In a statement to reassure major stakeholders in the South-East, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said that his government has been fair to the geo-political zone, debunking rumours that he was partial in terms of appointments. He said that his fairness is evidenced in the allocation of four prominent ministerial positions to the zone.
The President made this statement when he met with South-East leaders led by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. The meeting which was attended by the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, the Governors and Federal lawmakers in the area, was held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa.
Reacting to allegations of under-representations of Igbo’s in his government, the President said that he gave the South-East four substantive ministers in the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment, Science and Technology and Labour.
The Ministers on President Buhari’s cabinet who are from the South-East as only five and are:
Ogbonaya Onu- (Ebonyi) Minister of Science and Technology
Geoffrey Onyema (Enugu) Minister of Foreign Affairs
Okechukwu Enelamah (Abia) Minister of Trade, Investment & Industry
Prof Anthony Onwuka (Imo) Minister of State, Education
Chris Ngige (Anambra) Minister of Labour and Employment
The President also assured leaders from the zone that his administration will benefit them more from roads and coastal rail projects, which he said were of critical importance to the economy.