President Muhammadu Buhari had a meeting with leaders of South East at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday, Oct.13, where he addressed issues concerning government’s alleged marginalisation of the zone, among other things. The delegation of South East leaders comprised of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, President General Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, and governors from the South East.
The governors present at the meeting were Dave Umahi who is chairman of South East Governors, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state as well as the deputy governors of Imo and Anambra states. Chairman of South East senate caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and other senators and the Deputy Minority Leader of House of Representatives, Chukwuma Onyema were also present.
At the meeting, Buhari stressed that allegations of under-representation of the Igbos in his government were unfounded. He assured the Igbo leaders that his government is not thinking in the line of ethnic divides as he is a president to all Nigerians.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, disclosed that Buhari told his guests that while seven states in the North got Ministers of State in his administration, the South East got four substantive ministers. According to the President, he could not take any decision on foreign policy and investments without the input of two of the four substantive ministers from the South-East zone.
“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,” Buhari said.
The President also promised the Igbo leaders that he will soon visit states in the zone.
“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 assured them that the region will benefit more from roads and coastal rail projects, which are of critical importance to the economy. He said the Second Niger Bridge, the East-West Road and the Coastal rail project, are receiving utmost attention from his administration.
The President said counterpart funding from the Chinese government would substantially fund these projects, which when completed will 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,” he said.
Among the demands made by the Igbo leaders to President Buhari include; state creation, restructuring, federal projects in the South-east namely Enugu-Onitsha road, Enugu-Port Harcourt road and Aba-Ikot-Ekpene road, presidential interventions on the Enugu Airport, reticulation of the gas-pipelines in the South-east and the standard gauge plan for railway construction amongst others.
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