By Gabriel Atumeyi
365Daily – Ndigbo Youth Parliament (NYP) has commended the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on the completion of the airport in the state.
The group said the airport will bring economic benefits to the Southeast, in particular, and Nigeria at large.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Speaker of the group, Hon. Rikki Nwajiofor, commended Obiano for “such a laudable feat”.
He said: “The completion of the international airport has added another feather on the highly feathered cap of Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, who has distinguished himself in unprecedented infrastructural development in the state.
“Ndigbo Youth Parliament is proud of this outstanding feat, an achievement that will usher in unparalleled development in Anambra State and create employment opportunities for our teeming Youths.
“Ndi Anambra are known for importation. In fact, Ndi Anambra are the highest importers in Nigeria business terrain. The opening of the airport will enable them to cargo their goods directly to Anambra State, with ease.
“With the existence of an international airport in Anambra state, many business moguls of Igbo extraction will start thinking of opening ultra modern international markets in the Southeast, especially in Anambra State. Suffice it to say that the completion of a high standard international airport in Anambra state is a wonderful step in good direction; a catalyst for an unhindered development and job creation.”
Going further, he implored him to hand over the leadership baton to a vibrant youth at the end of his tenure.
“As he is wrapping up his tenure, I encourage him to cap up his unmatched achievements by handing over the mantle to a patriotic vibrant youth as his successor. There is no gainsaying the fact that it is ‘Youth O’clock’ all over the world; vibrant and patriotic youths are taking over leadership in the countries of the world. We can replicate this in Nigeria, especially in the Southeast. If Governor Obiano is able to hand over to a patriotic youth, his name will remain indelible on the sands of time as posterity will doff its cap in, utmost reverence, when his name is mentioned.
“Ndigbo Youth Parliament is ready and willing to lend our unflinching support to any youth contesting for any elective post in the Southeast. We will also support some selfless patriotic politicians, who are youth-friendly and are into youth empowerment, even though they are no longer youths. Our focus is on youth empowerment, which is the surest avenue of curbing crimes and insecurity; keep the youths gainfully busy and their minds will be averted off crimes and social misdemeanours because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” Nwajiofor posited.
He also commended the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Peace, Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, “for always providing his aircrafts for use by Nigerians at critical times.”
According to him, “Air Peace has always demonstrated an unrivalled spirit of patriotism and the spirit of ‘aku ruo ulo’, which was exemplified during the xenophobia saga in South Africa, as the airline freely conveyed our stranded brethren back to Nigeria.
“The airline also volunteered to convey the Chinese doctors to Nigeria at the peak of Corona virus outbreak, when other airlines were afraid to undertake such patriotic service. Then last week, Air Peace achieved another patriotic milestone by being the first airline to land at the newly completed Anambra International airport.
“Sir Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, Ndigbo Youths are proud of your patriotic spirit. We appreciate and treasure you a lot, for your selfless sacrifices to the nation and for creating job opportunities for our teeming Youths. May your vital force be increased!
Nwajiofor urged Ndigbo to support the forthcoming security summit, which is geared towards restoring calm in the Southeast.
“I wish to use this forum to call on all well meaning Ndigbo, both at home and in diaspora, to join hands in condemning and exterminating the rising insecurity in Igboland. It is a thing of worry; we cannot fold our arms and watch our peaceful land be turned to a blood sucking zone.
“We have condemned and we are still condemning the unabated attacks on security agencies, especially on the Nigeria Police personnel and their stations. If we do not nip this monster in the bud, the impending consequences will be outrageous and posterity will never forgive our silence cum inactions. As we prepare for a security summit, we call on all and sundry to be part of it so as to restore calmness in the Southeast.”