From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) has criticized President Bola Tinubu for being insensitive to Nigerians who are suffering from the consequences of the economic policies of his administration.
The National President of ADF and former Vice Chancellor of Imo State University (IMSU), Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie who spoke with journalists in Enugu during a meeting of the executive of the body with the Central Working Committee, Board of Trustees and foundation members of the organization, wondered why President Tinubu should spend millions of dollars to buy a new presidential jet at a time that Nigerians were dying of hunger.
Awuzie said, “How can he buy a new presidential jet when the people are dying of hunger? How can you as the President, buy a new car for almost one billion Naira when your people are suffering?
“When the people protested against hunger, the response to the protest was to buy a new presidential jet. It does not show empathy for the people of Nigeria. This is the ugly situation we have found ourselves in the country.”
Commenting on the frightening wave of insecurity in Igboland, Awuzie said ADF was greatly disappointed with the South East Governors Forum, which frustrated an attempt to establish a security outfit in the region in the past.
According to him, rather than support the establishment of a security outfit for Igboland, which they fought for, the South East Governors under the leadership of the then Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, for selfish political reasons, preferred the community policing idea of the Federal Government.
“We were all involved in the attempt to articulate our own security strategy, after the South West established their Amotekun Corps. The brother of Dave Umahi was made the Chairman of the Security Committee, but he (Dave) never funded it.
“We were waiting for the inauguration of our own security outfit to police Igboland, when Umahi suddenly said that the governors had accepted community policing. We were disappointed. Where has the community policing taken us? Nowhere.”
On the way forward, Awuzie said the battle for ADF at the moment is to make the people in the South East to talk about democracy and to get them more concerned and involved in politics and governance in Igboland.
Although the meeting of ADF was held behind closed doors, notable among the attendees include the ADF National Secretary and former Commissioner for Information in Ebonyi State, Abia Onyike, Bishop Obi Onubogu, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, Professor Simeon Alozieuwa of Medicines Sans Frontieres, Professor Dozie Chukwuokolo and Chief Chekwas Okorie.
Those who joined virtually include Dr. Sam Ohuabunwa, Professor M. Aghaji, Professor Nath Aniekwu, Professor Ogbonna and L. M Alozie SAN.