Are you one of those who are wondering why increasingly, the South East has become close to President Bola Tinubu? Are you one of those who were shocked to see that the Igbos did not join in last week’s protest? We can tell you why. It is because since President Bola Tinubu came to power last year, he has made frantic moves to embrace the South East, despite the fact that the zone didn’t vote for him in 2023. And the leadership of the South East, has also responded positively.....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
Why didn’t the South East join the protest against Tinubu’s government? Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Secretary General of Ohaneze Ndigbo says the people of South-East zone didn’t join because they don’t want to be used again as sacrificial lambs like they were used during previous riots. He said previous riots had resulted in immense losses of Igbo lives & properties.”
“In the interest of protecting the lives and properties of Igbos across the country, Ohaneze Ndigbo decided to direct Igbos at home and in diaspora to refrain from participating in the nationwide protests. Ohaneze Ndigbo emphasized that the release of Nanmdi Kanu is of utmost importance to the South-East region. The organisation believes that engaging in protests against Pres. Tinubu will not bring about the desired outcome. City People can reveal authoritatively that the Igbo leadership is being strategic. When Tinubu clocked 1 year in office the Ohaneze Ndigbo adjudged Tinubu’s first year in office as far better than Buhari’s 8 years. Ohaneze in a statement issued by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, also scored the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi as The best performing Minister, while the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike is in 2nd position.
Ohaneze Ndigbo, unequivocally asserted that the 1st year of Tinubu’s presidency, as viewed from the Igbo perspective and experience, has been marked by progress, development and a genuine commitment to overcoming challenges. This stands in stark contrast to the wasteful 8 years under the previous administration headed by former President Buhari.
According to Ohaneze Ndigbo, during Buhari’s tenure, the South-East region was subjected to deliberate economic suppression and marginalisation, which targeted Igbo industrialists and investors, while promoting strife through harmful policies such as open grazing and RUGA land-grabbing initiation.”
“In contrast, the current administration under Tinubu has shown remarkable political will and determination to address these challenges. The ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation of major federal expressways in the South-East, speaheaded by Senator Dare Umahi, has brought about increased economic activity and infrastructural development, changing the narrative of reflect and disfavour towards the region”, the group said.
Like Buhari, Tinubu at the last election polled the least votes from the South East region. The President secured a total of 127,370 across the 5 South-Eastern states. He polled 130,520 votes in Cross River State alone in the neighbouring South-South zone alone.
After Tinubu, was sworn in, the South-East had given up and they were not expecting anything from the Tinubu administration, especially with Peter Obi, an Igbo man as his major contender.
But Tinubu, confounded them when he made 4 people from the South East Ministers and Minister of State. The Ministers from the South East are Doris Anite (Minister of Industry Trade & Investment from Imo State), Uche Nnaji (Minister of Innovation, Science & Technology from Enugu State), Nkiru Onyejeocha (Minister of State, Labour & Employment from Abia State), Uju Kennedy (Minister of Women Affairs from Anambra State) and David Umahi (from Ebonyi State). So far Ohaneze has had a cordial relationship with Tinubu, in his 1st year. They contrasted Tinubu’s approach with that of Buhari administration, alleging that during the Buhari regime, the South-East, as a region faced deliberate economic suppression and targeting, leading to strife and insecurity.
According to Ohaneze, in contrast, Pres. Tinubu’s administration has forstered hope and progress in the South-East, through initiatives like the ongoing road reconstruction and rehabilitation projects, fostering economic activity and inclusivity.
The Ohaneze last June also hailed Tinubu for naming a road after Prof. Chinua Achebe in Abuja.
Don’t also forget that Pres Tinubu in June signed into Law, 2 bills creating 2 new regional development commissions. The bills are the North West Dev. Commission (NWDC) sponsored by Deputy Senate President Jibriu Barau and the South East Development Commission Sponsored by Deputy Speaker, Ben Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State.
The SEDC is responsible for the 5 South East States of Ebonyi, Imo, Abia, Enugu and Anambra. The commission will receive funds to execute projects in that geographical zone. The funds are also earmarked for environment challenges like erosion, reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads in Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo and Anambra.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, last October observed that the South East geopolitical zone remains crucial to the growth and development of the country. The Ohaneze Ndigbo, commended Tinubu for signing South East Dev. Commission Bill. They described the action as a Quantum leap. Ohaneze, said the action by the President was quite commendable because the SEDC has remained in the pipeline for decades. The SEDC is expected to manage funds allocated from the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads and other infrastructural deficits suffered by the region due to age-long neglect.
According to the Ohaneze, the SEDC will go a long way to assuage the feelings of Ndigbo with respect to the 3R Sophistry by General Yakubu Gowon in January 1970. Gowon had assured the world that there would be 3R:Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of the Igbo land as a result of war ravages.
But 54 years after the war, the South East has witnessed the direct opposite of the 3Rs, even in exponential proportion. In another positive move, a few weeks back, the Minister of Works, Senator David Nweze Umahi, at Abakalili announced plans by the FG to construct 477 kilometre 6 lane Super highways traversing 5 states to the FCT Abuja.
According to the Minister, the super highway, will among others pass through Abakaliki, Enugu, Nsukka, leading to Abuja. The Ohaneze is happy with Pres. Bola Tinubu, for showing a major depature from the Buhari regime by signing the SEDC Bill into Law, for appointing Sen. Dan Nweze Umahi, a brilliant and prudent engineer as the Minister for Works and Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla as the Chief of Naval staff.
It is in the spirit of Tinubu’s positive overtures to the South East, that the Igbo leadership has been pleading with Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu, to enhance regional peace. The IPOB leader Kanu, has been in detention since he was rearrested in June 2021.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps, Benjamin Kalu, is one South-East politician that has been canvassing support for Pres. Bola Tinubu. He recently said the National Assembly under the leadership of the APC will continue to leverage legislative interventions to reposition the South East. He mentioned the ongoing moves to create another state in the region.
The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje last month promised that Pres. Bola Tinubu, will break the cycle of marginalisation of the South East region. He spoke at the recent APC South-East zonal meeting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital. Ganduje, said Ebonyi & Imo states are promoting the activities and ideals of the APC. The challenge before us presently is how to claim Anambra, Enugu and Abia.
The Deputy Speaker, Kalu, has revealed that the passage of the Bill is coming at a time when members of the National Assembly from the South East region led by him are championing an initiative, known as The Peace in South East Project (PISEP), a non-political movement, using non-Icinetic approach to resolving the problems in the region.
