President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, assured stakeholders from the South East that the region would benefit more from roads and coastal rail projects, which are of critical importance to the economy.
Speaking at an audience with leaders from the region led by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, the President declared that the 2nd Niger Bridge, the East-West Road and the Coastal rail project, were receiving utmost attention from his administration.
The President said counterpart funding from the Chinese government would substantially fund these projects, which when completed, would improve the welfare, well-being and economy of the people in the region.
“I know the Chinese are very competent in handling such projects and we will ensure that we get the money for the projects to take off. I thank you for articulating your demands and I want to assure that we are doing our best for the country. If we can stop people from stealing, then there will be more resources to put into projects that will create employment for Nigerians,” the President said.
Responding to allegations of under-representation of Igbos in his government, the President said: “I gave South-East four substantive Ministers in the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment, Science and Technology and Labour. Seven states in the North got Ministers of State and of the two Ministries headed by your sons; I cannot take any decision on foreign policy and investments without their input.”
The President also promised the leaders, comprising Governors and Ministers from the region, the President of Ohaneze, Chief John Nnia Nwodo and representatives from the National Assembly, that he will visit states in the zone soon.
Demands
“I want to assure you that I came into government with a clear conscience and I will also leave with a clear conscience,” he said.
The President of Ohaneze, John Nwodo, while articulating the demands of the zone to the President, highlighted the issue of state creation, restructuring, federal projects in the South East namely Enugu-Onitsha road, Enugu-Port Harcourt road and Aba-Ikot-Ekpene road, among others.
Nwodo also demanded urgent presidential intervention on the Enugu Airport, reticulation of the gas-pipelines in the South East and the standard gauge plan for railway construction.
Commending the President’s remarkable achievements on security and the fight against corruption, Nwodo declared that the South-East was ready to work with President Buhari.
He said: “We are ready to work with you. We are determined to work with you. We know you are a decisive leader and we know God will continue to give you the wisdom to govern Nigeria.”
Mr Nwodo later told Journalists in an interview that: “We came here for the issues of developments in our place. We talked about IPOB as a symptomatic consequence of the continuous marginalization of the South east over a long period of time. Understandably our children are restive and we want to make sure that the federal government is responsive to the issues that have culminated in the quintessence of these agitations.”
John Nwodo, who said he had no reason to doubt the President, also said they talked about devolution of powers.
“There is no reason for me to doubt them because this is the first time I have had this interaction with him. I have the feeling that he spoke to us very frankly. We did talk about the issue of devolution of powers, the constitution, the paucity of the states and local governments in our place and the president has asked that he be given time to look at this more holistically,” he said.
Also speaking, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State expressed satisfaction on the outcome of their discussions with the President on critical issues and topics affecting the region.
“You have no hatred for any state. You have treated all states with equality. What one state gets in the north, the other gets in the south,’’ the Governor said, referring to the budget support facility and stabilization fund released to states and Local Governments.
