Buhari, who was accompanied by Gov. Umahi and other top government officials arrived Ebonyi state at about 11. 15 am.
By Emma Ogbuehi
President Muhammadu Buhari, kept to his programme of a two-day visit to Ebonyi state, despite threats and directives by militant agitators and gunmen declaring sit-at-home in South East states.
The President’s jet touched down at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu at about 10.30 am on his way to Ebonyi State.
He was received by Enugu Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his Ebonyi counterpart, David Umahi and other officials of government. He later proceeded to Ebonyi with a helicopter.
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The president, who was accompanied by Gov. Umahi and other top government officials arrived Ebonyi state at about 11. 15 am.
The helicopter conveying the president with registration number: 5N–FG1 landed on the pavilion inside the governor’s residence in his hometown, Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.
The president after exchanging pleasantries with top government officials, traditional rulers among others who came to welcome him, inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Nigerian Army.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president will inaugurate the ultra-modern King David University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, with adjourning roads and flyover and the newly constructed presidential lounge, Abakaliki.
Before Buhari’s arrival to the South East, online reports had on Wednesday evening quoted the dreaded Unknown Gunmen as declaring a sit-at-home order all over the South-East region during the President’s visit, threatening to be ruthless with anyone caught disobeying the order.
In reaction, elder statesman, and First Republic Minister for Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, appealed to the armed groups to withdraw the sit-at-home directive.
According to Vanguard reports, Amechi in a chat with newsmen, begged the armed men behind the sit-at-home order, to withdraw their threat and avoid actions that would embarrass Ndigbo before President Buhari.
Pa Amechi further explained that the sit-at-home threat could jeopardise the concerted efforts being made by Igbo elders to find solutions to the insecurity and also secure the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
He said, “I read on social media that a militant group has stated the coming of the President to the Southeast. Please I want to appeal to whosoever, or group, behind the statement to please withdraw that threat.
“Despite my old age plus the aching pains all over my body, I am almost in a wheelchair, I am highly committed to restoring peace in Igboland. I will meet the President along with some Igbo leaders and elders about the security of our region, which is interwoven in the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu.