Four South East governors and former Biafran warlord, Joe Achuzie, have taken up the mantle to intensify campaign in the region for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Governors Theodore Orji (Abia), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), and Martins Elechi (Ebonyi) are on the stump along with Minister of State for Education, Viola Onwuliri, who flew in from Abuja to canvass for Jonathan and, by extension, to retain her job.
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, is the only one from the zone rooting for All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.
From another flank, a communique issued after a meeting of the Southern Nigeria Christian Elders Forum in Enugu also pitched for Jonathan.
“It is the considered view and advice of the Southern Nigeria Christian Elders Forum as Christians and citizens of this country that the South South should be given the opportunity of a second term, that is, to hold the Presidency … for eight years and it moves to another zone,” the communique said.
In her own presentation, Onwuliri declared that Jonathan has laid a foundation for good things to thrive in the South East and the rest of the country.
According to her, Jonathan has helped Ndigbo with key ministerial and military appointments, and holds promise for a better South East in infrastructure development than any other presidential candidate.
Over the years, she recalled, the South East was denied an international airport, but under Jonathan the Enugu International Airport was built, which enables local and international travellers to the region to avoid the stress of having to go through the airports in Lagos and Port Harcourt.
Onwuliri maintained that Jonathan “has done so much for Igbo, the country and internationally. The people of the South East can now travel outside the country through Enugu. Enugu Airport will improve commerce and other related businesses across the South East.
“On my last trip to Turkey as Minister of Foreign Affairs, I was able to sign on Enugu Airport for Turkish Airline.
“The idea is for the airline to join other aircraft to land in Enugu. This airport is a big relief to our people, particularly during the Christmas. “Our people don’t need to travel to Lagos or Port Harcourt before going back to America, Europe, and other places in the world. The second Niger Bridge is going on unlike when it was abandoned by previous administrations.”
Onwuliri also cited housing estates on Port Harcourt and Naze Roads in Owerri, as well as a Federal Medical Centre where there are 20 projects going on.
“One of the biggest diagnostic centres in Nigeria is located in that hospital. So I assure the people of the South East that once the president is elected for a second tenure, he will work on the confab report and additional states will be created in the South East.”
