By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—AFTER taking a review of infrastructure in the South-East, the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said that the Igbos have not benefited from the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP-led Federal Government despite their loyalty to the party.

Newly Elected National Chairman of APC Odigie-Oyegun at APC National Convention in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

He, therefore, expressed optimism that the South-East people will look at their environment very seriously and vote against PDP in the forthcoming elections, for taking them for granted.

Oyegun, who said that the APC had made tremendous progress in the area due to the laudable performance of Owelle Rochas Okorocha in office in Imo State, regretted that the people of the South-East have suffered inhuman treatment following the infrastructural decay in the area.

He said: “May be few leaders of the zone are benefiting but it is obvious that the people are suffering.

“The South East case is a bit peculiar because they have always been part of the federal system, that is their history, whatever excuses people may give. But we are beginning to tell them that that kind of unending loyalty makes them lose respect, as they are being taken for granted. They are not getting anything from the Federal Government. May be few of their leaders are, but most of the people are not.

“The Onitsha to Enugu Road connecting the whole of the South East is almost impassable. Take the Port Harcourt axis too. The only motorable road there is from Onitsha to Owerri. So, what are the people getting? The Niger Bridge has been launched three times. It has been awarded many times. I don’t know if the first load of sand has got there yet, to start building the foundation. So, what are the people getting for this loyalty?

“We are bringing this to their attention. We are beginning to get positive vibes. Of course, the crisis bedevilling the PDP in that area, we are capitalizing immensely on that. God is working for the Igbos, so we expect the results to be better now than before. The South East is not benefiting from this blind unyielding loyalty.”