Ahead of the 2023 general elections, no fewer than 2,000 Southeastern businessmen have contributed the sum of N1 billion to the campaign of the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state, announced the donation on Thursday at
the town hall meeting with Tinubu in Owerri, alongside other regional leaders.
He said membership of the group was drawn from the five states of the region.
Uzodimma said: “I am happy to say our people are fully in support of our presidential candidate who has come to share his vision and plan for Nigeria and South East today. To support this aspiration the sum of N1billion naira has been raised by 2000 business owners across the Southeast states,” said Governor Uzodimma.
Also, a spokesman for the group, Emeka Mgbudem, said the donors believed in Nigeria and are committed to its peace.
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He disclosed that members had contributed N500,000 each because of their belief in Tinubu, after reading his Action Plan for the country.
Mgbudem noted that “where an Igbo man puts his money, he puts his heart.”
He however, enjoined Tinubu to remove the numerous checkpoints on the roads in the region and also build the roads linking the state capitals in the zone.
On his part, Tinubu promised to make the Southeast an industrial hub, if elected in the next year’s election.
He gave the assurance in Owerri, Imo State capital, during a town hall meeting with Southeast industrialists, manufacturers and traders.
The APC standard bearer said the industrial hub will enable the region to actualise its potentials for industrial and technological development.
Tinubu pledged to introduce technology in the clearing of goods at the ports that will render unnecessary the checkpoints on the roads.
He also promised to run a government where all Nigerians are treated equally.
Tinubu promised to establish industrial hubs across the nation and modernise existing ones to put the country on path of industrial growth.
He said private sectors will drive the economy of the country under his administration when elected.
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He said that only peace can guarantee return of investment, adding that his government would comprise of people from every section of the country that would discuss zonal grievances with a view to finding peaceful resolution.
“I guarantee you that my government, our government, will comprise of people from every section of the country and are ready to discuss the grievances with every group in search of peaceful resolution.
“We will encourage and facilitate leather production in places like Owerri and Aba at the same time we shall broaden the opportunity for you to engage in more international commerce by building more ports outside of Lagos, such as Onne Port that must be activated for optimum utilisation.The ports that are connected with railway lines that can evacuate goods without criminality,
“I envision the Owerri-Port Harcourt and Aba-Port Harcourt corridors becoming more activated and lucrative.
On the extortion on the road due to many security road blocks, Tinubu said there are so many ways to fight corruption, adding: “We will put together a simple technology code that once you have cleared your goods and you got your sticker either in container or the vehicle conveying it no agency of the government will be able to stop and extort you again. That will stop all nefarious extortion and exploitation on the road.”
Tinubu urged Nigerians to de-emphasise on religion and tribal issues and focus more on issues that would drive Nigeria’s potential to reality.
He said: “I am here a Yoruba man seeking the votes and support of an Igboman. The same blood runs in our veins. We should look upon God and believe in the unity of the Nation.
“For instance when I was the governor of Lagos State, I ensured that every secondary school student in Lagos sat for senior school certificate examinations free of charge. I didn’t care whether they were Christians or Muslims, Igbo, Hausa, Benin, Ijaw or Yoruba.
“The same also went with the people I appointed into various positions. I didn’t care which state or region they came from.”
Tinubu, Shettima, APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Campaign Director Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong were also in the state to seek the support of Southeast ahead of next years’s election.
At the meeting were National Secretary Iyiola Omisore, Adams Oshiomhole; deputy national chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu; APC National Deputy Chairman (North), Senator Abubakar Kyari; Deputy national chairman (South); APC governorship candidate for Abia State, Chief Ikechi Emenike; former Anambra State Deputy Governor Dr Nkem Okeke; Senator Osita Isunaso and Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, former governor.
Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr. Okey Emuchay representing Ohanaeze; Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh;. Chinedu Ogar of the House of Representatives; Elias Mbam; Hon. Nkeiru Onyejiocha of the house of representatives; Princess Gloria Akobundu; Princess Miriam Onuoha, member for Okigwe North and the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Emeka Nduka.
A large crowd of party faithfuls and supporters trooped out to welcome the APC leaders to the parley with captains of industry and leaders of commerce.
(The Nation)
