₦airaland Forum

President Buhari’s Silent Support For The South-East, By Garba Shehu

President Muhammadu Buhari’s two-day visit to the South-Eastern states of Ebonyi and Anambra is taking place at the most opportune juncture, to show support to a governor who has done so much in promoting the President’s policy on food self-sufficiency and to to endorse his party’s candidate in a crucial vote to install a new governor through an election at the weekend in Anambra.
Given the unfortunate secessionist winds sown by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB the President’s visit should be seen as part of the measures promised by the administration, following successful cooperation between the federal government, the region’s five governors and the cultural leadership of the people, the Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo. This joint effort has in no small means achieved success in putting out the fires ignited by IPOB. The visit should go further in soothing frayed nerves and provide an opportunity to listen more to the cries of the people of the region.

This visit should give the nation a clear break in the mindset from the negativity that characterized the perception of the Buhari administration in the region, following his victory in the 2015 election in which a majority cast its lot with the former President Dr Goodluck Jonathan by giving him 2,464,906 votes, against Muhammadu Buhari’s 198,248 [b](more or less the same votes he got from one or maximally two of some local council areas in a populous State).[/b]

Following the outcome of this election, some of the politicians who lost began to whip up fears of vendetta against the the region even when there was no basis at all for this. It may have been a defensive strategy. But it nonetheless led to emotional responses to the President expressed through anger, paranoia, fear, frustration, resentment and confusion.

I recall that when he spoke on the subject of political patronage at the U.S Institute of peace, he described the way most democracies work that the one who gave 95 percent did not get the same as the the one gave five percent votes but said emphatically that “I’am a different kind of leader.” He said, more or less in these words that he would be fair and just to all citizens irrespective of the way they voted and went on to add that this country’s constitution protects all citizens, all parts thereof by making specific provisions for fair and balanced distribution of appointments and projects known the federal character principle.

This was misconstrued and used to whip up sentiment against him in states that did not vote for him, even after the transcripts of what he actually were published.

This negativity had prevailed in spite of the conscious effort the President made to reassure the South-East by giving four of the region’s five states four senior cabinet posts, which are foreign affairs; industry, trade and investment; science and technology and labor, employment and productivity.

And given the choices he made, the South-East Ministers today rank among the best this country has ever had if you look at their individual performances.

If you go through the online newspapers of the country, everyday, every week and every year there are stories about marginalization against a people for whom the President is doing so much to ensure their security,dignity and prosperity.

Beyond these misplaced fears, these south-easterners are a people known for their creativity, industry and hard work, from whose sweat the economy has benefited immensely. But it is equally true that they have not been served in due proportion by successive administrations in post-independence Nigeria. Had governments of yesteryears discharged their responsibilities to the region, and to the country at large, we might not have been in a situation of tensions and anger leading to violence and secessionist agitation which have their roots in the lack of infrastructure and opportunity for citizens to excel. By God, today’s investments in infrastructure and people should change all that.
Beside the issue of political representation, federal roads in the South-East are a perpetual issue in our country. But each state in the country complains of bad federal roads. However, contrary to the notion that nobody in this government is doing anything about those roads, the region has a good number of roads paid for by the federal government that are under either completed or undergoing repairs/construction.

[b]As of May this year, there are 600 was kilometers of roads that are under rehabilitation/ construction across the South East zone’s five states which include:

