A tense moment unfolded on the floor of the Nigerian Senate recently when Senator Osita directly challenged Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of bias against the Southeast in the allocation of national projects.
In a video clip shared by TV Platinum, an emotional Senator Osita confronted the Senate President with a bold question: “Why do you hate Igbo people?” The question was raised during a passionate debate over how infrastructure projects under the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda were being distributed.
The outburst followed disclosures that over N1.3 trillion had already been released for national infrastructure development. However, according to Senator Osita, the Southeast was noticeably excluded from major allocations, particularly in critical sectors like water resources.
Speaking on the issue, the senator highlighted the long-neglected Evo Dam project as a prime example of the region’s marginalization.
“Evo Dam was last funded 12 years ago with N5 billion. Since then, nothing. I’ve written three letters to the Ministry of Water Resources—no response. Meanwhile, N66 billion was allocated to another zone, and the Southeast got zero. Mr. President, what kind of omission is that?”
Describing the neglect as “expensive and deliberate,” Senator Osita called on the government to end what he called systematic exclusion of the Southeast. “The Southeast cannot continually be treated the way Nigeria is treating the Southeast,” he declared.
The debate quickly drew reactions from other lawmakers across the chamber. Senators representing various geopolitical zones voiced similar frustrations over imbalanced allocations in sectors like roads, agriculture, and power.
One senator emphasized the need for fairness in implementing the federal government’s development plan, saying, “We must remind the makers of the Renewed Hope Agenda that every part of Nigeria deserves equal development.”
In an attempt to ease tensions, Senate President Akpabio addressed the floor, refuting claims of bias. He suggested the oversight might not have been intentional.
“It could be a genuine omission,” he said, assuring senators that the Senate leadership would engage with the Ministry of Water Resources to address the complaints. “Our President listens, and so do our ministers. Let’s not overflow this issue,” Akpabio added.
The Senate later resolved to put discussions on hold, pending further consultations with key federal ministries. Still, Senator Osita’s impassioned remarks reflected growing discontent over perceived regional disparities, sending a strong message that the Southeast’s grievances are gaining louder attention within the country’s highest legislative body.
Watch the video clip HERE
