Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, wondered why some Igbo men are clamouring for separation, describing it as ‘unthinkable’
The president stated Igbo people are relevant in Nigeria, noting that they have successful businesses across the country.
The President made these comments when he spoke at a town hall meeting with South-East leaders during his one-day official visit to Imo State.
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Africa Today News, New York reports that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), had called for people to stay home and for businesses to close to protest against Buhari’s Imo visit.
According to eyewitnesses, on Thursday, main roads were empty and markets and shops remained shut in Owerri.
A statement quoted the president as saying that with less than two years left in his eight-year tenure as the President of Nigeria, security would remain a major priority for his regime.
The statement signed by Buhari’s media aide, Femi Adesina, was titled, ‘I want to be remembered as a president who stabilised Nigeria, President Buhari tells South-East leaders’.
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.’
While positing that no country can make any meaningful progress without the development of infrastructure, the president expressed regret that successive governments at the Federal level contributed to the decay of critical infrastructure in the country.
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.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK