President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday poured words of gratitude to the people of the South-East region of the country, saying that no other zone had equalled the zone in terms of solidarity and support.
Jonathan, who was in the state for the foundation laying ceremony of the new international terminal and the commissioning of the remodelled terminal of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, touched down at the airport around 11:20 a.m.
Speaking during his meeting with South-East stakeholders at the Enugu Government Lodge, President Jonathan said the backing the South-East was giving to his administration had made him one of their people, noting that he would remain so even after he had left political office.
“I thank you for the kind of support you have given to me since I indicated interest in national politics.
“Till today, I have the strongest support from the South-East; I want to thank you for that; I am very grateful.
“I am part of this zone of the country and I will continue to remain so even after national service”, he stated, adding “I equally want to use this opportunity to thank all Nigerians for the total support they are giving to my administration”.
While appealing for peace across the country, he re-assured Nigerians on the commitment of his government to bring about the much needed change.
He said: “We know that the purpose of government is to create an enabling environment for development and to provide the necessary infrastructure for development; we are totally committed to doing that.
“This government is just about two years old, but you will agree with me that within these two years, we have identified some key areas and we are doing well in those areas; surely, this country will change.
“What we request from all Nigerians is peace; you cannot do anything when you don’t have peace; with peace, there will de economic development, with peace, there will be employment and employment will also create wealth”.
Continuing, he said: “for that reason, we must make sure that all parts of this country enjoy peace; that’s why we are pleading with our people where we have all forms of religious conflict, like the Boko Haram in the North, even though is not the concept of Islam; it is a pseudo religious conflict with ethnic cleansing in some parts of the North; we have excessive robbery and kidnapping in the South-South and in some parts of the South-East; we must all talk to our boys to make sure that we have peace.
“However, when people feel they must cause crisis in any part of the country, we must enforce law and order”.
President Jonathan had at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport disclosed that when work is completed, the Airport would be lifting about 500,000 passengers yearly.
He added that the project, which is also going on in some other Airports of the country would be completed before December 2014.
Responding on behalf of the South-East zone, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and chairman, South-East Governors’ forum commended the President for his special attention to the zone, as well as his mature handling of the challenges facing the country.
According to Obi, “you have handled such challenges with great equanimity and statesmanship. You have carried us all along and shown abiding interest in, and support for our zone. For that, Mr. President, we will continue to be immensely grateful.
“We have previously expressed our appreciation for the eminently qualified sons and daughters of this zone whom you have honoured with various national assignments and federal appointments. Please be rest assured that we will always avail you of our very best and qualitative candidates, who are not only proud and honoured to serve, but are also committed to bringing added value to every task you may assign them.
He equally expressed the appreciation of the people of the zone to the President for the work at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
However, Governor obi said the South-East still needed the President Jonathan’ government to devote more resources to the Second Niger Bridge as well as dilapidated roads in the zone.
“First, we must acknowledge your effort so far and to ensure that the aspiration of Nigerians to bring the execution of this critical project to fruition is realized. Sir, this long-delayed project is not just a necessity for our nation and people; it is indeed a political imperative and a strategic development requirement.
“The bridge will serve as an important economic corridor that is at the heart of a globally recognized emerging industrial hub, not just for this nation, but for the entire Africa. The salient national benefits of a second bridge across River Niger cannot be overemphasized. Sir, at this juncture, it is pertinent to remind you that in our last meeting, you promised to flag off this project within the First Quarter of 2013.
“Sir, there is an inextricable nexus between sustainable development and the presence of a good road network. The present state of most federal roads in our zone remains deplorable and our people very often use these roads as a comparative measure of the federal government’s commitment to our zone.
“In this context, Sir, we wish to once more as a people appeal for your due attention to the Enugu-Port-Harcourt, Enugu-Onitsha, and the Owerri-Elele federal roads, which we have repeatedly brought to your attention. These roads form a critical tripod in our national transportation mosaic. Similarly, a critical bridge on the hump of the federal road linking Abakaliki to Ogoja is in dire need of replacement”.
He equally called on the President to address issues of ecological challenges, stressing that “with over 2000 active erosion sites in our zone, we ask for sustained federal remedial measures to stem their destructive consequences”.
Earlier in a speech at the Airport, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State pleaded with President Jonathan to make South-East a Free Trade Zone, a request the President said had automatically been granted with the presence of International Airport and a Seaport in the zone.
Other personalities that received the President included Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Governors Theodore Orji, Rochas Okorocha, Martin Elechi of Abia, Imo and Ebonyi States respectively.
Others were finance minister Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Power Minister, Professor Chinedu Nebo, Aviation Minister, Stella Odua, all the senators and House of Reps members from the zone, religious leaders, among others.
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