By Florencemary Nwabueze
UMUAHIA-Kwankwaso National Network (KNN), South-East Zone, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of marginalizing the South-East region in critical areas of national infrastructure and development.
The group specifically decried the absence of functional rail services in the South-East, despite significant federal investments in railway infrastructure across other parts of Nigeria.
In a statement issued Friday in Umuahia, the South-East Zonal Coordinator of KNN, Dr. Ukpai Iro Ukpai, expressed concern over what he described as the continued neglect of the region in the distribution of federal infrastructure.
Ukpai lamented that railway facilities which once connected parts of the South-East have remained inactive for years, with no modern rail infrastructure deployed to serve the region.
He noted that the situation has worsened the movement of people and goods, increased pressure on already congested highways, and denied businesses in the region the economic advantages of efficient rail transportation.
According to him, several federal roads connecting major commercial centres in the South-East also remain in poor condition, causing hardship for residents, transporters, and business operators.
KNN argued that the South-East, given its substantial contributions to commerce, trade, manufacturing, and national development, deserves greater attention in federal infrastructure planning.
The group called for functional rail links connecting major cities and industrial hubs in the region, improved federal highways, and stronger infrastructure to support trade and economic integration.
"The South-East cannot continue to be treated as an afterthought in the scheme of things," the statement read.
"It is difficult to understand why a region renowned for enterprise and commerce should continue to struggle without the level of modern transportation infrastructure required to unlock its full economic potential." The statement reads
KNN also questioned the inadequate attention to developing key economic gateways in the zone, arguing that improved access to seaports and other trade infrastructure would significantly boost businesses and reduce the cost of moving goods.
The group maintained that the South-East had not received fair treatment since the APC assumed power at the federal level, creating a growing feeling of exclusion among residents.
"The people of the South-East are Nigerians with equal rights and responsibilities. They deserve equitable treatment, inclusion and a fair share of national development," the statement reads
The group urged political leaders from the zone to speak more forcefully for the interests of their people rather than merely celebrating political appointments and patronage, stating that the test of political representation should be the ability to attract meaningful development.
KNN advocated for an Obi–Kwankwaso presidency, which it claimed would pursue a more inclusive Nigeria where development would not be determined by ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation.
"Under an Obi–Kwankwaso presidency, no region will be treated as a conquered territory and no Nigerian will be made to feel like a second-class citizen," the group said.
The group urged South-East voters not to be swayed by campaign promises but to demand measurable commitments on rail transportation, federal roads, industrial development, and economic infrastructure before making electoral decisions in 2027.
"It is shameful that the APC is still returning to seek support from a region that has continued to cry out over the absence of functional modern rail services and other critical infrastructure needed to drive its economy," the statement said.
KNN restated its target of mobilizing at least five million votes for Obi-Kwankwaso from the South-East, emphasizing that the 2027 election should provide an opportunity for Nigerians to interrogate the records of political parties.
"The South-East will not ask for charity. What the people demand is equity, justice and their rightful place in the Nigerian project," the group declared.