With 2nd Niger Bridge, Ohanaeze says Ndigbo have forgiven Buhari’s unfulfilled 2015 promises

South East Senate caucus, WIC urge President to release Nnamdi Kanu

With the completion of the Second Niger Bridge, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo says it has forgiven President Muhammadu Buhari failure to fulfill his 2015 electoral promises to the Igbo.

Ohanaeze, however, urged President Buhari’s government to rename the Second Niger Bridge after Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, made the remarks while applauding the President for completing the bridge, saying the completion of the bridge was a fulfillment of his promise to Nigerians and the Southeast.

Recall that the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, announced the completion of the Second Niger Bridge, disclosing, however, that some link roads to the bridge were still under construction.

Isiguzoro, in a statement, said: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has praised the Federal Government’s giant strides in the realisation of the Second Niger Bridge up to 95 per cent, according to the Ministry of Works. We received the cheery news from the Minister of Works as the fulfillment of government’s promises to Nigerians and Ndigbo in particular and it will strengthen the level of people’s confidence in expecting more from the Buhari’s administration.

“Ndigbo are relieved of unbelievable treaties of previous governments on the Second Niger Bridge and also pardon President Buhari over his inability to fulfill other 2015 electoral promises, which included the revamping of the Enugu coal mine.

“Ndigbo is grateful for this feat and urged President Buhari to complete other projects in the southeast before May 2023.”

SOUTH-EAST Senate caucus has, meanwhile, urged the Federal Government to acknowledge the Appeal Court ruling, which ordered the immediate release of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The caucus, in a statement released in Abuja, yesterday, also advised the Federal Government against appealing the ruling at the Supreme Court, but utilise the opportunity presented by the Appeal Court ruling and consider political solution to resolving the lingering problem in the interest of the country’s unity and peaceful coexistence of Nigerians.

The statement was signed by Senators Orji Uzor Kalu, Majority Whip; Chukwuka Utazi, Minority Whip; Enyinnaya Abaribe; Uche Ekwunife; Stella Oduah; Sam Egwu; Obinna Ogba and Theodore Orji.

Others are Senators Chimaroke Nnamani, Michael Nnachi, Onyewuchi Ezenwa, Rochas Okorocha, Frank Ibezim and Ifeanyi Uba

The statement read: “We should be mindful of our diversity and the strengths we, as a country, derive therefrom. This is the time to show magnanimity and statesmanship. The Appeal Court has provided the leeway for the authorities to walk the talk as ones desirous of preserving Nigeria’s unity and respect for her diversity.”
MEANWHILE, World Igbo Congress (WIC) has commended the Court of Appeal ruling, last week, discharging and acquitting Kanu.

In a statement made available to The Guardian, yesterday, WIC, on behalf of all Igbo in the diaspora, urged the Nigerian government to obey the court and immediately free the IPOB leader.

The statement signed by WIC Chairman, Prof. Anthony Ejiofor, and Public Relations Officer, Basil Onwukwe, reads: “World Igbo Congress, in consonance with all law-abiding people of Nigeria and the world, who know injustice, especially when it is blatant, calls on Nigeria to be a country that obeys its own laws and release Kanu, unconditionally.”

“The president has so far lost several opportunities to present himself as a statesman in this matter. We call on him to rise up beyond the deleterious reach of his advisers and do the right thing.”

According to them, this monumental order (court ruling) was in consonance with all law-abiding minds throughout the world and buttresses what everyone, who is conscious of legal fairness, equity and the rule of law, has been saying since his illegal rendition from Kenya of “this proponent of referendum and self-determination.”