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Atiku Vows to Resuscitate Industries in South East to Boost Nigeria’s Economy
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has promised to ensure that the Onitsha Port becomes operational as well as resuscitate industries in the South East in order to boost the nation’s economy.
Atiku said this while addressing party supporters during his campaign rally in Awka, the Anambra State Capital, on Thursday.
He explained that these were part of requests made by the Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, when he met him hours before the commencement of the campaign.
Atiku said, “On our arrival today we visited their governor Prof. Soludo, and he said to me. I know you are going to work but make sure that all the federal roads that pass through Anambra State are reconstructed.
“And I promised him, I’m going to do that, he said ‘make sure that you control our erosion, because Anambra is the erosion headquarters of the world. Erosion is destroying our farmlands, is destroying our houses and everything have.’
“This is a very gigantic project. And I promised him am going to do that, and you know I have worked with Soludo before, he is a first class patriotic Nigerian.
“You have an excellent governor. He also appealed to me that Onisha port this time around we are going to dredge River Niger and Onisha port will function.
“We are also going to help Anambra indusrilise the state so that the state will create as many jobs as for our young men and women.
“And you know I promised to set aside $10 billion to promote small scale and medium enterprise for our young men and women so that they can be independent.
“I am going to be a stepping stone to an Igbo president in this country. I have shown it in my action because this is the third time I am running with an Igbo man, if you really want to produce a president then vote Atiku-Okowa ticket.
“I want to thank you the people of Anambra state for this warm reception I never thought I will see such a crowd in Anambra state and believe me we are not going to forget you, we are going to reward you handsomely.“
Speaking in a similar vein, National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, recalled the role played by the late Alex Ekwueme, in the formation of the PDP.
He said, “ Dr Alex Ekwueme who led 34 of us, including Atiku Abubakar here to form this party. Anambra is PDP and I am happy with what I have seen here, even APGA is the sun of the PDP, so we shall bring many APGA members back to their home in PDP.
“We want to assure you that the Igbos particularly Anambra people have a big stake in Nigeria, there is no village that you will go in Nigeria that you will not see an Igbo man who is a businessman.
“The Igbos in terms of business are the more National people in Nigeria, you need every part of this country and I like the indomitable spirit of the Igbo nation.”
He appealed to the people to vote for the PDP because it has the blueprint of how to make Nigeria work again.
Also, the Vice Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Ifeanyi Okowa, who spoke in the native Igbo language said, “Our party has brought out Atiku Abubakar as our Presidential candidate.
“We asking all of you to work hard in Anambra state because Atiku Abubakar is a good product.
“Among all the aspirants, it is only Atiku Abubakar who has the requisite experience to recover the country from the hardship created by the APC government.
Atiku has pledges to empower women and youths including traders and startups with $10 billion. I plead with you to work wholeheartedly so that we can win the election in Anambra state.
“For the past two weeks, we have toured round the country as a part and I am quite convinced that PDP will win the next Presidential election.
“This is not the time for sentiment. Vote for the PDP so that Anambra will be you ted among the states win by the PDP.“
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has said that every Nigerian citizen is mandated by law to initiate an arrest if they notice a crime being committed anywhere.
Adejobi made the revelation while speaking as a panelist during the panel session at the 2023 National Security Conference of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) with the theme “Proliferation of Lethal Weapon As Security Threat: Arm-Full, Harm-full to New Dispensation’ held on Thursday in Lagos.
The FPRO, who represented the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, leveraged on Section 12 of the Criminal Code, to buttress his point, saying it empowers individual Nigerians to initiate arrest, and hand over to the Police, adding that initiating the arrest does not include beating up a suspect, mobbing or lynching.
He added however, that the difference between the regular citizens and security agencies is one does not bear arms while the other does, while reiterating that whoever wishes to own or possess weapons must have them licensed by the appropriate government agency or will be seen to have run foul of the law, and made to face and bear the full weight of the law.
“The law empowers the military personnel, and other law enforcement agencies to bear arms, but it’s however, frightening to see many individuals in possession of arms without being licensed by the relevant authority,” he said.
The Chairman, Police Service Commission, Mr. Solomon Arase, has hailed President Bola Tinubu for approving the recruitment of 30,000 new personnel into the Nigeria Police Force. He said the gesture will help not only in sustaining peace and security,but also check the proliferation of small arms and lethal weapons, which has been the bane of safety in the nation.
Mr. Arase, who was represented by AIG Ade Shinaba, made the remarks while speaking as the special guest of honour at the 2023 National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) National Security Conference at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, said the president has set the pace in setting security on the right path and the enlargement of the force will go a long way in checking the proliferation of Lethal weapons and small arms in the country.
The Commandant General (CG) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has said that the Corps will continue to ensure security of lives and protection of critical national assets and Infrastructure in Katsina state.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Corps, CSC Babawale Afolabi, in a statement made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), said the Commandant General gave the assurance when he played host to the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Umar Radda, at the Corps’ National Headquarters, Abuja on Tuesday.
He said that effective security is sacrosanct to the Corps and strategies are constantly being deployed to ensure that criminality is reduced drastically.
He assured the Governor and the good people of Katsina state of the Corps’ commitment to curbing insecurity by employing both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to achieving results.
“I understand that Katsina State had experienced some bandit attacks in the last couple of years.
“Its vulnerability which is partly due to its big size and geographical location as a state bordering other states in the North and the Niger Republic is of great concern.
“But be rest assured that with the on-going recruitment in the Corps, more men would be deployed to Katsina to strengthen security in the state,” the CG hinted.
He reiterates that insecurity in the country took an asymmetric form almost two decades ago and it must not be allowed to spread further.
The Corps helmsman called on State Governors who are the chief security officers of their various states to adopt more robust and inclusive approaches in stepping up security.
According to Dr Audi, state governments have greater roles to play in providing maximum support that will help in curbing attacks and criminalities in states.
“Sometimes, these bandits come out from their hiding, hit a target and run back to hiding; leaving a devastating effect on both lives and property.
“We have our Special Forces and with scientific collaborations with other security agencies, the attacks will come to an end very soon.
“No single agency can tackle insecurity, hence, the need for a more inclusive operational strategy to end the menace,” CG said.
The CG commended the Governor for the proactive steps taken in the right direction to secure his people and assured of the Corps’ readiness to collaborate effectively with Katsina State Government in the fight against banditry, vandalism and economic sabotage in the state.
Responding, the Katsina State Governor stated that his visit was to further solidify the existing cordial relationship between the Corps and Katsina State Government.
“You have have been very supportive in addressing the issues of insecurity disturbing our people.
“Katsina is one of the states suffering from bandit attacks and other forms of criminalities.
“I have therefore come to solicit for more cooperation and to see how we can collaborate in bringing peace to our state,” he said.
The Governor lamented the inadequate number of personnel across security services which has impeded the expected success in the fight against insecurity.
He explained that the state has trained and engaged the service of about one thousand five hundred (1,500) indigenes to assist the conventional security agencies in the state.
“I believe with the engagement of the locals in the form of civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), combined with the conventional security, we will go a long way in combating insecurity and reduce it to the barest minimum,” the Governor said.
