Buhari in Imo, vows to partner Uzodimma to fight insecurity, stabilize Nigeria

 

. Only equity, fairness will stop secessionist agitations- Ohanaeze Ndigbo

.Demands immediate release of detained Igbo youths

 .Govt names street after Chief Iwuanyanwu

 .Owerri roads deserted as people stay indoors.

From Victor  Duruamaku  Owerri

 

 

President Muhammadu Buhari says he will want to be remembered as the president who stabilised Nigeria in the areas of security, economic prosperity and triumph over corruption.

 

 

The president stated this at a townhall meeting with South East leaders during his one-day official visit to Imo on Thursday.

 

 

 

According to him, with less than two years left in his eight-year tenure as president, security still remains a major priority for his administration.

 

 

 

‘‘If there is no security, there is nothing anyone can do no matter how much you try or the initiative you have.

 

 

 

‘‘Security is number one priority and then the economy. When people feel secured they will mind their own business,’’ he said.

 

 

 

Buhari told the South-East leaders that while fighting corruption in Nigeria had become very sophisticated and difficult, he would continue to strive to leave a lasting legacy of integrity and accountability in the system.

 

 

 

‘‘Nobody can accuse me of having companies or mansions anywhere in the country and I thank God that I try to keep myself as clean as possible, so that I cannot be taken hostage.

 

‘‘I will do my best to ensure that Nigerians that try hard, succeed in their efforts,’’ he said.

 

On the forthcoming 2023 elections, the president reaffirmed his commitment to free, fair and credible polls.

He, however, urged the leaders to honestly educate their constituents on the need to hold their elected representatives accountable.

 

While acknowledging the resourcefulness and enterprising spirit of Igbo people, the president said:

 

‘‘The fundamental thing about the Igbo people is that there is no town you will visit in Nigeria without seeing the Igbos being in-charge of either infrastructure or pharmaceutical industry.

 

‘‘Therefore, it is unthinkable for me that any Igbo man would consider himself not to be a part of Nigeria.‘‘The evidence is there for everyone to see that Igbos are in charge of Nigeria’s economy.’’

 

 

The president, who expressed regret that successive governments at the federal level contributed to the decay of critical infrastructure in the country, said no country could make any meaningful progress without the development of infrastructure.

He promised that the Federal Government would complete ongoing key projects in the South East, including the 2nd Niger Bridge as well as the railway lines and routes linking the region with other parts of the country.

‘‘I firmly believe that when you get infrastructure right, Nigerians will mind their own businesses,’’ he said, adding that as a group, the Igbos stand to benefit more from the ongoing development of infrastructure in the country because ‘‘they are more enterprising’’.

Buhari had earlier inaugurated four projects executed by Gov. Hope Uzodinma, including the Naze/Ihiagwa/Nekede/Obinze link road, the Balloon Driven/Flood Control drainage at Dick Tiger Road, the Egbeada  Bypass road and the New Exco-Chambers, Government House, Owerri.

Addressing Imo residents at the Egbeada bypass named after a prominent son of the state, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the president said he was very impressed with the level of work done by the state government.

‘‘I am very pleased with what I have seen and I assure you that I will support Imo State within the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ he said.

In his remarks at the townhall meeting, Uzodinma said Ndigbo believed in a united Nigeria predicated on ‘‘justice, equity and fairness’’.

He thanked the president for addressing the interests of Ndi Igbo through deliberate policy initiatives designed to give the people a true sense of belonging, including the ongoing construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge, among others.

Uzodinma said the people of South East would remain grateful to the president for approving the establishment of a Naval Base in Oguta Local Government Area of the state, adding that as time unfolds, the economic benefits of the base will manifest.

The governor also commended the president for strongly supporting the appointment of two prominent Igbos into two key international organisations – Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director-General of Health Emergency Intelligence, World Health Organisation (WHO).

Meanwhile ,the President General of Ohanaeze Nd’Igbo, the Igbo apex unifying body, Prof. George Obiozor has told President Muhammadu Buhari that no matter the extent of overwhelming calls for separatism and secession, none would be successful if the government of Nigeria at the centre has fairness and equity as standard.

The reference was a tacit call on the president to reassure Nigerians of their oneness through fairness, justice and equity in his government.

The Igbo leader reminded Buhari that: “In spite of all the threats of secession or separatism facing the country, there is no doubt that no secessionist element can succeed in Nigeria provided there is good governance based on equity, justice and fairness to all the citizens.”

In addition, Obiozor charged Buhari to release Igbo youths detained all over the country on allegations of causing security breach.

Obiozor made the calls in Owerri Thursday when the president visited Imo State on official trip.

Ambassador Obiozor also reminded the president that above all else, what the Igbo want is restoring them as part of the country in a situation they have faced alienation.

The Igbo leader also noted that “the most urgent and imperative need of Nd’Igbo today is security. The security of Nd’Igbo in Nigeria and beyond has become a compelling primary responsibility of serious concern for Nd’Igbo. Regrettably our South East Zone has recently become a theatre of conflict, negating the peace-loving nature of our people. In this context Ohanaeze Nd’Igbo call for the establishment of a zonal and state police apparatus to support and complement the existing federal security architecture.

It is in this same vein that Ohanaeze Nd’Igbo, appeals to you, Mr. President, to see to the release of Igbo youths detained by various security agencies across the country.”

 

Addressing the false tag given the Igbo since 2015 as people who don’t want the continuation of Nigeria, Obiozor clarified that all that the Igbo need all over the country, especially in Igbo land is their safety and security and treating them as people not taken as outsiders.

Also, the governor of Imo state as a mark of honour  for an  astute Igbo leader has renamed the popular  Amakohia Egbeada by pass off Onitsha road as Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu road.

Highly elected Chief Iwuanyanwu thanked the Governor for the kind gesture and remembrance of his birthday.

. Owerri roads deserted as people stay indoors.

Imo People, particularly residents of Owerri the state capital, Thursday shunned the widely publicised  one day  official visit  of president Mohammadu  Buhari  to the state  on the invitation of the state Governor Hope Uzodimma and remained at indoors

 

It is believed that the people including commercial vehicle operators remained in their houses for fear of being attacked by the members of the IPOB which  had  issued a directive in protest  to the people to remain at home  and Shun the  visit

 

 

However, the people seem to have totally complied with the IPOB directive as movement of vehicles, commercial activities, schools, banks, filling stations, hospitality industries, artisans, streets and roads side traders and business centres all packed up for fear of being attacked.

 

 

A team of security operatives comprising of Soldiers, Mobile Policemen, men of DSS and NSCDC took over the roads and strategic junctions just as a helicopter incessantly hovered around the Owerri municipality.

 

The President who eventually arrived the state around 9am was received by Governor Hope Uzodimma, members of his cabinet, the House of Assembly members and a retinue of the APC political family.

 

The President commissioned a number of projects executed including the over N20Million Tunnel with man holes by the present administration, in the state

 

 

The President however reassured that his will accord all sections of the country a sense of belonging

 

He described roads as inevitable infrastructure in societal transformation and commended Governor Uzodimma for his spirited efforts to move the state forward through the provision of infrastructure.

 

The President noted that the problems confronting the state were similar  to those facing the Federal Government and enjoined the people of the state to remain patient with his administration in its effort to address all crucial national issues.

 

Governor Uzodimma had earlier expressed gratitude to the President for his assistance to the state to tackle it’s security challenges.

 

He said that he had paid compensations to families of security men who lost their lives in the hands of bandits and had also taken steps to cushion the plight of other families who lost their members in the hands of criminals.

 

He reiterated the commitment of the people of the state to the continued corporate existence of the nation.