President Muhammadu Buhari has restated that his government has not been marginalising Igbo people insisting that the five Eastern states were well represented in his cabinet.
He also debunked comments that appointments of Service Chiefs were based on sentiments rather than merits. According to him, he has no personal relationship with many of those appointed as Service Chiefs.
Buhari, who was speaking at an interactive session with traditional rulers and presidents-general of Anambra communities at the palace of the Obi of Onitsha during his campaign visit to the state on Thursday, assured the Igbo that if elected for a second term, his government would do more for them.
He promised the dredging of River Niger for seaports adding that he would open economic activities in Anambra and the South-East in general.
He also regretted that most of the roads in the South East were in deplorable conditions promising that they would receive attention in his second term.
His words; “My government is determined to complete the ongoing federal projects in the state, especially the Second Niger Bridge and the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
“It’s not true that my government is marginalising the Igbo. The five eastern states are represented in my cabinet. Every appointment was based on fairness to accommodate every state.
“The Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonaya Onu, Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, Minister of State for Education, Anthony Anwuka, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah are from the South-East.
“Those of you who were in the military, even in the Biafran Army, know that the entry point is the same and you go for basic training, until you go to your formations or institutions, whether it is Army, Navy, Air Force or the police. The most competent or senior person is the one that gets there.
“If there are half a million soldiers, only one man can be the Chief of Army Staff at a time. This is so for the rest of the troop. In recruitment, we make sure that by states, people are recruited. At least, this is what I do, people are recruited from each state. For those who manage to get recruited, it’s up to them to get to the top if they are professional and work for it.
“The present Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff even the previous Inspector-General of Police that just left, I didn’t know them personally before I appointed them. I follow the records.
“The same thing with the IG that was appointed last week. I don’t think I have ever seen him, I follow the records. So, appointments in the Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies depend on individual performance after recruitment, not where you think you come from. At least between me and God, this is what I do.
“I assure the people of the South-East of the completion of the ongoing roads and rail projects in the geopolitical zone in my second term.
“We regret that most of the roads are in deplorable conditions as a result of serial abandonment by previous governments.
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“The Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway was done last during Abacha’s time, but it’s being done now. The Minister of Transport had told you about the ongoing rail projects across the country. We are determined to complete all of them in our second term in office.”
He urged the people to vote for the APC from top to bottom, assuring that they would not be disappointed. “Our second term will be full of roses for the people of the South-East,” he promised.
National Chairman of the APC Adams Oshiomhole, in his remarks called on the people of the zone not to allow themselves to be deceived again by the opposition.
He said,”You have been deceived for the past 16 years by people who don’t mean well for you. You can’t afford to allow yourself to be deceived again this time.”
