Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelama and Abia State caucus in the National Assembly has resolved to join hands to work for the development of the state.
Speaking at a meeting at the Abia State Lodge in Abuja, Ikpeazu, who identified team spirit and unity as the basic tools for development, added that the interest and development should be placed above other considerations including political affiliations.
The governor, who used the occasion to honour Enelama, described the minister as a detribalized Abian, and noted that if all Abia stakeholders work together, they will record positive legacies for future generations and take the state to higher heights.
He added that Enelamah has always ensured that the state gets her due and charged him not to relent.
Ikpeazu also described the nomination of another Abia citizen, Obinna Emeka Agbugba, as an Ambassador designate as a good omen for the state and expressed hope that he will also be a good ambassador of the state.
He commended the members of the National Assembly from the state for their support to his administration and stressed the need for all hands to be on deck.
Responding, the immediate past governor of the state and the Senator representing Abia Central in the Senate, Senator Theodore Orji, commended Ikpeazu for bringing all Abians to join him in the development of the state, and assured him of their support.
Senator Orji who described the appointment of Enelama as that of “a round peg in a round hole” and urged him to cooperate with the governor and other stakeholders in the interest of the state.
He also urged the Minister to see his appointment as a call to service and assist in the area of job creation stressing that unemployment, hunger and poverty are the basic problems of the people.
Responding, Enelama, described Ikpeazu as a visionary leader with a listening ear, and promised to work with him to develop the state.
In their separate remarks, elder statesmen; Prof Ihechukwu Madubuike and Chief Onyema Ugochukwu charged the minister to strive to achieve tangible things for the state and always consult other Abians including civil servants, professionals and political leaders.
The speaker, Abia state House of Assembly, Chief Martins Azubike, in his remarks, commended the governor for the forum and prayed God to inspire the governor the more while giving him the wisdom and knowledge to steer the ship of Abia to an enviable height.
Azubuike reminded the minister that Abia is the Japan of Africa and urged him to use his portfolio to attract investors to the state
