OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH LEADER OHANAEZE NDIGBO WORLDWIDE
PRESS RELEASE
18TH JULY 2024
Igbo Youths Distances Themselves From The Proposed Nationwide Protest; Vows To Always Engage Their Leaders Constructively For A Better Society
THE NATIONAL YOUTH LEADER OF OHANAEZE NDIGBO WORLDWIDE, ENGR DAMIAN OKAFOR; HAS CALLED ON NDIGBO WORLD OVER TO SHUN THE PROPOSED NATIONWIDE PROTEST AS IT IS A SET UP AGAINST THE FRAGILE PEACE WE HAVE IN ALAIGBO. He made the call during the stakeholders engagement meeting on the alignment for Ebonyi State 101.0km segment of the 477km Cross River – Ebonyi – Kogi – Nasarawa – Abuja Super highway (the spur of Lagos – Port Harcourt) crossing Enugu/Abakaliki/Ogoja/ (Trans Sahara Trade route). He reflected on the various protests that has taken place in this country such as ’17TH APRIL 1978 ALI MUST GO PROTEST, 24TH MAY 1989 ANTI-SAP RIOTS AGIANST THE REGIME OF GENERAL BABANGIDA, THE 1993 JUNE 12 PROTEST, THE 2ND-14TH JANUARY 2012 OCCUPY NIGERIA PROTEST, THE 20TH OCTOBER 2020 ENDSARS PROTEST AND THE SIT-AT-HOME PROTEST OF NDIGBO.’ It is clearly seen that Ndigbo has often been treated like a sacrificial lamb amidst the turmoil. The target result of the event has seen immense losses of IGBO lives and properties, highlighting the deep-rooted injustices and miscarriage of justice suffered by the Igbo community.
He however, said that protest have never solved our problems as we ended up destroying the little values we have got as a people. The best approach is to engage our leaders constructively on what they have in stock for us. Last week, we played a host to the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Rep, Hon Benjamin Kalu, The Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Odidika Uzodimma, Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, many senators like Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, Senator Ken Eze, Senator Ifeanyi Patrick Uba, among other leaders. It was a wonderful outing.
Just yesterday, the Minister of Works and his entourage were here to educate us on our gains in the Renewed Hope Projects of Mr President and this is what he has to say:
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has announced the Federal Government’s plans to construct a 477-kilometer, six-lane super highway traversing five states to the Federal Capital Territory.
Umahi made the disclosure on Wednesday while declaring open the stakeholders’ engagement on the alignment for Ebonyi’s 101-kilometer segment of the super highway.
He stated that the highway would traverse Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa to Abuja, and is expected to economically revolutionize Ebonyi and the interconnecting states.
The minister noted that the road would serve as an agricultural and economic corridor, supporting President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to achieve food sufficiency in the country.
“The road is a spur of the coastal highway that runs from Lagos to Calabar and was designed by the colonial masters to integrate the South East states,” he said.
He called for support from all stakeholders to actualise the project noting that President Tinubu placed great emphasis on the infrastructural revolution of the country.
“Nigeria is currently suffering from the effects of past neglects and this informed the bold, revolutionary decisions of the president.
“There is no part of the southeast zone that is not touched on road revolution: Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt road, Enugu—Abakaliki road, Onitsha-Owerri-Aba roads, among others,” he said.
On his part, Governor Francis Nwifuru expressed his delight over the project and commended Umahi for his tireless efforts in developing the state’s infrastructure.
Nwifuru said the development of infrastructure in the country by the federal government is geared towards the development of human capital.
“You laid an irreversible foundation for the state’s infrastructural development and this sustenance is in conformity with our administration’s people’s charter of needs mantra.
“This mantra is anchored on human capital development and infrastructural development and we have recorded significant strides in these areas since assuming office,” he said.
He therefore assured of the state government’s support to ensure the realisation of the project due to its economic and social benefits to its people.
In addition, Sen. Onyekachi Nwebonyi described the project as a ‘dream come true’, noting that his constituents had been yearning for the project.
“I remember as a child, seeing my father and surveyors from the Ministry of Works in the old Anambra, surveying the road on the axis connecting my community and Benue.
“That was why barely three months at the Senate, I relayed to the federal ministry of works that the road was opened in 1954 by the colonial masters and was of utmost importance to my people,” he said.
E-sign
Engr Damian Okafor
(National Youth Leader Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide)
