Tinubu will succeed me, says Buhari, commissions road in Owerri

 

OBIORA IFOH, Abuja

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu will succeed him as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The president who was in Owerri, the capital of Imo state also commissioned the

MCC/Uratta Road is a project recently completed by the Imo state government. He also held a meeting with the council of traditional rulers where he tasked the traditional rulers to always ensure peace and security in their domain.

President Buhari was in Owerri for the APC presidential campaign rally where he appreciated the massive crowd of supporters who converged on the Stadium venue of the rally assuring them that the APC will not only win in the state but also win the presidency.

He said, “I am here ladies and gentlemen to thank you very much for exposing yourself to the weather for so long to make sure that you honor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next president of our country. There is not much I can say that the national chairman of the party and other leaders of the party haven’t mentioned. We are here today, we are very grateful for your time out. We are very grateful for your support and God willing Asiwaju Tinubu will be delivered as the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thank you very much indeed.”

The state governor Senator Hope Uzodimma however said that Imo state will not forget the developmental status that Imo state gained under President Buhari’s administration. He said the crowd of supporters at the event came to appreciate him.

According to the governor, “The people of Imo state have told me to tell you that you have been too good to the people of the state. When we asked for your support to build Orlu to Owerri road you granted it. We I asked for your support to build Okigwe to Owerri road you granted it.We asked for your support to build Owerri to Umuahia road you granted it. I came to you and asked you to upgrade Owerri Medical center to a University Teaching hospital so that students could use it for their training, you granted it. I came to you and requested that you upgrade Alvan Ikoku College of Education to a federal University of Education you granted. When crude oil theft almost ruined the economy of Imo state, I asked for a naval base to be established in Uguta, you granted it. Mr. President Imo people are highly indebted to you. It is payback time.

“That you are here today with the presidential candidate of our party is a great testimony of your determination to make our party grow from where you are leaving to greater height is real.”

Earlier, the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu promised the people that the developmental strides being witnessed in the state will be continued under his administration.

He said, “See the last eight years as the years of retooling, retooling of the neglected foundation which the other party refused to move forward. West East road, is completed. Infrastructural renewal is done. The rail line, on. They shared the booty of electricity generation and distribution, but they forget the transmission line, it is a load carrier that must be strengthened, renewed and made serviceable to the people. Instead, they started giving you estimated billing. Haba, how stupid they think we are and they want to come back?

“Today I promise you, the developmental programme of APC will not stop. We are going to make the Imo state one of the most attractive destinations for tourism. We are going to add value to your real estate. We are going to reconstruct and beautify your roads. We are going to invest in education. To all of you youths, four years of university education must be four years. No more ASUU strikes.

National chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu also said that with the great crowd of supporters witnessed at the rally, it was safe to say that IMO state is now an APC state.

“We have seen that what we have seen this afternoon is most promising. You have given us reason to hope that Imo state is an APC state. We have made it possible under his excellency Hope Uzodimma. Hope has shown leadership in Imo state, Hope has shown courage, strong character and he is doing everything possible to spread that character in Imo state and beyond.”

Meanwhile, Imo State Traditional Council on Tuesday in Owerri honoured President Muhammadu Buhari with a traditional title, “Nwanne D’namba”, A Brother in Diaspora, appreciating the Nigerian leader for love shown to the South East, and sustained legacy of promoting peace and harmony in the country.

President Buhari thanked Eze Imo, His Royal Majesty, Eze Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuagina Okeke, CFR, for the recognition, assuring that he will continue to demonstrate his love for the South East and its citizens.

“I thank you so much for this honour that I will continue to remember for the rest of my life. Thank you for getting all the senior citizens to receive us.

“We have experienced difficult times as a country and discovered that it is better to carry on together,” the President said.

President Buhari noted the value of a shared national vision that enhances cohesion, urging more harmony across the state and national levels as “good neighbours”.

The President urged Nigerians to remain good neighbours and show themselves as good neighbours.

