Ebonyi state governor David Umahi has advised Nigerians to uphold all their cultural value to better their image outside Nigeria.
According to Umahi, the manner at which Nigerians are being humiliated outside the country including their leaders is not encouraging and charged all Nigerians to do an empirical evaluation of all citizens as to avoid the devaluation in other countries.
Umahi made the call in Abakaliki while delivering his address at PA Ngene Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, as Ebonyi celebrates 23 years of its creation and Nigeria 59years freedom on Tuesday.
He then calls on South Easterners to know that the closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport at Enugu was for the safety of the Easterns. According to him, he will utilise his power as the chairman of the South-East governors with support of President Muhammadu Buhari to secure a quick execution and a comprehensive overhaul of the airport.
“We must as Nigerians do everything to uphold our cultural value and better ourselves outside the country. The way we are treated outside the shores of this land is not encouraging, we must have to do an empirical evaluation of ourselves, we get devalued a lot in other nations. I get a lot of calls from people in Ghana saying a lot of them are about to be sentenced, some people have been imprisoned for years 1000 years and some 500 years imprison.
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“And so it is important that Nigerians we re-evaluate our statues and our values because the way we are treated even as a governor you don’t wear governor at the airport. When I was in America they singled some of us out and conducted a thorough search,it is an intimidation. We will not continue to live in such a manner that humiliates our nation,it is very important.
“Let me assure Ebonyi people and the entire southeast that the closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport at Enugu was for the safety of our people.
“As the chairman of South-East governors forum, I had a meeting with Mr president and we have agreed on modalities for quick execution and of cause comprehensive overhaul of that airport.
“We are seeking for a special funding with Mr president and as I travel with him I will also reveal to him how much we have gone in the release of the funds for the quick completion of that project.
“We have provided two coaster buses, 10 pick up vans and a brand new liaison zone office in Owerri, this will assist our people to the airport there. Castigating leaders openly will not add any value to what we seek rather our eyes should be on the ball” he said.