• Rehabilitation of Owerri – Umuahia Road Sections I, II, III in Imo/Abia States
• Rehabilitation of Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway Section II
• Ongoing construction work on the Rehabilitation of Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway Section II
• Rehabilitation of Ikot Ekpene – Ikot Umuoessien – Aba Road in Abia / Akwa – Ibom States.
• Ongoing construction work on the Rehabilitation of Ikot Ekpene – Ikot Umuoessien – Aba Road in Abia / Akwa – Ibom States
• Ongoing construction work on the Rehabilitation of Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway
• Ongoing construction work on the Rehabilitation of Ikot Ekpene – Ikot Umuoessien – Aba Road in Abia / Akwa – Ibom States.
• Enugu-Aba- Port Harcourt Expressway, which runs through Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi States covering about 31 roads as well as construction of pedestrian bridges and flyovers, traffic signs and lights; the outstanding section of Onitsha-Enugu Road.
• Umana-Ndiagu-Adaebele-Udi Road in Ndiagu, Nsukka—Oboloafor -Ihamufu Road
• Ninth Mile-Nsukka-Oboloafor Road.
• Ohafia-OsoRoad (In Ebonyi and Abia States: 11.7 km)
• Nnenwe-Uduma-Uburu Road, Section1 (14 km in Enugu/Ebonyi)
• Rehabilitation of Abakaliki-Afikpo Road; Section 1 (20.5 km)
• Rehabilitation of Abakaliki-Afikpo Road Section 11 (19.5 km)
• Construction of Obubra-Ikwo-Onueke-Nkomoro-Agba-Ezekuna-Ogboji-Nara-Cross River Border Road (7 km)
• Aba-Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway (section 11)
• Umuahia Tower-Aba Township Rail/Road Bridge Crossing (56.1Km)
• Rehabilitation of Lokpanta-Umuahia Tower (59.5km)
• rehabilitation of Calabar-Itu-Ikot-Ekpene-Aba-Owerri Section 111
• Ikot-Ekpene-Ikot Umuoessien-Aba Roadin Abia/Akwa-Ibom (43.2km)
• Owerri-Umuahia Road, Sections 1,11 and 111
• The Ikot-Ekpene Border: Aba-Owerri Dualisation Road Section 1, Phase 1 (11.26km)
• Mbaise-Ngwa Road Ohase 1 (14 km)
• Amanwaozuzu-Uzoagba-Eziama-Orie-AmakohiaRoad (10km)
• Oba-Nnewi-Okigwe Road Section 11, among others
[/b]
Certain presidential candidate promised to build 2nd Niger bridge he did nothing to actualize it. Having forgotten a promise made, he had a ceremony organized for him to inaugurate the project when the time to seek re-election came.
When the Obi of Onitsha reminded the then presidential candidate of his earlier promise to do bridge, he got angry. He stopped short of calling the Obi a liar in his palace by outrightly denying ever making the promise.
Now, on the Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State, the contractor had re-mobilized to site. In the budget proposals read last week at the National Assembly, President Buhari listed this bridge as one of the administration’s priority projects and announced an an allocation of 10 billion Naira expenditure for 2018.[/b]

Other projects for the South East include:
AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING
• Construction of New International Terminal in Enugu.
COASTAL RAIL PROJECT
• The coastal rail line has its route alignment passing through Aba in Abia State and Onitsha in Anambra State.
MARITIME ACCESS
With the dredging of the river Niger commissioned by NIWA, the yearning for maritime access to the sea by the south-east and the North as well, is just a matter of time for it to be realized.

Good projects apart, in the South-East as in all other subregions,
good governance is also necessary and the steps the federal government is taking to deal with corruption, terrorism, banditry and lawlessness have the effect of lifting this country out of poverty and lack of development. The country’s efforts to modernize its trade and investment by easing the process of doing business has already attracted the attention and acclaim of the world, and is giving Nigeria a quick rise in the ranking of countries. Known for their industrial and commercial prowess, there is no gain saying who the biggest beneficiaries are.
On the basis of these projects alone, no one should have any reason to doubt the good intentions of the President towards the South-East. Even if some of the people may not support the government, they cannot deny that their region has got a fair deal from President Buhari. The President in his conscience is clear on all fronts that he has been fair to the region and will continue to encourage the efforts of each state as it strives to excel in one endeavor or another. The federal government’s support of Ebonyi state’s rice growing schemes leaned on a permanent solution to the fertilizer supply crisis in the country bears true testimony to a successful partnership between the center and the subregion. In the field of agriculture alone, we have seen this new synergy in the functioning of the governments at the center and the state. This is cooperative federalism at work, and at its best. Which in turn has led to a beneficial relationship based on mutual respect, hope and trust between the governor and the president in spite of political party differences.

