Buhari in Anambra, Enugu, says ‘my administration fair to all Nigerians’; pledges to commence East/North railway line after re-election

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration has been fair to all Nigerians in political appointments and provision of infrastructure.
Buhari stated this on Thursday in Onitsha, Anambra State during a courtesy visit to the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, as part of activities for his presidential campaign in the state.

He said the last time the Enugu-Onitsha and the Enugu-Port Harcourt roads were reconstructed were during the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) days, noting that since then, they were never touched until now.
Buhari also said there were five South-East members in the Executive Council including those appointed as heads of Foreign Affairs; Trade and Investment; Labour and Employment; and Science and Technology.
On appointment of security heads, the president explained that entry point for recruitment into the security agencies were the same for all but noted that the most competent were promoted for appointments.
“If you have half a million soldiers, only one can be the Chief of Army Staff at that time; this works for the rest of all security agencies.

“I am telling you that the present Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air staff, even the previous Inspector-General of Police, I did not know them personally before I appointed them.
“The present I-G, I could not even recall I have ever seen him, it is on record; so, appointments in the armed forces and other law enforcement agencies depend on individual performance after recruitment and not based on state of origin,” the president explained.
He urged traditional rulers to regard themselves as the immediate security supervisors in their communities, noting that security of the country was a collective responsibility.
Buhari commended the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for their sensitivity to voter education.
He said his administration was committed to the completion of all federal roads in the South-East zone as well as rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.
He said he would continue to follow due process in the prosecution of corrupt leaders in the country.
In his remarks, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State commended the president for the visit and for clarifying some of the issues bothering the people of the zone.
Obiano also commended Buhari for releasing money for the construction of the second Niger Bridge.
The governor urged the president not to relent on the project which he said would transform the country.
In a brief remark, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, welcomed the president to Onitsha.
The president was received by all the traditional rulers, heads of Christian Denominations and Community leaders in the state at the palace of the Onitsha monarch.

Buhari also declared that East to North corridor of the railway project will commence as soon as he returns to office for a second term.
He made the pledge during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign rally in Onitsha on Thursday.
Buhari said the railway would start from Port Harcourt through Owerri, Nnewi, Enugu and Ebonyi before moving to Maiduguri.
The president said the people of South-East should trust and vote him and all APC candidates in the upcoming elections adding that it was the same manner they came in 2015 and assured the people of several projects which were being done in the area.
“During our 2015 campaign, we promised we will do the second Niger Bridge, construct roads, provide security and ensure the economy is better.
“Today, we are doing all that we said, we have even completed work on Zik’s Mausoleum and other projects,” he said.
Buhari said that his administration had done his best in tackling the menace of insecurity, saying that the Boko Haram elements no longer controlled any part of the North East.
Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of APC, charged the people of the state to massively vote for the party to avoid what he claimed was allocation of votes that took place during the 2015 polls in Anambra.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, said that 300,000 school children were currently enjoying federal government school feeding programme in the state.
Ngige also said that 15, 000 Anambra people are beneficiaries of N-Power programme, and assured that the state would vote for Buhari and other APC candidates.
In Enugu, Buhari reiterated the government’s resolve to increase funding of the education sector.
He said that since Nigerians had decided to live above ethnic and religious sentiments, the best way of sustaining this height is through education.
The President also said that the country had achieved food sufficiency and security through a well thought out agricultural and farmers support programmes.
He revealed that almost all roads abandoned by the previous administrations are being fixed, assuring that he plans to finish all within the next four years, when re-elected.
“We have made honest promises to Nigerian people and we have tried to keep all, notwithstanding the limited resources we have and met on the ground,’’ he said.
He, however, lamented the deplorable state of infrastructure and condition of the economy his government met three years ago, assuring that his administration was doing all that is humanly possible to address them.
Buhari also expressed gratitude to APC faithful for waiting patiently for him, in spite of their busy schedules and closing their businesses.

