President Muhammadu Buhari received Governor Dave Umahi from Ebonyi State, who paid him a thank you visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that the president paid a two-day working visit to Ebonyi on May 5-6.
During the two-day visit, the president inaugurated some projects at the Uburu University of Medical Sciences, the 5km dual-lane airport road and the presidential airport hostel, as well as the new Government House, the Centennial City. and the reconstructed St. Margaret Umahi International Market complex, Abakaliki.
Other projects inaugurated included Governor Aisha Buhari Wife Office Complex, Akanu Ibiam Lodge (the new Governor’s Lodge), Ebonyi House, Muhammadu Buhari Light Tunnel Flyover and Ebonyi Mall.
The president was also invited to the State Dinner by the Ebonyi State Government on Thursday night.
The governor, who spoke to House correspondents, said he was in the House to deliver a letter of thanks to the president from the leaders of the Southeast region for his recent working visit to Ebonyi and, by extension, to the Southeast.
“I came to the Villa to see the President and deliver a letter of thanks from the leaders of the Southeast, in which they express their deep appreciation for the President’s visit on a two-day working visit to Ebonyi, by extension of the Southeast.
“I thought it was necessary to do it as quickly as possible, our people are deeply happy with the president and very grateful for all the rewards of that visit,” he said.
The governor said that the president was very pleased with the letter and the kind of reception he received from the Ebonyi people and government when he visited the state.
President Muhammadu Buhari receives Ebonyi State Governor Ing. David Umahi in audience at the House of Representatives on May 10, 2022 [PHOTO CREDIT: @Buharisallau1]According to him, the state is still grateful to the federal government for taking over the management of the University of Medical Sciences built by the state government.
Regarding the detained leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, the governor insisted on finding a political solution to the problem.
He dismissed the suggestion that people in the south-east were no longer interested in “Project Nigeria”.
According to him, the people of the southeast do not support any form of agitation or plans to secede from Nigeria.
He said: “Many months ago I met with the President, where we had a very detailed and frank discussion on that particular issue. The people of the southeast are tired and I have always said that we do not fully support the agitation to secede from the Nigerian nation.
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“We want to belong to the Nigerian nation and as the chairman of the South East Governors Forum I have said it publicly, I have defended it, I don’t care about the attacks and those who have gotten into politics that matters in our place.
“So the president graciously granted my request for a political solution, but you see, when the president repeatedly said that the matter is in court, we have to appreciate his pedigree and integrity.
“He can’t just as president say he’s going to destroy the matter in court.
“But there is always room for dialogue and out-of-court settlement and that is what we are looking for.
“He has said, ‘Your cultural leadership should be able to start that with Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer.’
“But this is more than six months and we have been begging the president of Ohaneze to take on that responsibility.
“So that is the position and we are waiting for the president of Ohaneze to start this political dialogue.
“I met with the Attorney General of the Federation, he is very well disposed,
“I also met with the Director General of the Department of State Services and he is also willing and the same with the Inspector General of Police, so the ball is in our hands.”
(YAYA)