The fruit of this type of relationship commends itself to other leaders in the country to shed old mindsets and maintain caution while making statements and to not get carried away by emotions leading to unnecessary tensions.
To help the nation move forward as one, the media for their part must decide against making unsubstantiated allegations and aspersions being leveled against the leadership at the center for the mere fun of catching the headlines. The country needs this to maintain the delicate balance of the relationships between our diverse population and to avoid weakening our democracy. We need to do this and more to achieve something of substance for the nation.

Finally, it is to be hoped that beyond putting out the fire of these misplaced fears, President Buhari’s visit would help to put the spotlight on the silent achievements of his administration in this distinct region so that the ordinary citizen will be reassured that he/she matters, and be rid of the notion that they are getting the short end of the stick.


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lalasticlala

ok

As a supporter of Buhari, no article can change my view of him, only his actions can. He's been a gigantic disappointment so far.
How can the leader of one of the most diverse countries in the world be so blinded by ethnicity? In his mind the only acceptable form of government is NORTHERNOCRACY. Trying to justify gross nepotism is corruption in its purest form. I have simply lost hope in this government.I have lost hope in this crop of leaders.
They've been ruling the country since d 60s when they were in their 20s and 30s and they will still open their stinking mouth to say we are too young to run. What rubbish.
We got independence 2 whole years before Algeria, but look at the two countries today. I've read stories of Nigeria donating oil palm to Malaysia in the 60s. But today they look at us like outcasts.
This has got to stop. If you're not benefiting directly from this government, and you are still supporting them, you need to get your head checked.And those of you behaving like you don't care, I pity you. It is time to stop this apathy and become more involved in politics and speak out more.
Nobody is going to hand over leadership to the youths. It is too sweet. That's why they'd rather die than relinquish their position. We have to take it from them. It is ironic that the bulk of voters are the youths but 90% of our leaders are over the age of 50. We need to stop being stupid. These men are very wise. They know how to apply the divide and rule tactics when it is time for elections and know that there's no ethnicity when it comes to sharing our national cake.
Our future is in our hands.

Who ask for the useless man support?

All those projects enumerated above are executed in 'Astral Nigeria' and not this physical Nigeria.

The worst of all corruption related matters is when government refuses to tell her citizens the truth.

Garba Shehu can go and sit on top of Zuma Rock for all I care...you look us square in the face and call us stupid by cooking up these lies,i didn't even read through...

This animal has started again.

[s]

psucc:
All those projects enumerated above are executed in 'Astral Nigeria' and not this physical Nigeria.

The worst of all corruption related matters is when government refuses to tell her citizens the truth.

[/s]

ipob yoot, can you point out one mentioned above, that is not witnessing construction activities?

Nightwolf1:
This animal has started again.

And that Animal is ruling you, then what are you?

ogtavia:
Garba Shehu can go and sit on top of Zuma Rock for all I care...you look us square in the face and call us stupid by cooking up these lies,i didn't even read through...

lazy ipob yoots dont always read...so no will blame you.

silent support..
I no fit read de long sermon..

NgeneUkwenu:
[s][/s]

ipob yoot, can you point out one mentioned above, that is not witnessing construction activities?

It's true those projects are happening in dream land

NgeneUkwenu:
lazy ipob yoots dont always read...so no will blame you.

madam just leave me alone....else..if I was lazy or had nothing else to do...I still wouldn't read that thrash...

Buhari should realise that 100 percent of all sane Nigerians have given up on him , those left clamouring for him are just paid goons , jobbers , tribalists, mischief makers , bigots and retards

Buhari has no silent support for the south east; a glaring truth. But then both parties are to blame. The level of hate and character assassination launched by Kanu through Radio � Biafra just immediately Buhari came on board, was 90%responsible for the systemic marginalization Buhari implemented as a retaliation measure.
As far as the igbos voted en masse for GEJ, rigging (just like it occurred massively in the SS) was responsible for the wide gap he recorded there.

I pass some of these places listed above very often and I can tell, quite frankly, that there is no form of repair work going on let alone new construction. APC can outshine the devil with lies.

NgeneUkwenu:
lazy ipob yoots dont always read...so no will blame you.

only stupid zombies support dullards

trash and long poo

NgeneUkwenu:
And that Animal is ruling you, then what are you?

Ruling who? Mtchew another animal

No matter how the try to paint it, Buhari the chameleon will never change will always behave as the chameleon. They can deceive other people not us.

This Man Should Shutup. What Has This Govt Dished Out To The People That Has Not Turn Out To Be Lie? Even The One They Willinly Promised Ekweme's Family.

Buhari is a nepotic and tribalistic leader
Garbage shehu can continue deceiving zombies.

magoo10:
Buhari is a nepotic and tribalistic leader
Garbage shehu can continue deceiving zombies.

To hell with Buhari or Jubril from Sudan....He's just another slave to the Queen in London

clevadani:
As a supporter of Buhari, no article can change my view of him, only his actions can. He's been a gigantic disappointment so far.
How can the leader of one of the most diverse countries in the world be so blinded by ethnicity? In his mind the only acceptable form of government is NORTHERNOCRACY. Trying to justify gross nepotism is corruption in its purest form. I have simply lost hope in this government.I have lost hope in this crop of leaders.
They've been ruling the country since d 60s when they were in their 20s and 30s and they will still open their stinking mouth to say we are too young to run. What rubbish.
We got independence 2 whole years before Algeria, but look at the two countries today. I've read stories of Nigeria donating oil palm to Malaysia in the 60s. But today they look at us like outcasts.
This has got to stop. If you're not benefiting directly from this government, and you are still supporting them, you need to get your head checked.And those of you behaving like you don't care, I pity you. It is time to stop this apathy and become more involved in politics and speak out more.
Nobody is going to hand over leadership to the youths. It is too sweet. That's why they'd rather die than relinquish their position. We have to take it from them. It is ironic that the bulk of voters are the youths but 90% of our leaders are over the age of 50. We need to stop being stupid. These men are very wise. They know how to apply the divide and rule tactics when it is time for elections and know that there's no ethnicity when it comes to sharing our national cake.
Our future is in our hands.

your support did not count in the past, and it will never count in the future.

NgeneUkwenu:
And that Animal is ruling you, then what are you?

imagine the whole southeast gave Jonathan, with all the unlimited rigging, a mere 2.45 million while Kaduna and kano, together gave buhari 3.4 million. Can you see that the southeast is electorally insignificant and irrelevant. No Wonder they are always attaching themselves to south south like the endoparasite.

blaqoracle:
your support did not count in the past, and it will never count in the future.

Ok

I see almost four of this being mentioned repeatedly Ongoing construction work on the Rehabilitation of Ikot Ekpene – Ikot Umuoessien – Aba Road in Abia / Akwa – Ibom States.

A working govt does not need series of article weekly to be able to convince us that they are working

In the 2016 budget 12bn was budget for the 2nd Niger bridge but 1naira was not released for the project till today nobody is in the site apart from security men guarding the little GEJ did

But year in year out Buhari keep talking about the bridge as if it is only Igbo people that will pass through it

blaqoracle:
imagine the whole southeast gave Jonathan, with all the unlimited rigging, a mere 2.45 million while Kaduna and kano, together gave buhari 3.4 million. Can you see that the southeast is electorally insignificant and irrelevant. No Wonder they are always attaching themselves to south south like the endoparasite.

...and the 6m votes from kano and Kaduna were not rigged votes?

Garuba shehu has always suffered from acute incompetence, nobody should be surprised his malady is getting worse.

Killing the south east with injustice



That is Buhari for you

I av said it here many time, Ibo's hatred for Buhari is genetic, it's not about any marginalization.
Trying to please them is a waste of time. They should thank their god that am not the president, they would have known what real marginalization looks like.
Pmb is a considerate person, despite not needing their votes, he still goes ahead to expend large chunk of the resources gotten from other regions in the enemy's domain.