Tobias Sylvester
President Muhammadu Buhari says it’s “unthinkable for Igbos to leave the country” because the people of the South-East are fundamental to Nigeria’s growth and economy.
President Buhari stated this on Thursday in Owerri while speaking at a town hall meeting with South-East leaders during his one-day official visit to Imo State.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu have been agitating for the actualization of Biafra and by extension Nigeria’s break-up.
In a statement by the presidential aide, Femi Adesina, the president wondered why some Igbos are clamouring for separation when they have successful businesses across the country.
In the statement titled, “I want to be remembered as a president who stabilised Nigeria, President Buhari tells South-East leaders why they should not leave Nigeria,” Buhari acknowledged the resourcefulness and enterprising spirit of the Igbo people.
“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.”
Igbos Will Benefit More From My Administration – Buhari
Buhari assured Igbos that they stand to benefit more from his administration, noting 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.
“I firmly believe that when you get infrastructure right, Nigerians will mind their own businesses,” he said, adding that the Igbos stand to benefit more from the ongoing development of infrastructure in the country because “they are more enterprising”.
President Buhari 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.
KanyiDaily had earlier reported that Buhari assured Governor Hope Uzodinma that he would use his constitutional powers as the president to assist him in fighting insecurity in Imo State.
