The South East Zone has fared better under President Goodluck Jonathan than any period since the First Republic.
This is the verdict of the National Vice Chairman, South East zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Colonel Austin Akobundu (rtd.), who added that the decision of the zone to give the President total support in 2011 was the smartest political move by Igbo people.
Speaking in Enugu on Friday ahead of Saturday’s official flag-off of the remodelled Akanu Ibiam International Airport by President Jonathan, Colonel Akobundu thanked the President for fulfilling his election promises to the South East, which he said makes his endorsement for a second term by South Easterners a foregone conclusion.
“Previous administrations, military and democratic, paid lip-service to developing the South East but the Jonathan Government is actively laying bricks and reconstructing roads in a sustainable manner. I am confirming that the Transformation Agenda is alive in this zone and changing the lives of our people.
“Today, the President will officially flag-off remodelling work on the Enugu Airport which has been upgraded into an international airport. This means a lot to us, the South East being the only zone denied an international gateway by successive governments, until now. When you consider other development initiatives of this government in the zone, especially its investments in transportation, education, health and roads, you will agree with me that we are better off under the Jonathan administration and PDP.
“People talk about APC as an alternative platform but we ask those behind the party to show their report card for scrutiny. They have no track record of caring for our people. When they managed PTF, the marginalisation of our zone continued. It is clear that the future of South East economic and infrastructural development lies with supporting the Jonathan administration”, Colonel Akobundu said.
The National Vice Chairman expressed satisfaction with the quality of the ongoing redesigning of the Enugu airport to suit it new status as an international airport and praised the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah for her visionary and dedicated leadership which has repositioned the nation’s aviation sector.
He expressed confidence that the Administration would tackle other outstanding projects in the zone, especially the second Niger Bridge, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and erosion control projects with similar vigour and assured the President of the zone’s continued and sustained support at all times.
