Ex militants kick as Osibanjo visits Owerre

www.odogwublog.com reports that ex-Militants have warned the federal government to stop diverting projects meant for their state and communities.

Representative of the ex agitators in the state ,Mr Emeka Igwe who spoke on their behalf  noted that their communities have been impoverished because of the diversion ,he urged the federal government to integrate them properly in its amnesty programme.

Osinbajo in his reaction to the stakeholders during the town hall meeting at the Imo International Convention Centre said promised that the abandoned skilled acquisition center at Egbema which contract was put at N4 billion would be converted to a college of education.

He also promised that all contractors who abandoned their works would return to site adding that the federal government would investigate their contract sum properly.

Ibe Kachikwu, minister of petroleum who responded to the agitated youths promised to have a meeting with the right stakeholders to ensure a lasting peace in the communities. He also promised to have a discussion with all contractors who abandoned their works in the riverine areas of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta.
Meanwhile, Acting President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osibanjo in Owerri, the Imo State capital admitted that the State has been largely marginalized as an oil-producing State, promising amends.
Osibanjo made the statement at the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers secretariat presided over by Eze Samuel Ohiri,
the Chairman.
Osibanjo while addressing traditional rulers, and the political class, said Imo State has been marginalized by the Federal Government.
He explained that his visit was in continuation of consultation with oil-producing States saying " I can say that the oil producing communities of Imo have been largely ignored", he said.
The Acting President however assured that the Federal Government will seek for ways to make amends by giving more attention to the State.
Reacting to allegations of unfair appointment and allocation of projects raised by Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Osibanjo said
it is wrong to assume President Muhammed Buhari is unfair to Imo people.

"You said that the highest appointment given to Imo under President Buhari was Minister of State Education, I will like to equally inform you that Katsina, the home state of Mr President, and Kaduna state where Buhari resides all have Ministers of States", he explained.
According to him, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has the listening ears of President Buhari "and it is not correct for the Governor to say that the State is marginalized by APC led Federal Government",  Osibanjo said.
Governor Okorocha had in his remarks earlier welcomed President Osibanjo to Imo State and bemoaned what he termed unfair treatment to the State in terms of appointments and project allocation by President Buhari’s administration.
Okorocha had said "if you take better look of the situation of Imo not appointment and allocation of infrastructures can Imo people boast of being better treated by the federal government".
He argued that as the only South East State controlled by APC, the State had little or nothing to show for its feat as the only State that brought victory to the party in the 2015 general elections.

According to him, despite the feats Imo State boasts of a Minister of State Education occupied by Prof Anthony Anwuka, adding that there were no federal projects in Imo sited by President Buhari.
Prof Osibanjo was accompanied on the visit by the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of State Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka; Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and many other dignitaries.