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Federal Government at the weekend says it has mobilised Julius Berger for the construction of the Second River Niger Bridge.
Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment disclosed this in a statement titled: ‘I didn’t endorse perceived marginalisation of Ndigbo,’ signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Nwachukwu Obidiwe.
He however did not disclose the actual amount paid to mobilise for the contractor.
The Minister who reaffirmed the present administration’s resolve to ensure even execution of critical federal infrastructure across the country, disclosed that several road and railway projects which were not captured by the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration have been included in the 2017 Appropriation bill which is awaiting President’s assent.
“I wish to re-assure that we are doing much more than what eyes can see to ensure that the South East is not left behind in the distribution of infrastructures.
“For example, work is going on simultaneously on all the major federal roads in the South East; Enugu- Onitsha, Enugu- Umuahia-Abia-Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt -Owerri, Oba-Nnewi–Arondizuogu-Okigwe, to mention a few while Julius Berger has been mobilized for the 2nd River Niger Bridge.
“When last did that happen in the South East? There is also the Benin-Onitsha rail line which was not originally in the Jonathan-PDP rail master-plan. We have included that,” he explained.
Clarifying further on the 2015 election, Ngige who argued that the Ndigbo and South East in general failed to make the right investment during the period.
“What Sen. Ngige said and which he is not afraid of repeating is that politics is an investment and that as far as the 2015 presidential election is concerned, Ndigbo made a very bad investment. “We put all our eggs in one basket despite clear signs we shouldn’t. We should therefore not allow such ill-advised investment to repeat in subsequent elections.
“My position which I passed as a caution in that interview is that Ndigbo should start to strategically position themselves for 2019 and avoid a repeat of what happened in 2015. Other zones are already strategizing and we must not be caught napping. Just as all reasonable politicians in the South East accept that we played bad politics in 2015, we should effectively put it behind us. The resilient nature of the Igbo allows no room for self-pity. We have met greater challenges and surmounted them.
“It is for this reason that I and the APC in the South East have been welcoming our leaders like Chief Jim Nwobodo, Sen. Ken Nnamani, Sen. Emma Agboti, Sen. Nkechi Nwogu, Sen. Andy Uba, Chief Chukwuemeka Nwogu – my predecessor in the Ministry of Labour, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, former Minister of Health, former Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime and host of others people who have seen the need for this.
“However, as I said in the interview, the bad investment of the 2015 is not enough to marginalize anybody. The present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari does not look in that direction. I and other APC leaders in the South East shall continue to make sure that the Igbo is fairly treated,” the Minister assured.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
