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From Magnus Eze, Enugu and Obinna Odogwu, Awka
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has extolled President Muhammadu Buhari for making his word his bond, that his administration will complete the Second Niger Bridge before the expiration of his tenure.
Although, Buhari did not start the work on the bridge, Ohanaeze noted that in a maladjusted society where the abandoned projects far outnumbered the completed ones, delivering a vital infrastructure that should have been taken for granted attracted immense jubilation amongst the Igbo.
The apex Igbo body said the completion of the all-important bridge was indicative that the president could still use the remaining few months in office to pursue some other transcendental objectives which will write his name with gold in the sands of time.
National Publicity Secretary of the group, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, described the Second Niger Bridge as a key national infrastructure, with immense socio-economic benefits not only for the contiguous states but for the nation as a whole.
He said: “The second Niger Bridge has been a major concern to the Igbo for over 50 years. Apart from the traffic lock jam on top of the bridge, the greatest fear was that the bridge had evidence of cracks such that the stress of weights on the bridge could collapse all the vehicles and their contents into the River Niger with untold consequences.”
Ohanaeze stated that several administrations had used the Second Niger Bridge as bait on the Igbo, especially during the political campaigns.
Former Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Jerry Obasi, said that he was yet to believe that Buhari made that bridge possible.
“In fact, I am perplexed and shocked with such a gift from the APC-led Federal Government that is perceived as anti-Igbo. Even the Jonathan of all people whom the Igbo suffered and died for was unable to do that. He came in and also played politics with it.
“In fact, words cannot say the way I feel and the way most of my friends feel also. In fact, politically, it is a plus for the APC in the South East.
Vice President (South East) of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Nnonyelu Onyibor, said that the youths in the region were very happy with the new development in the zone.
“It is good news that there is a Second Niger Bridge in the South East. So, we commend the federal government for this. We have been hearing about it for a long time but because government is a continuum, this government has done it,” Onyibor said.
