Ohanaeze Knocks FG, Demands Project Resumption

September 6, 2022 Stan

The Federal Government is under fire once more from Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, for allegedly openly expressing hatred and disdain for the South-East people.

This was said in a statement provided to DAILY POST on Tuesday by Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, who serves as the national president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide.

He responded to the announcement by Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Engr. Mu’azu Sambo in which he said that the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Eastern Rail Line development project must be suspended due to insecurity and persistent vandalism.

The Minister stated that while inspecting the work that had been done, that contractor in charge of the project, China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCEC), frequently complained of constant attacks on its workers near the Abia State axis of the rail corridor.

However, in response, Ohanaeze called the Minister’s justifications “hogwash,” stating that the Government had never been prepared to undertake a rail line project for the South-East.

Also Read: CCECC Suspended Eastern Rail-Line Project Over Vandalism, Attack On Its Workers – Transport Minister

Okwu said, “even a child knows that the Minister was economical with the truth with his claims that the project was stopped owing to insecurity, so we can’t be deceived with such hogwash.

“We are all aware of the level of insecurity in the North-East, but it did not stop the Federal Government from doing a rail project to the Niger Republic, another country. But once the South-East is involved, they would always find reason to justify their hatred and disdain for Ndigbo.

“This is seven years of the Buhari administration, yet no rail line project has been done in the South-East, whereas other zones have been engaging train services for quite a long time. It is another sad commentary of how Ndigbo have been relegated by the current administration.”

He urged the Federal Government to stop playing politics with everything, stressing that, “it is more saddening considering that the money being used for these projects is borrowed and the people of the South-East are part of those that are bearing the repayment burden.

“This is why we reject in its entirety the Minister’s assertion and demand that work should immediately commence on that rail line,” he noted.