“Vote for APC, as we are poised to revitalize the economy and put Nigeria on the path of growth and progress once again,’’ he appealed.
Earlier, Oshiomhole said that the party wanted the President to continue with the good works he started.
“This is what has translated to 4 plus 4 for the APC family,’’ Oshiomhole said.
He urged each APC chieftain to deliver his polling unit and ward, adding that the chieftains and leaders at every level must vote and watch over their votes, until it is counted.
“You must ensure APC is voted all the way from the State House of Assembly to the Presidency,’’ he said.
Enugu State APC governorship candidate, Senator Ayogu Eze, welcomed the President and his team, adding that the crowd they see was not rented but all faithful members of the party in the state.
Eze said that some leaders of the party were misinforming some people at the national level that APC is not strong in the state, stressing that the crowd would indicate whether the party is strong or not.
He assured Buhari and all the APC candidates of their votes come February 16 and March 2.
In his remark, the APC Party Chairman in the state, Dr Ben Nwoye, thanked Buhari for coming and assured him of the total support of the party in the state.
Nwoye said Buhari’s re-election bid was for him to complete the good work he is doing which includes, strengthening the economy, getting rid of corrupt practices in the system and above all, reducing impunity to the lowest level.
Also, the Vice-Chairman (South) Buhari Campaign Organisation, Sen. Ken Nnamani, described the President as the Managing Director of other political parties in the country.
Nnamani described the President as man of impeccable character and good heart whose ambition was to embark on good work that would benefit the country.
On his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, said that anybody that believed in Buhari’s candidature must vote for all the APC candidates in the National Assembly, to enable him have a smooth administration.
Highlights of the event was the handing over of the party’s flag to Eze and the three senatorial candidates of the party.
Traders,especially dealers in  sachet and table water and soft drinks made brisk business during the visit.
APC supporters in their numbers, who came to catch a glimpse of President Muhammadu Buhari at the stadium thronged spots of sachet and table  water and soft drinks to quench their thirst resulting from the  effect of the scorching sun.
Dealers in  confectioneries and other light refreshments also had a business boom .
Alhaji Musa Taofeek, an ardent supporter of  the President,  said that he had been waiting for Mr President since 9 a.m.
“I sincerely thank God for providing this water and soft drinks vendors to help us endure the wait for Mr President.
“We have been reliably informed that he will go to Anambra first before coming to Enugu later,’’ he said.
Mr Obi Nwokorie, an APC supporter, said that the water, soft drink and light food sellers had made the event worthwhile.
Commenting on the sales, a  water vendor, Mrs Joy Okoye, said that she had sold more than  24 bags of sachet water already as at the time of filling this report.
Okoye noted that her sales at the rally had been unprecedented she started her business.
“I have sold over N2,000 worth of sachet water within a period of four hours and more people are still coming,’’ he said.
A soft drink seller, Mr Chike Ogbodo, said that he had so far sold  more than  13 crates of soft drinks at the rally.
“The visit of Mr President has made business to be so good today; although most of the buyers only insist on buying at normal price,’’ Ogbodo said.
The president touched down at the airport about 9.53 a.m. aboard Nigerian Air Force aircraft SN-FGT 001.
He proceeded to Anambra after reception formalities by chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and
members of Enugu State Executive Council, led by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Some of the APC chieftains on ground to receive the president, included some members of the Federal Executive Council, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amechi, Minister of Science and Technology Ogbonnaya Onu, and Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama.
Others are Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State and Ayogu Eze.
There was tight security in both states.
Combined personnel of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, Navy and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps were strategically positioned from the Azikiwe Roundabout to the Cathedral.
The heavily armed security operatives, however, did not impede people from going about their lawful businesses in the commercial city.
Vehicles and commuters headed towards the venue were scrutinised to ensure that they posed no danger.
Traffic was also heavy in other parts of the commercial city as major roads like Awka road leading to the venue was cordoned off.
Motorists were diverted to roads in Onitsha Inland Town and other arteries.