HURIWA asks Tinubu to make South-East Taiwan of Africa as promised

Pro-democracy advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria ( HURIWA) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to concretise his campaign promises to make South-Eastern Nigeria the Taiwan of Africa.

Besides HURIWA has carpeted the deputy speaker of the federal house of representatives Mr. Benjamin Kalu, for reportedly spectacularly failing in the so-called 6-months peace in south east project which he announced on December 2023, to restore, peace, stability and economic rejuvenation of the south- east.

HURIWA recalled that a not-for-profit organisation, the Peace in South East Project, set up by the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mr. Benjamin Kalu unveiled a six-month action plan which he claimed was geared towards implementing its eight pillars of thematic focus to bring about peace in the region.

A statement signed by HURIWA national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko on Monday, said media reports then had it that PISE-P, an initiative of the Deputy Speaker is an intervention strategy with a focus on the use of non-kinetics means to address the security challenges in the South-East zone.

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Unveiled on December 29, 2023, PISE-P’s eight pillars include education, agriculture, commerce/industry, infrastructural development, culture and tourism, sports/entertainment, governance/leadership and reconciliation/rehabilitation/reintegration.

HURIWA recalled that in a statement issued around the end of 2023 by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu was quoted as saying that the six-month strategic plan would witness improvement in education and healthcare delivery amongst other developmental pursuits.

He had told the Igbos that: “We already have what we call our six-month strategic plan, our operational plan that will be addressing socio-economic challenges, enhancing security and peacebuilding, stakeholder engagement, strategic implementation, resource management, monitoring and evaluation, communication and awareness – all these things have been done by experts and we are looking at achieving and promoting Sustainable Development Goals.

The rights group which bemoaned the unprecedented failure of this project by the Deputy Speaker quoted Kalu as promising then that: “We’ll look at conflict integration and peacebuilding. We are going to be looking at enhancing access to education and healthcare. We are going to look at infrastructural development, empowerment and capacity building, community engagement and participation as well as sustainable peace and stability.

HURIWA also appealed to the Nigetian President for the umpteenth time to free the detained leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kalu, as the necessary step towards his government launching any meaningful economic rejuvenation initiatives in the South-east of Nigeria.

The group then reminded the president that his campaign promises are solemn and must be fulfilled.

Hear them: “Then on November 18th, 2023, The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, had promised the people of South East massive economic development and forward-looking government, which would assuage past difficulties of the region. He spoke at a town hall meeting with leaders of the private sector and trade associations, yesterday, in Owerri, Imo State capital”.

“The then APC presidential standard-bearer who has been the President for nearly two years now, was responding to remarks of the then Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi who is now the Works minister, who said the region had been neglected and abandoned since the end of the civil war, asking what Tinubu had in store for the region”.

“Before his response to Umahi’s question, the APC presidential candidate thanked the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, who is also the South East Coordinator of the Tinubu-Shettima Campaign, for facilitating the town hall meeting.

” Delivering his remarks, Tinubu addressed the issues raised by Umahi, as well as other development challenges of the region by recalling his experience as a little boy brought up by a mother who was a trader and market leader.

” Tinubu said based on his experience and lessons learnt, he understands challenges traders, business owners and people of the region are facing.

” Laying out his development plan for the region if elected the next president of Nigeria, Tinubu said new industrial hubs would be created in Aba and Owerri, while existing ones would be modernised. He also promised that access to credit facilities would be available to traders across the region and the country in general, ” the statement said

According to HURIWA, the then Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Tinubu, stated then, that his administration will make South East zone the Taiwan of Africa through industrialization if elected into power.

” Asiwaju Tinubu stated this at the APC Campaign Rally organised at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium in Abakaliki.

” He noted that his administration would resuscitate the economy by connecting all parts of the country with rail line and phasing out of estimated billing to save Nigeria from extortion.

” The then Presidential Candidate emphasized that he would negotiate with all agitators to strengthen the peace of the country noting that Education would remain a priority to secure the future of the children,” the statement said.

The rights group lamented that since he got into office and for almost two years, the current administration of President Tinubu jettisoned or rather forgot his promises to the South East of Nigeria but has instead rejected all entreaties by leaders of Ndigbo, civil Rights advocacy Groups such as HURIWA and a plethora of many others, to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and set the stage for the actualization of his solemn campaign promises to Ndigbo.