As part of political realignment ahead of the 2019 general elections, President Muhammadu Buhari’s strategists are wooing the South-East, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt. It was gathered in Abuja on Saturday that the President had directed that infrastructure gaps in the South-East should be bridged.
It was also learnt that apart from reviving old alliances with associates, the president’s allies were also counting on political bridges built by northern politicians with their eastern counterparts over the years.


In addition to these political moves, Buhari was said to have ordered contractors handling various infrastructural projects in the zone to return to site. This is aimed at ensuring the speedy completion of the rehabilitation of some federal roads in the region. Findings showed that emphasis would be placed on the following projects: Port Harcourt-Aba Road, Abriba-Arochukwu-Ohafia Road (Abia State,; Oji-Achi-Obeagu-Mmaku-Awgu-Ndeaboh- Mpu-Okpanku Road (Enugu State), Second Niger Bridge and the Ikot Ekpene Border-Aba-Owerri Road (Akwa Ibom/Abia and Imo States). Buhari is also said to be eager to erase the impression that he would punish the zone for voting against him during the 2015 election. This is coming on the heels of subtle threats by some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, especially from the South-West, to reassess their membership. A prominent member of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Of course, a lot of realignment is going on. “Even the media war between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, should tell you something.” He added, “The 2015 elections taught us that no part of this country can be ignored. The PDP took the North-Central for granted and they paid for it. The news from the South-West is giving us concerns but we are addressing the issues. We don’t want to leave anything to chance. “The president is a better politician than many are willing to give him credit for. He listens, he has instructed that infrastructure, especially roads in the zone, be revisited. He knows such projects have a direct impact on the lives of ordinary people.” The Director General of the Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, however, said it would be wrong to give political colouration to the president’s desire to give every part of Nigeria a sense of belonging. He explained that in one of his first acts as president, Buhari approved a bailout for interested state governments, irrespective of political affiliations to access funds to pay their workers, some of whom were owed up to 18 months. Okechukwu said, “The rehabilitation of roads has started across the land not only in the South- East. Mr. President is looking for the best way to meet up with the promises we made during the campaign. “On the issue of our south-eastern brothers coming back home to the APC where they belong, you and I know that nobody can poach somebody like Orji Uzor Kalu. He is not a hungry man.” The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Garba Shehu, could not be reached for a reaction as calls to his mobile telephone were neither picked nor returned. There was no response to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report. However, a highly placed Presidency source told our correspondent, “I am not aware of any special plan for the South-East but I know a stakeholders’ meeting similar to what was held for the South-South is being planned for the South-East (Zone) this year.” … FERMA repairs federal roads in Imo Motorists and road users in Imo State have begun to heave a sigh of relief as the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency commenced repairs of some failed stretches of federal roads in the state. The motorists plying the busy Owerri-Obowo- Umuahia road described the repairs as timely and requested the agency to sustain the tempo of the reconstruction. One of the commuters, Mr. Benjamin Mgbelechi, told our correspondent that the deplorable state of the road had forced motorists to look for detours before joining the main alignment, which he said occasionally led to crashes. Mgbelechi noted that the state of the road had caused untold hardships to road users, adding that it is not uncommon for motorists who use the road to visit mechanic workshops more often than not. Another motorist, Mr. Cletus Ohiri, stated that at Enyiogugu Mbaise axis, motorists witnessed constant traffic gridlock. He said, “Owing to washout at that spot, motorists spend hours in heavy traffic.” A 54-year-old resident of Umulogho in Obowo LGA, Mr. Okechukwu Isika, said the bad state of the road made it easy for robbers to operate. Isika commended FERMA, adding that the repairs would save many ugly situations especially as Christmas approaches. A trader, Mrs. Juliet Njoku, also noted that the bad road had affected their businesses negatively. She said, “We pay through the nose to convey our goods to the markets. Even when we get to the market, the goods are not sold because of the (delayed) time of delivery. “Also, when we add money to the goods to make up for the high transportation fare, people don’t buy. They usually say the price is high.” A FERMA Engineer in Imo, Mr. Chukwuemeka Maduagwu, said the agency would ensure that federal roads are without potholes and failed spots. Maduagwu said, “Within the limit of available resources, we will ensure that all failed sections along our vital economic routes receive attention within the shortest possible time, especially as Christmas approaches with expected increase in traffic.”

Respectnelson:
As part of political realignment ahead of the
2019 general elections, President Muhammadu
Buhari’s strategists are wooing the South-East,
SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.
It was gathered in Abuja on Saturday that the
President had directed that infrastructure gaps
in the South-East should be bridged.

It was also learnt that apart from reviving old
alliances with associates, the president’s allies
were also counting on political bridges built by
northern politicians with their eastern
counterparts over the years.



