The United Professionals for Umuigbo Development Initiative, popularly known as Igbo United Professionals, has commended Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the appointment of Obinna Ihedioha as an Executive Director of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).

The group also strongly condemned calls by a political pressure group identified as the South-East APC Youths demanding the withdrawal of the appointment, describing such actions as politically motivated, divisive, and contrary to the principles of merit and unity.

The commendation was contained in a press statement signed by the organisation’s Publicity Secretary, Barrister Collins Ikenna, and made available to journalists in Enugu, South-East Nigeria.

Obinna Ihedioha was appointed in line with the provisions of the NRS Establishment Act, which provides for the appointment of six Executive Directors, one from each geopolitical zone of the country. He represents the South-East and currently serves as Executive Director, People, Stakeholders and Communications.

Igbo United Professionals criticised the stance of the South-East APC Youths, describing their campaign against the appointment as “unbrotherly” and inconsistent with Igbo cultural values of unity, fairness, and collective progress.

According to the group, its mandate includes fostering unity, professional development, and socio-economic empowerment among Igbo professionals through structured networking, training, and capacity-building initiatives.

The organisation further praised President Tinubu’s leadership style, noting that his appointments reflect a commitment to competence and national interest over partisan considerations.

“This is the hallmark of a leader who prioritises efficiency and service delivery,” the statement read. “Party loyalty can be recognised through other avenues, but not at the expense of national development.”

Igbo United Professionals described Obinna Ihedioha as a seasoned professional with a proven record of performance across both public and private sector institutions, insisting that his appointment was based strictly on merit.

“His recommendation to Mr. President and subsequent approval were not accidental or politically compensatory, but rooted in competence, experience, and capacity,” the group stated.

Mr. Ihedioha brings nearly 25 years of strategic leadership experience spanning project finance, infrastructure investment, governance, and public policy. He previously served as Senior Adviser and Head of Strategy at the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), where he oversaw an investment portfolio valued at over $4 billion.

During his tenure at NSIA, he played key roles in the establishment of several landmark national initiatives, including the Africa Sovereign Investment Platform, InfraCredit, the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company, the Development Bank of Nigeria, and RIPPLE (Renewable Investment Platform for Limitless Energy).

The group urged the South-East APC Youths to desist from actions capable of inflaming internal divisions, advising them to pursue dialogue and internal conflict resolution rather than “washing dirty linen in public.”