The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has set an agenda for the newly appointed Ministers from the South East and the other Igbo-speaking states (Delta and Rivers), reminding them “of the enormous challenges and pitfalls ahead of them immediately after swearing in by President Muhammadu Buhari”, which took place earlier today in Abuja.

“They will be viewed as APC political leaders in their various states being controlled by PDP and APGA (but) we expect them to cooperate with Igbo Governors and avoid unhealthy rivalry with their State Governors who are enjoying cordial relationship with the Presidency,” the group said in a statement signed by its President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro.

“We expect that irrespective of their ministries they’ll be assigned to, they should collectively protect the interests of Ndigbo, and ensure that those resolutions reached by the last Federal Executive Committee on developmental projects, like dualisation of Aba/Ikot Express road, Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road, Abaomege-Ugep road and completion of Second Niger Bridge, Onitsha-Enugu, Enugu-PH roads,” Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council said.

It alerted the ministers that “with the uprising gathering momentum in the Igbo land, they will be venerable to attack if they pursue personal interest ahead of collective bargaining and expectations of Igbos from FEC. They should vigorously project that the Eastern Railway line that should be constructed to cut across all the commercial cities and major towns in Igbo land link to the South/Southwest Railway line and that of the North. We equally call for speedy response to the rehabilitation of the run way and upgrading of its facilities to accommodate night flight schedules at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, which FAAN will close down from 24th of August 2019.”

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide in the statement observed that “President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to fulfill his 2015 electoral promise to the South East, on revamping of Enugu coal mine which has been moribund, permanently closed to 46 years now; if revamped it will create jobs and power supply for the old Eastern Region. We will mandate the incoming ministers to collectively market President Buhari to the Igbo land by ensuring that they’re accessible to the people and jointly remind the Presidency that Igbos expect more from Buhari than lip service.”

Identifying the ministers by name, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide said: “Once again we congratulate Hon Uche Oga (Abia), Dr Chris Ngige, Mrs Sharon Ikeazor (Anambra), Dr Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi), Mr Geoffrey Onyeama (Enugu), Chief Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba (Imo), and Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers).