BY GORDI UDEAJAH
There were mixed assessments of and reactions to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s performance in the South East region by the residents, some lauding him, others not accepting that he has performed expectedly in the region.
While some speakers opined that Tinubu has not been equitable in his appointments, some said that South East region is victim of the deliberate imbalance in the presidents actions.
They reacted during the public session on the “Federal Government South East (Zone) Milestone under president Bola Tinubu administration”, held at the State Police Command Officers Mess, in Umuahia, the state capital.
The public Forum was organized to draw the south east Zone’s attention to ” the achievements and interventions of president Tinubu’s administration in the Zone and more especially in Abia state”.
Addressing the session, the South East Zone Director of the National Orientation Agency ( NOA) , Mrs Regina Iroha, described as apt, the holding of the public session that was organized by the Federal Ministry of Information And National Orientation Agency ( NOA) , through its Information Center in Umuahia, which ( Center ) has Lady Abiakam Gloria Ify, as the Head.
One of the leaders of the northern communities in Abia state and Chairman of the state Moslem Pilgrims Board, Sheik Ali Ukiwo scored the president low on railway rehabilitation in the south east zone , tasking him to, in practice show seriousness in the rehabilitation of the east-north rail line.
He recalled that when this rail line was in operation, it cost northern bound Train travellers less and less travel duration time, against the present zero rail transport in the zone.
Presently, there is total absence of rail/ train travel from former Eastern region up north. What is ongoing is scrapping of the Rail Lines in the Abia state stretch.
Also, the traditional ruler of a community in Umuahia South Council Eze Boniface Izuogu worried over the reported inequitable appointments made by Mr president , urging him to ensure that every of his infrastructure and appointments are evenly distributed and not lopsided in favour of some zones, but not the South East.
Chairman of the state Christian Association of Nigeria Rev. Ojo Ojo Uduma, through Dr Francis Okere, tasked the president to address the prevailing insecurity in the zone pointing out that the country’s Security Agencies are in position, to undertake to and effect security sustainably in the country
The Chairman of the State Christian Pilgrims Board Rev. Emma Agomuo urged the president to reactivate the local Refineries, to stop fuel importation.
The Head of the Federal Information Center in Abia state, Lady Abiakam in her address said that the public Forum was organized to draw the Zone’s attention to ” the commendable efforts, achievements and interventions of president Tinubu’s administration in the Zone and more especially in Abia state”
She said that under the President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, several critical sectors in the South East are receiving attention that was long overdue, holding that ” south east zone is no longer an afterthought but is a priority now”.
She listed some of the President Tinubu administration’s achievements and interventions to include; provision of relief materials as palliatives, NELFUND, several grants for the Small and Medium Enterprises, aids to the poor and poor households, Consumer Credit, Compressed Natural Gas, Digital and Creative Enterprises, Skill-Up Artisans Programe, National Youth Talent Export, Housing Initiative, Business Support , Nigerian Youth Academy and Micro and Small Business Loans including interventions in agriculture and health.
Lady Abiakam consequently urged state and local governments in the zone to actively disseminate the right information about these initiatives/ interventions for their people’s awareness.
She said that doing so would change some of the residents faulty / negative disposition towards the Tinubu administration, and equip them with the right information that would enable them not only to objectively assess President Tinubu administration, but drum support for him.
According to Abiakam, ” these ( Tinubu’s ) projects are not just milestones on paper, they are visible , tangible results of governance that work”.
A former state lawmaker Dr Mike Ukoha, who is now the Legislative Assistant to the Abia state born Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu, an Abian, told the South easterners not to be deceived that president discriminates against the zone, asserting that his ( Tinubu) removal of fuel subsidy has impacted more fund allocations to the zone.
According to him, Deputy Speaker Kalu has through his most cordial working relationship with the President, attracted, among others facilities and attention to the Zone, including three federal tertiary institutions to Abia state within two years.
He said ” Hon Benjamin Kalu has been doing his best to ensure that all the South East Entitlements are not denied them, noting that some of these have outstood for 55 years”.
