Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly congratulates Tinubu over inauguration as President

*Commends his startups on unified exchange rate, others

*Lauds Enugu Gov Mbah over ban of IPOB

*Says he should follow up his ban with actions

By KEMI KASUMU

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his inauguration earlier in the week, precisely on Monday May 29, 2023.

According to a statement, the Igbo socio-cultural organisation sees the emergence of President Tinubu as one that is a beckon of truly renewed hope as, if his first three major critical areas of startups namely fuel subsidy removal, unified exchange rate and intensified fight against insecurity are well implemented, the country in no distant time will have a realistic handshake with the long dreamed better Nigeria.

In the statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, signed by its Director General, Strategic Planning and Implementations, Ambassador Tony Chiemelu Obizoba, and copy of which handed to The DEFENDER, the Igbo apex body noted the long term benefits fuel subsidy removal but advised the government on measures to mitigate the effects of it in the people.

“For many years, we have observed that, fuel subsidy that was well intentioned by Federal Government to mitigate the effects of high cost of petroleum products especially fuel, which have become a matter of importation since local refineries went moribund, has failed to impact positively or be really enjoyed by the targeted masses.

“More sadly is the situation where many of participants, with franchise to bring the costly products in and sell to public users at prices subsidised by government, are believed to have been making claims for services and products they did not provide to the people. With removal of subsidy, the wasteful drain pipes are going to be blocked, the money will now be redirected into more meaningful projects that will be felt by all.

“As for the hardship that is inherent in the removal, we only urge the government to issue more licenses for more players to import the products while, in the meantime, the Dangote Refinery Company recently commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari consolidates on its outputs of 650,000 barrel per day (bpd) products for local consumption and exports. By so doing, Nigeria will have local satisfaction and earn more foreign exchange to strengthen its Naira.

Organised Labour

In allying with worries of the Organised Labour, the Tinubu-led administration should have robust consultations with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) with a view to highlighting palliative measures to ensure that at no point in time, within the period of implementation of the policy, would any Nigerian worker suffer lack resulting from obviously overheated inflation.

“Another aspect that is needed to be addressed and which the new President has spoken about is the area of multiple taxations and foreign exchange rates. As a body that has a stake in achieving a better country for all citizens, Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide has come to be counted among those that support these laudable policies of the Tinubu’s administration, for the good of the people and that Nigeria may not only be seen as better but its people will feel great to be Nigerians.”

Ubah’s ban on IPOB

Obizoba said, “The organisation also seizes the opportunity afforded it by this press statement to commend the newly inaugurated Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Peter Mbah, for his ban on activities of outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), especially its Sit-at-Home that had persistently affected backwardly the economies of the South East geopolitical zone of the country before now.

“For the fact that only Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, had been up against the outlawed group while others played ‘siddon look’ role. With him now being joined by Governor Mba, it is a renewed hope that the region will now be great as economic activities will rise in more South East state and the more people will be good for it.”

He then congratulated the President and others saying, “To both President Tinubu, Governors Mbah, Uzodinma and others who had been inaugurated and have since hit the ground running, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide says congratulations as it wishes them all very prosperous tenures.”