country under President Goodluck Jonathan and promised to back his second coming. They also said they will give the maximum support the administration needed in championing the cause of infrastructural development of the country.
This is coming as the Igbo leaders reinstated their call for the creation of an additional state in the South-East. This commendation came as President Jonathan commissioned the newly constructed domestic terminal of Akanu Ibiam International Airport and also laid the foundation stone of the construction of an international terminal for the airport that will facilitate international travels to and fro the Akanu Ibiam International Airport. President Jonathan, who assured that the job will be completed within fifteen months, said on completion, it will enhance easy access to marketing both their manufactured goods and agricultural products without cause to moving them to Abuja or Lagos
international airports. He stressed that his commitment
to the conversion of Akanu Ibiam to an international airport is a further fulfillment to his campaign promise to the people of the zone, and emphasised that his administration is working hard to fulfil his campaign promises to Nigerians.
He, however, stressed stating environmental peace and security is a very significant factor in that respect.
President Jonathan also approved for the setting of a free trade zone at 9th mile corner near Enugu, based on the request of the host governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime.
In an address during the town hall meeting at Enugu State Government Lodge, an elder statesman from the zone and a former vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, said that the journey of upgrading the Enugu airport into an international standard started as far back as 1970, when he was consulted upon by the then Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon [rtd] to effect the establishment of an airport in Enugu to serve the South-East zone. This was based on his experience for having initiated the sitting of temporary airports in several parts of the South-
East zone during the ill fated Nigeria civil wars.
He lamented that several other leaders of the country had ignored the requests of the people of the zone in uplifting the Enugu airport to an international standard, except the present administration under President Jonathan, who is now fulfilling his promise.
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who spoke at the town hall meeting, thanked President Jonathan for his commitment to the conversion of the Enugu airport to an international airport, and also requested for an additional state to be created in Igbo land by the present administration, as part of the measures in redressing the negligence of the zone.
“Like Oliver Twist, we will ask for more. One thing dear to us is additional state and we are already liaising and talking to our colleagues in the National Assembly for the need for additional state for the South-East zone.”
He also expressed their support for declaration of state of emergency in three North-East states.
Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State harped on the need for the second Niger Bridge to be constructed, while Senator Chukwumerije urged for the construction of the proposed inland port, otherwise known as ‘Isiala Ngwa’ Dry Port, in Abia State.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, in a vote of thanks said the zone never had it so good and identified President Jonathan as a friend and a brother of the Igbos.
The serving ministers, who accompanied President Jonathan to the town hall meeting, took time to explain the various projects the federal government has embarked upon to ginger infrastructural development in the South-East zone, as well as other parts of the country.
Several Igbo political leaders and stakeholders who attended the two ceremonies in their different speeches, poured encomiums on President Jonathan and pledged to continue to support and associate with him in his political carrier as president of the country.
All the five South-East governors and several legislators from the zone, including the former senate president, Senator Ken Nnamani and Chief Jim Nwobodo, the former governor of old Anambra State, attended the event.
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