Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Senator representing Abia Central, Senator Austin Akobundu (PDP), has expressed fury over the shortchanging of the South-East geopolitical zone in the recent ministerial appointments by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Senator Akobundu who expressed his disappointment over the exclusion of South-East in the zonal ministerial slot, said the South-East should not be treated as second class people.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the inauguration of St. Peter’s Secondary School Awomnuzie, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, renovated by Grooming Centre, Senator Akobundu vowed to raise the matter at the Senate.
He regretted that previous efforts to correct the anomaly in Tinubu’s first ministerial appointment, yielded no positive results.
Recall that President Tinubu had on Wednesday, relieved six of his Ministers, and forwarded seven new ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
Tinubu had given the South-East only five ministerial slots while other geopolitical zones had extra zonal ministerial slots in addition to the number of states in the zone.
For instance, North-West with seven states, and South-West with six states got additional three zonal slots making them to have 10, and nine ministers respectively.
On the other hand, North-East and North-Central with six states each, got extra two zonal slots, thus parading eight ministers each, while the South-South also with six states got additional one zonal Minister.
Despites protests by individuals and groups for the South-East to get its zonal ministerial slot, the President continued with his 48-member cabinet which he increased by two additional slots in the recent cabinet reshuffle without considering the already marginalised South-East.
Senator Akobundu said: “I feel shortchanged as a person, and I’m speaking for the zone. When the first set of appointments was made, we clearly observed that the South-East was shortchanged in terms of zonal representation.
“At the Senate, there were moves to draw the attention of the Executive to that. Now that it has happened again, we will also study the spread, and continue to raise the consciousness.”
Senator Akobundu also spoke on the dilapidated Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene federal road, saying he had discussed with the Senate President Senator Goodwill Akpabio from the neighbouring Akwa Ibom senatorial district.
The former Minister of State for Defense said that he had secured assurances of the Minister of Works that work would soon resume on the 51-kilometer road.
Senator Akobundu said he had continued to mount pressure on the Ministry of Works to deliver the project which was awarded during the immediate-past administration.
“We expect intervention on the road very soon because it has been work in progress. I have been pursuing it but there are problems here and there in terms of the nature of the contract but the rains have also affected it.
“But I can assure you that now that the rains are receding, and with all the pressure, the Minister of Works himself assured me that the work will be given greater impetus.
“I have also raised the matter with the Senate President, and I have strong assurances that not only that the work will re-commence but progress.
Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene federal road which is the major access link between South-East and Akwa Ibom, where the Senate President, Senator Akpabio, hails from, has been a death trap for years.
Meanwhile, Senator Akobundu has commended the owner of Grooming Centre, Dr Godwin Nwabunka, for completing the St. Peter’s School renovation project initiated by Rev. Father Donatus Okpokpo.
He lauded them for the massive investment which would help deliver quality education to rural dwellers, and promised to leverage on his privileged position to complement their efforts
