, economic disenfranchisement, and systemic exclusion from political power. This history underscores the sensitivity around any appointment offered to an Igbo public figure. Such an appointment can’t simply be seen as an individual achievement but will inevitably be scrutinised as a broader reflection of Igbo standing in Nigeria.

The symbolism here matters. Accepting this role could be seen as acquiescing to a system that has historically sidelined her people, potentially undercutting the long-standing fight for inclusion. Bianca Ojukwu’s acceptance would place her under intense scrutiny; every decision she makes in this role would be dissected and analysed by those seeking evidence of genuine change – or confirmation of continued disregard for Southeast concerns. With a lack of real systemic change to accompany such appointments, the risk is that her legacy, and that of her late husband, could be overshadowed by accusations of complicity in perpetuating a broken system.

Consider also the increasing calls for regional autonomy and restructuring within Nigeria. Many in the South East, and indeed other regions, have argued that without significant constitutional reform, marginalisation will persist, and symbolic appointments will remain just that – symbolic. For a community that has invested so much in advocating for federal restructuring, seeing Bianca Ojukwu in a ministerial role may feel like little more than a concessionary offering, leaving the underlying issues unaddressed.

If there’s a lesson to draw from this moment, it’s that Nigeria’s political structure must move beyond symbolic gestures and address the core of ethnic marginalisation. Appointments like Bianca Ojukwu’s cannot stand alone. They need to be part of a larger commitment to fair representation, where every ethnic group sees itself reflected in the nation’s leadership – not only in ceremonial roles but in positions of genuine influence and power.

The stakes of this decision are higher than they may appear. For the Igbo people, it’s a reminder that the battle for political emancipation is far from over. For Nigeria, it’s a call to reckon with a system that too often relies on tokenism over transformation. If genuine inclusion is the goal, then this appointment should signal the beginning, not the end, of a meaningful restructuring that honours the contributions of every region and ethnic group. Only then can Nigeria move toward the unity it has long professed but struggled to achieve.