FG, states implementing grand plot against Igbo, Bianca Ojukwu alleges

 

.Army to address security black spots in Enugu –Lagbaja

By Cosmas. Chukwu

Widow of late Igbo leader, Odumegwu Ojukwu, Bianca Ojukwu, has alleged that the federal and some state governments were frustrating the Igbo in their various businesses in parts of the country.

 

Ojukwu, who spoke on the heels of recent demolition of property and business places owned by the Igbo in Lagos State, claimed there had been decades-old grand scheme and conspiracy to isolate Igbo from the mainstream of Nigeria’s affairs, particularly in the governance of the country.

 

According to her, the tendentious scheme extends to other major and sensitive sectors of the country’s existence and progress.

 

The former Nigerian ambassador to Spain said the gang up got to a head in recent time as the world began to see in clear terms the manifest Nigeria’s federal Government, ethnic, regional and state governments’ open policies that were hatched not only to isolate the Igbo from government and its major dividends, but also to dismantle their life-long, ubiquitous and solid economic and investment presence in non-Igbo areas of the country.

 

She said: “The Igbo are excluded citing sensitive Federal Government projects and infrastructure. Igbo youths are marginalised in employment schemes in federal ministries, departments and agencies, as well as in admission policies of federal universities, etc.”

 

Notwithstanding, she urged Igbo youths to remain creative, continue to be hardworking, industrious, pursue education with uncommon zeal and shun crime and social vices.

 

She also lamented the economic, social, political, security and judicial instability in Nigeria.

 

She said the country has become extremely difficult to live in and has gotten to a situation of dangerous economic, socio-political, security and judicial flux.

 

She noted that the nation has become so dangerous in all segments of its official obligations and responsibility and that there was no refuge anywhere for the common man, be it the executive arm, the legislature or judiciary, the police or the army.

 

According to her, inflation has risen to a choking height, and every new day spells new prices of goods and services in an unbelievable increasing proportion without money in circulation while peoples’ income remain fixed.

 

“Nigerians have long ceased to look up to their governments for solid policies and programmes, actions and decisions that will change their fortune, and build a great nation; rather they have come to accept their governments as opportunistic platforms for the leaders’ enrichment of themselves, their families and for parochial sectional agenda. Hence, while those in government live in scandalous luxury, the Nigerian masses have been choked to bare existence by hostile economic and social situations, as the incapacitation of our successive governments have degenerated to a level it can neither provide enough for Nigerians at present nor secure the future of Nigeria which is the country’s youths.

 

“In addition to the harsh economic realities briefly mentioned above, Nigeria is also a country bedevilled by all manner of evils and societal ills which the government has proved impotent to control, such as; extreme insecurity, banditry, cultism, kidnapping, ritual killings, human and organ trafficking, dishonesty, etc. Indeed, the degenerate nature and levels of the nation’s ills are so horrifying that any manner of evil one does not see in Nigeria may possibly not exist anywhere else in the world,” she stated

.Army to address security black spots in Enugu –Lagbaja

 

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has assured that the Army would strengthen security efforts in a few dark areas in Enugu State, such as Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, commending the government and people of the state for being good partners in the fight against insecurity.

 

Lt. Gen Lagbaja said the desire and effort of the Government of Enugu State aligned with the goal of the Army to expand the frontiers of peace and stability for law-abiding citizens to thrive and thanked the governor and good people of Enugu State for the support provided to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, the Garrison,103 Battalion and other deployments across Enugu State.

 

This was even as the governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, commended the Army for the immense support to his government’s efforts to boost security in order to grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion and also called for army barracks in Isi-Uzo area to ensure permanent security in that part of the state.

 

Lagbaja, who was accompanied by the Army high command, gave the assurances during a working visit to the Government House, Enugu, on Tuesday, as part of his effort to assess operational situations under the jurisdiction of the  82 Division of the Nigerian Army.

 

He said: “Following my assumption of office as the Chief of Army Staff on the 23rd of June last year, I have taken time out to visit the formations and units of the Nigerian Army to assess the deployment of our troops across the country in a bid to address some challenges confronting the troops in order to improve their operational effectiveness.

 

“I have been rest assured of the support of the governor of Enugu State as well as the other governors in the South East to the efforts of our troops to create a stable, peaceful, and enabling environment for the economy of the South East to thrive.

 

“The desire of the Nigerian Army aligns perfectly with that of the government and the good people of Enugu State; and that is to rid our society of criminal elements and to ensure that peace and stability prevail for law-abiding citizens going about their lawful businesses.

 

“I have taken note of the brief of the GOC, 82 Division, and even my private chat with His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, the governor. The Army Headquarters will address all issues raised, including having boots on the ground in Isi-Uzo with the desire to rid the area of criminal elements and to ensure that economic activities thrive in that area.

 

“The army headquarters will take steps to address some dark areas that have been pointed out in a bid to expand the frontiers of our peace and stability in this state.

 

“I also want to pledge a continuous support of the formations and other units of the Nigerian Army to the effort of the Enugu State Government to ensure that peace reigns in the state. The  Nigerian Army will continue to  remain a loyal and worthy partner to you towards realising your wonderful plans for the people of Enugu State. ”

 

Speaking, Governor Mbah said his administration was on course to fulfilling the promises it made to the people of Enugu State because the Army had been very supportive of his government’s efforts to stamp out every trace of insecurity in the state.

 

“We executed a social pact with the people of Enugu State. We promised them that we envisioned an Enugu State that would be one of the top three states in the country in terms of gross domestic product, GDP, and that we were going to grow our economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

 

“We also said to them that we were on a mission to make Enugu State the premier destination for investment, business, tourism, and living. We recognise that this growth will not come from the public sector. It would all come from the private sector, and the private sector investment does not agree with insecurity, which is why we spared no time in declaring war on insecurity.

 

“I must also, at this point, recognise and acknowledge the tireless efforts and commitment you and your men have invested in securing Enugu State. Today in Enugu State, we can proudly say that we are on the path of fulfilling those promises we made to our people.

 

“We also want to assure you on our part as a government that we are going to continue to provide necessary support to sustain and indeed improve the state of security in Enugu State.

 

“We have also made a lot of commitments in investing in our people because we recognise and understand that a number of these challenges may also require some non-kinetic approaches,” Mbah said.