I have shown commitment to develop Nigeria – Buhari

…Abia APC Chairman kidnapped, misses rally

President Muhammadu Buhari said he has shown commitment to develop Nigeria by enhancing security through fighting insurgency and terrorism. This was even as the state party chairman, Donatus Nwankpa was kidnapped by unknown gun men last night. Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally at Enyimba International Stadium, Aba after he commissioned a power project in Ariaria market, the President stated that the on-going roads, railways and power projects in the country will encourage Nigerians to mind their business. President Muhammadu Buhari who said he is fixing the infrastructures of Nigeria to improve the economy of the country, used the rally to appreciate Abians for their support to APC and also raised the hand of APC governorship candidate, Dr Uche Ogah after he received a flag from the party National Chairman, Adams Oshiemole. While thanking Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, for his support over the project by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, the President said “You have demonstrated that if the common good is our vision and objective it can be achieved irrespective of our party differences and constitutional limitations. “Your Excellency has no political colour. I was elected for office on the convincing arguments that my party made about my commitment to security, developing the economy and fighting corruption. “By providing a dedicated electricity supply to the traders and small businesses, SMEs in the areas we have strengthen the Made in Nigeria programme for which Abia and particularly Aba and Ariaria are already known. “This market, I am informed has 37,000 shops, all of which will be connected one after another. I am pleased to be here today for the milestone connection of 4000 shops to have a dedicated power, being a market that supplies shoes, bags, clothing and many household accessories to other countries like Chad, Cameroon, Gambia and Central African Republic. “Reliable power is central to ease of doing businesses to ensure sustainability and improvement. “I am told that for this intervention, traders in this market only got power for four hours, a day and paid exorbitantly for it which consequently affected the inability of many businesses to survive, and which we are replacing with a steady power supply which is cleaner and better for the environment. “What is happening in Ariaria today by way of clean, independent and reliable power supply to market and small businesses is happening in Kano, Lagos and Ibadan. “To all the traders, business men and women in this market, I say well-done for contributing to national productivity and job creation. I assure you that now we are here you would experience better days, prosperity and market in order to provide support to more businesses in pursuit of economic growth. Earlier in his remarks, the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, thanked the Federal Government for ensuring the successful execution of the Ariaria Market Independent Power project in the state. Ikpeazu said that the state government would continue to align with the policies and programs of the federal governments to enable small businesses in Abia to thrive. Welcoming the president and his entourage, the APC governorship candidate, Dr Uche Ogah pledged if elected come March 2nd, he will bring Julius Berger Construction Company to commence construction work in Abia within seven days and urged Abians to vote for President Buhari and himself for more good things to come in Abia. He appreciated the President for commissioning the power project in Ariaria with other facilities, emphasizing that so companies have closed in Aba due to bad government in the state. Dr Uche Ogah promised to revive the ailing economy of Abia state and appealed to the Federal Government to support him and APC candidates in the general elections, adding that workers are been owed salaries in addition to poor infrastructures. Speaking during the occasion, the former governor of Abia state, Dr Orji Uzo Kalu assured the President that Abians will give him seventy percent of their votes, adding that Uche Ogah has been tested and found worthy to lead Abia to greater development. Kalu accused PDP government in the state for not given workers welfare as required and condemned the attitude of those who rumoured that he had died. According to Oshiomhole and Ikechukwu Apugo, the beauty of democracy is if someone is elected by mistake, it will not last more than four years, accusing PDP of mismanaging the resources of the south east. In his speech, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, said that the project was targeted at making Nigeria a better place. He said that the policy that facilitated the execution of the power project had provided an avenue for the Federal Government to create an impact that would strengthen small businesses, adding “FG approved the Mini-grid policy in 2016 and within one year of assumption in office, what should have been done in 2006 when the Power Sector Reform Act was done. “There used to be 6,000 generators that used to supply power in the market by an inefficient way. By that policy and their investments, they are helping you and Nigeria fulfil the agreement you signed when you signed the Paris Climate Change agreement. ” In her address, the Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency, Mrs Damilola Ogunbiyi said the decentralized power is an important part of the power sector reform program aimed at giving small businesses an enabling environment to thrive. She said that first phase of energizing 4,000 shops had been completed, which had boosted the activities of 15,000 small and medium scale enterprises in the market, pointing out that a metering system had been installed in each shop to enable consumers pay for what they used. In his remark, the Managing Director of Ariaria Market Energy Solutions Limited, AMES, Mr Nkaginieme Ubani said that AMES had deployed modular environmentally-friendly natural gas fuel generators to power the market, stating that the project had facilitated the reduction of emissions from the market by over 85 per cent and reduced the ambient noise in the market by over 50 per cent. In a media chat with news men later, the National Chairman of APC, comrade Adams Oshiomhole and some chieftains of APC including, APC candidate for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Ikechukwu Apugo, and the state Publicity Secretary, Benedict Godson said the president has touched lives through his policies adding that the testimonies of Ariaria people prove what the President has done in south east. However, information has it that the state Chairman of APC, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa was absent at the rally as he was kidnapped by unknown gunmen last night. Confirming the report, the Personal Assistant to Hon. Nwankpa, Mr. Chigbu was alleged to have disclosed that they are yet to hear from him as of the time of filing the report. Information has it that Nwankpa was going back to Aba from Umuahia around 11 pm when the incident happened at around Arungwa Junction, along the Umuahia/Aba expressway. His driver had escaped, while the abductors released Chigbu based on his health condition. Efforts to reach the State Public Relations Officer of the Abia Police command, Geoffrey Ogbonna proved abortive as calls and text messages to him remained unanswered as at the time of the transport. Earlier, President had visited Eze Isaac Ajonu Ikonne, the Enyi I of Aba in his Faulks Road, Aba palace.