…CALLS ON FG FG TO DIALOGUE WITH IPOB
Following the arrest of the former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Sen. Victor Umeh, has said that the commission would leave him after listening to him.
The Sen. who spoke at the 80th birthday of Prof Uzodimma Nwala in Enugu on Sunday said that Chief Obiano did well as a governor.
He said that the former Governor made judicious use of the state resources to the chagrin of those in opposition.
Umeh argued that the former Governor did well by building a fully functional international airport , an international conference Centre and met l other obligations of government.
He said that even the EFCC would let go of the Governor after listening to him.
“The arrest of Obiano is not new in Nigeria. When most Governors leave office, EFCC will swarm on them. He must be given the right to be heard. We don’t know why they arrested him but I’m sure when they listen to him, he will be able to defend himself.
“One thing I keep telling people is that former Governor’, Obiano did wonderfully well with Anambra money. He used our money well to the displeasure of those in the opposition. They don’t want to accept it.
“A governor who built an international airport, got it commissioned and it is working. Planes are coming in there and going and you are still looking for your money. He also built an international conference centre. All these projects he didn’t build with sand.
“Apart from meeting the other obligations of running the government, he met the needs of the people, paying workers salaries; he did so much for Anambra State. That is why we have to be calm to allow the EFCC to finish their job. But I’m confident that Obiano will defend himself.
Umeh who is also the former National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, called on the Federal Government to go into dialogue with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.
He said that it is not possible for the government to continue to ignite people who are unhappy.
He commended, the State Governor, Prof, Charles Soludo for choosing dialogue as means of solving conflict as was presented in his inaugural address.
“Soludo has a loaded manifesto. As a Professor of Economics that has worked around the globe before coming to Nigeria, he knows what to do.
“So, we leave the work for him to do. We’re not going to set agenda for him. He has his own agenda set for himself. We can only trust his abilities to do the things he has promised to do.
“At this time we have to talk about security as the area of primary concern. Without security, he will be able to do a little on Anambra State. He understands that. We expect that he will address the issue of security very strategically.
“In his inaugural address, he has picked dialogue as a means of resolving conflicts.. So, he is calling everybody to a round table. When you talk, you achieve peace.
“Severally, I have told the government of Nigeria to dialogue with groups like IPOB and others agitating for anything in Nigeria.
“Across the country, if you don’t have the mechanism to resolve conflicts, what you harvest is disorder and insecurity. You cannot ignore people who are not happy. That’s what I have been saying for a long time.
“The government of Nigeria must deploy a conflict resolution mechanism that is hinged on dialogue. You must meet people. You cannot continue to ignore people who are angry.
“They will continue to do things until they get attention. So, it is cheaper to dialogue than to play ostrich to the problem facing the country,” he said
