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Obasanjo orders change of name for Enugu Airport
LERE OJEDOKUN,
Abuja
PRESIDENT
Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday gave Minister of Aviation, Mallam Isa Yuguda, a
one-week ultimatum, to formally effect the change of name of the Enugu Airport
to Akanu Ibiam Airport.
Receiving a delegation of Ebonyi State
leaders of thought, traditional rulers, eminent politicians and interest groups
led by Governor Sam Egwu at the State House, Abuja, President Obasanjo directed
the minister to, without further delay, effect the name change.
The President who eulogized the late
governor of defunct Eastern Region, Dr. Akanu Ibiam, described him as one of the
most respected leaders who ever lived.
He recalled that after retirement as Head
of State in 1979, with great concern about future of the country, the late Dr.
Ibiam was one of the few leaders he consulted on what he called, "consensus
building".
Obasanjo, while urging Nigerians to
continue to do their best to see the country attain greatness, said, patriotism,
and not religion, is very important to nation-building.
"Working for the country is not a matter
of religion, it is a matter of patriotism. Honouring the memory of Dr. Akanu
Ibiam is richly deserved. There is no other way to honour such a great man," he
said.
The President, who commended Governor Egwu
for his political maturity and quality leadership, disclosed that the electoral
support he (Obasanjo) received from the South-East underscored the spirit of
unity pervading the country.
He asked the citizenry to be patient with
government on the delivery of democracy dividends, explaining that what it
inherited on May 29, 1999 was a burden of decay.
Admitting that there was still a long way
to go, President Obasanjo said getting instant results on some initiatives of
the administration may be difficult, but assured there were tremendous gains in
the long run.
On water and road projects, he assured the
delegation that everything possible would be done to meet expectations of the
electorate.
He, however, urged people of the state not
to abandon agriculture while giving them a pass mark for giving the sector
adequate attention.
Earlier, Dr. Egwu said they were at the
State House to express solidarity with the Federal Government as well as to
thank the President for his efforts at repositioning the country.
While presenting an address, chairman of
the State Development Associations, Martin Elechi lauded President Obasanjo’s
economic reform programmes, Africa’s economic development and peace programme,
sustenance of democracy as well as reduction in crime.
He thanked him for releasing the withheld
local governments funds for the state and renaming Enugu airport after the late
Dr. Ibiam.
Among requests tabled before the president
were immediate attention to deplorable federal roads in the state, abandoned
Abakaliki water scheme and increased appointment of indigenes into federal
establishments.
Chief Elechi pledged continued prayer and
unalloyed support of the state to the administration.
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