President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja promised that no part of Nigeria will be ignored under his watch.
He gave the assurance when he received a delegation of Ugep Kingdom, Cross River State, led by His Royal Highness, Obol Ofem Ubana, Obol Lopon of Ugep, a retired Army officer.
The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, was responding to a request by the royal father for the Federal Government to intervene and resolve inter-ethnic conflicts, affecting several communities, namely: Nko, Nyima, Oyadama, Edibe, Usumtong, Adadama and Ekureku.
Buhari told the delegation: ‘‘I assure you that under my watch, no part of Nigeria will be ignored.
“I am very pleased that you (the traditional ruler) have shared some professional background as a former military officer.
“My experience of being in the military afforded me the opportunity to work with all Nigerians and this is a lifetime experience.”
The traditional ruler thanked the President for appointing Yakuur sons into exalted positions in government, including Chief of Naval Staff, Minister of Niger Delta and Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution.
He pledged the support of his community to the president’s “quest to rescue Nigeria”.
On restiveness in the region, the Obol Lopon said: ‘‘We are increasingly losing our youths to inter-tribal wars, which if nothing is done, will leave our communities without youths in the near future.
“As Obolo Lopon of Ugep, I am ready to partner with relevant government agencies saddled with the responsibility and management of communal conflict resolutions.”
Speaking with State House correspondents, Obol Ofem said “We came here to thank Mr. President for finding our children worthy to work in his government…We are also asking him to help us tame the menace of communal crisis in our area; that is one of our major problems.”
The first tenure, did you reflect the whole federation as your constituency? It is late sir. Nigerians cannot commit their future to you. For now, you president of the North What about your appointments? Everything to the North as if the South does not have qualified persons to be appointed. That offends the Federal Character of course, but you did not care. Now that election is at hand, you suddenly remembered that Nigeria is not made of only the North/ Go home and rest