In addition to these political moves, Buhari was
said to have ordered contractors handling
various infrastructural projects in the zone to
return to site.
This is aimed at ensuring the speedy completion
of the rehabilitation of some federal roads in the
region.
Findings showed that emphasis would be placed
on the following projects: Port Harcourt-Aba
Road, Abriba-Arochukwu-Ohafia Road (Abia
State,; Oji-Achi-Obeagu-Mmaku-Awgu-Ndeaboh-
Mpu-Okpanku Road (Enugu State), Second Niger
Bridge and the Ikot Ekpene Border-Aba-Owerri
Road (Akwa Ibom/Abia and Imo States).
Buhari is also said to be eager to erase the
impression that he would punish the zone for
voting against him during the 2015 election.
This is coming on the heels of subtle threats by
some members of the ruling All Progressives
Congress, especially from the South-West, to
reassess their membership.
A prominent member of the party, who spoke on
condition of anonymity, said, “Of course, a lot of
realignment is going on.
“Even the media war between former Vice
President Atiku Abubakar and Kaduna State
Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, should tell you
something.”
He added, “The 2015 elections taught us that no
part of this country can be ignored. The PDP
took the North-Central for granted and they paid
for it. The news from the South-West is giving us
concerns but we are addressing the issues. We
don’t want to leave anything to chance.
“The president is a better politician than many
are willing to give him credit for. He listens, he
has instructed that infrastructure, especially
roads in the zone, be revisited. He knows such
projects have a direct impact on the lives of
ordinary people.”
The Director General of the Voice of Nigeria, Mr.
Osita Okechukwu, however, said it would be
wrong to give political colouration to the
president’s desire to give every part of Nigeria a
sense of belonging.
He explained that in one of his first acts as
president, Buhari approved a bailout for
interested state governments, irrespective of
political affiliations to access funds to pay their
workers, some of whom were owed up to 18
months.
Okechukwu said, “The rehabilitation of roads has
started across the land not only in the South-
East. Mr. President is looking for the best way to
meet up with the promises we made during the
campaign.
“On the issue of our south-eastern brothers
coming back home to the APC where they
belong, you and I know that nobody can poach
somebody like Orji Uzor Kalu. He is not a hungry
man.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on
Media, Garba Shehu, could not be reached for a
reaction as calls to his mobile telephone were
neither picked nor returned. There was no
response to a text message sent to him as of the
time of filing this report.
However, a highly placed Presidency source told
our correspondent, “I am not aware of any
special plan for the South-East but I know a
stakeholders’ meeting similar to what was held
for the South-South is being planned for the
South-East (Zone) this year.”
… FERMA repairs federal roads in Imo
Motorists and road users in Imo State have
begun to heave a sigh of relief as the Federal
Roads Maintenance Agency commenced repairs
of some failed stretches of federal roads in the
state.
The motorists plying the busy Owerri-Obowo-
Umuahia road described the repairs as timely
and requested the agency to sustain the tempo
of the reconstruction.
One of the commuters, Mr. Benjamin Mgbelechi,
told our correspondent that the deplorable state
of the road had forced motorists to look for
detours before joining the main alignment,
which he said occasionally led to crashes.
Mgbelechi noted that the state of the road had
caused untold hardships to road users, adding
that it is not uncommon for motorists who use
the road to visit mechanic workshops more
often than not.
Another motorist, Mr. Cletus Ohiri, stated that at
Enyiogugu Mbaise axis, motorists witnessed
constant traffic gridlock.
He said, “Owing to washout at that spot,
motorists spend hours in heavy traffic.”
A 54-year-old resident of Umulogho in Obowo
LGA, Mr. Okechukwu Isika, said the bad state of
the road made it easy for robbers to operate.
Isika commended FERMA, adding that the
repairs would save many ugly situations
especially as Christmas approaches.
A trader, Mrs. Juliet Njoku, also noted that the
bad road had affected their businesses
negatively.
She said, “We pay through the nose to convey
our goods to the markets. Even when we get to
the market, the goods are not sold because of
the (delayed) time of delivery.
“Also, when we add money to the goods to make
up for the high transportation fare, people don’t
buy. They usually say the price is high.”
A FERMA Engineer in Imo, Mr. Chukwuemeka
Maduagwu, said the agency would ensure that
federal roads are without potholes and failed
spots.
Maduagwu said, “Within the limit of available
resources, we will ensure that all failed sections
along our vital economic routes receive attention
within the shortest possible time, especially as
Christmas approaches with expected increase in
traffic.”

I seriously hate how our media report news...... fulfilling promises made or simply doing his job as president means wooing nigerians for 2019?

The hatred towards Buhari in SE has both Reasons and Sentiment into it. He cannot get vote just by infrastructural rehabilitation. The issue of Nnamdi KANU and Biafra is also very important.He has to learn how to speak to angry people too.