Ohaneze Ndigbo pleads with Buhari saying Goodluck lied to them about second Niger bridge

PAN-Igbo socio-cultural group Ohanaeze Ndigbo has pleaded with president-elect General Muhammadu Buhari not to abandon the zone during his presidency as they were deceived into voting for President Goodluck Jonathan because of his false promise of the second River Niger bridge.

 

During the March 28 presidential elections, Nigeria's Igbo-speaking southeast geo-political zone voted massively for President Goodluck Jonathan and his People's Democratic Party (PDP). However, following the victory of General Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC), Igbo leaders have mounted a charm offensive to ensure they are not abandoned or neglected by the incoming government.

 

Yesterday, the Ohaneze Ndigbo caretaker committee led by Chief Ralph Obioha, paid a visit to General Buhari, during which he said that President Jonathan lied to the Igbo nation about awarding a contract for the construction of the second Niger bridge and major federal roads in the southeast. He added that no financial commitment had been made by the federal government to commence the construction of the second Niger bridge.

 

Adding that the pledge was part of a deceptive campaign message to Ndigbo, Chief Obioha listed the Enugu-Awka-Onitsha Expressway and the Enugu-Umuahia-Aba Expressway, as other projects that had not been executed as promised. He further told General Buhari that the southeast was a silent supporter of his presidential ambition.

 

Chief Obioha added that the region would fully support the incoming government to succeed, urging General Buhari to reconstruct Nigeria. He pleaded with the president-elect to revisit the Oputa Panel report and the issue of abandoned property in the country among other matters.

 

“This is a delegation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Caretaker Committee, who proudly took sides with you, convinced that what Nigeria needs today is the leadership that you will provide to rebuild our battered and pulverised nation. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Caretaker Committee is fully aware of the difficult and daunting work that has befallen on your shoulders and we are here to offer our commitment that Ndigbo will stand shoulder to shoulder with you on this mission to reconstruct our nation.

 

“We are also aware that our cry of marginalization is not unique to our region but ours stands out as an SOS case as a region criminally neglected and abandoned by the outgoing administration. During your campaign tours, you saw things for yourself and needless reminding Your Excellency that the southeast is an emergency case," Chief Obioha added.

 

He pointed out that contrary to the election claims by the outgoing administration, no appreciable work is going on these roads and no financial arrangement has been firmed up for the second Niger bridge. Chief Obioha also made a case for the office of the secretary to the government of the federation, to be zoned to the southeast.