“God has brought us here, and the party also brought us to you,” he said.

President Buhari noted that he came to present All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the council and indigenes.

The President said he had already followed Asiwaju to some states, including Nasarawa, Katsina and Sokoto and was prepared to showcase the candidate in more places.

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, said the honour was well deserved considering the historical impact of President Buhari’s administration on infrastructure in the state, with the upgrade of higher institutions, road constructions and appointments in key positions.

The Governor said the commissioning of the MCC road in the central city by the President further revealed the penchant for approving projects that will improve the livelihood of the people.

“Words are not enough to show our appreciation to the President,” he said.

The Governor noted that crude oil theft in the state had been halted by the creation of a naval base by President Buhari, and more security structures had been put in place for the well-being of the people.

“To further show love by our people on Valentine’s Day, our people have agreed to support our presidential candidate and other APC candidates in the polls.

“Traditional rulers are not partisan, and they have told me in confidence that they will support our party because of love for President Buhari,” the Governor added.

In his remarks, the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu thanked the Imo Traditional Council for the recognition on Valentine’s Day.

“I pay respect to all the traditional rulers that have received us at the palace. I present myself as the most capable and competent person to step into the shoes of the man you have just honoured.

“I want to be, and deserve to be the President and I will follow the footsteps of President Buhari when elected, not if elected.

” I will consolidate our unity, development and camaraderie. It is only in peace that we can develop.

“You mentioned upgrading educational institutions. Education is the greatest weapon we can deploy against poverty. We are here today because of the benefit of education,” the presidential candidate said.

The Chairman of the Imo State Traditional Council said giving the President the friendship title on Valentine’s Day reflects a new level of relationship inspired by President Buhari’s integrity, magnanimity and charity.

He thanked the President for elevating educational and health infrastructure in the state, like upgrading Alvan Ikoku College of Education to a university and the Federal Medical Centre in Owerri to a teaching hospital.

“Coincidentally today is Valentine’s Day and it is a day to show love all over the world.  The President is not only here to commission a project and attend a campaign rally, but to share his love with us,” Eze Imo said.

President Buhari commissioned the 12.5-kilometer MCC road, appreciating Imo State indigenes for supporting Governor Uzodinma and the federal government.

 

In another development, President Muhammadu Buhari has called for a lifting of the blanket visa ban clamped down on Nigerians by the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

 

The President canvassed this position on Monday during a telephone conversation with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who doubles as the Emir of Abu Dhabi.

 

President Buhari had called Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to condole with him on the death of his mother-in-law, Sheikha Maryam Al Falasi, during which important issues of mutual concern between the two countries came up.

 

The President requested his UAE counterpart to review the blanket visa ban imposed on Nigerians intending to travel to the UAE, recalling that mutually beneficial excellent relations have subsisted between the two nations over many years, symbolized by robust economic interactions and regular consultations on matters of common interest, including engagements at the highest political levels.

 

He noted that recent irritants in bilateral relations generated by consular issues relating to the behaviour of some Nigerians in the UAE are being ironed out, explaining that no country including Nigeria will condone criminalities and illegal behaviours.

 

President Buhari therefore expressed the readiness of the Government of Nigeria to apply necessary sanctions through appropriate judicial process against anyone identified to have committed criminal acts in the UAE, urging that the issue be allowed to be handled by the relevant security/intelligence agencies of the two countries and to come up with lasting solutions to the problems associated with criminalities and illegalities.

 

President Buhari also requested a resumption of the suspended operations of Emirates Airline in the country.

 

Recall that Emirates Airlines suspended its operations in Nigeria in 2022 in the wake of its inability to repatriate funds trapped in Nigeria.

 

President Buhari assured the UAE leader that the issue of the Emirates funds was receiving appropriate attention alongside those of other foreign airlines operating in Nigeria, adding that the Central Bank of Nigeria had been directed to increase foreign exchange allocation to the airline

 

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