Under My Govt, Igbos Have Been Favoured – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has praised the admiration his administration gives Igbos, whom he says are well represented and positioned in his presidency than in any other presidency ever.

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He also said that his administration has created lots of job opportunities and constructed many projects in the South-East.

He was speaking at the World Igbo Congress Day held at Houston, United States of America.

His speech was said to be a long one but only a copy was made available to press men through  presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, on Thursday.

Jonathan noted that it would be absurd to think that he has ignored the Igbos, he said that he would leave it to Historians to determine which Nigerian president has hired more Igbos into federal positions.

The President said: “In our dogged determination to develop our country, the Igbo are well represented and in some of these appointments, the Igbo are having them for the first time.

“Some have said that this government has done more in appointments than any other in our history for the Igbo, but that is a matter for the pundits and historians. Let me state that appointments by this administration, across the country, will continue to be based on equity, fairness and competence.

“Even when some utilise politics to undermine our commitment to fairness and justice, we will deploy the principle of Federal Character to progressively correct it. No part of Nigeria under my leadership will be shortchanged.”

He also said that his administration has constructed many roads in the south east which were left in bad condition by former administration.

He said, “Similarly in projects and policies, we have continued to do our best. Throughout the South-East, we inherited federal roads in very poor conditions.

“In spite of the highly competitive demand and constraints on funding, we have taken on most of the major roads, realising the impact that their improvement will have on business and life in our country.

“The Owerri-Onitsha road, which was under construction at the outset of my administration, has been virtually completed. Three other very important roads, the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, the Enugu-Port Harcourt road and the Nguzu-Edda-Nkporo-Ohafia road which cuts across Ebonyi and Abia States, are steadily progressing. Our hope is that improved budget and Sure-P funding will see quicker action in the months ahead.

”The Ohaozara-Ishiagu road and Enugu-Abakaliki road are some of those that have progressed to good standard. Further attention will be focused on the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road, which is already being addressed remedially by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency.

Jonathan’s words comes as no surprise to Political critics who have ascertained that Igbos are Jonathan’s backbone heading into 2015 national election.

Jonathan hails from Bayelsa in the south and it is expected that all tribes in the South will support him ahead of 2015.