Ochie Igbo, a socio-cultural organization of young Igbo intellectuals, have kicked against the construction of a rail line from Daura to Maradi in Niger Republic, “when the rail lines in the old Eastern Region dilapidated and disused”.
The group made their feelings known on Monday, in a communiqué signed by the National President and Secretary, Dr. Chukwuma Orji and Theophilus Nwoba respectively, and made available to Vanguard in Owerri.
“We have not ceased to wonder why President Muhammadu Buhari gave prompt approval for the alteration of the national transportation masterplan to include the construction of a rail line linking Daura and Maradi in Niger Republic, while the seaports and rail lines in the old Eastern Region remains dilapidated and disused”, the group argued.
Similarly, Ochie Igbo had no kind words for the South East chieftains of All Progressives Congress, APC, who recently endorsed President Buhari’s second term bid.
“It is most shocking that some APC leaders from the South East endorsed President Buhari for the 2019 presidential election, despite the rising degree of insecurity and wanton killing and destruction of life and property in the country”, the group said.
They were particularly irked that “the endorsement came at a time of great national grief and sadly to a President that has not condemned in strong terms or shown sentimental detachment from the mayhem and bloodletting allegedly committed by the murderous herdsmen”.
Ochie Igbo was equally saddened that the APC leaders hinged their decision a plea for Igbo presidency in 2023.
“The endorsement of and psychophantic plea for President Buhari to support Igbo presidency in 2023, does not represent the position of the Igbo nation. Ndigbo have never been under any illusion that the Buhari presidency does not hold good prospects for the South East geo-political zone”, Ochie Igbo said.
Pushing their argument further, the group mentioned the skewed nature of Buhari’s appointments, the uneven handed treatment to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, and the kid glove treatment of the notorious terrorist herdsmen, as some of the parameters they used in taking their stand.
“In the light of the foregoing, Ochie Igbo makes bold to state that the endorsement by the South East APC chieftains is nothing more than a fraudulent political transaction borne out of sheer hypocrisy and naivety. It was a demonstration of self serving politics”, the group said.
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