PRESIDENT Muhammedu Buhari on Tuesday began his two-day official visit to Ebonyi State after a stopover in Enugu the Enugu State capital.
Buhari who was last Monday threatened by the leadership of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), not to come to Igbo land was overwhelmingly received by thousands of people at the Akanu Ibiam Airport amidst tight security. The Presidential Jet 5N-FGT touched down the airport at exactly 10:30 am.
The President who came out of his Jet at 10:42 a.m. after it finished its taxi run, was full of cheers and life as he bade and cheered thousands of people who came to have a glimpse of him.
After a brief exchange with some governors of the zone who came to receive him, Buhari took some minutes of salute from a Presidential Guard-of-Honour mounted in his honour by a joint army and air force personnel at the airport arena.
Buhari, however, was airlifted in a Presidential Chopper [helicopter] at exactly 11:05 en route to Ebonyi State, where he is billed to inaugurate some projects.
Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has lauded various shades of associations and political formations for making the Presidential reception successful.
“I am overwhelmed with joy over the show of love and solidarity of Enugu residents to our admirable and loving President as he visits the South-East; which Enugu State is the capital of the zone,’’ he briefly said.
Earlier, the State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Danmallam, said that the police had put adequate security arrangement for the brief hosting of Mr President in Enugu.
Danmallam said that every necessary point and critical areas had been covered as well as movement highly monitored for effective policing within and outside the airport as well as the Enugu-Abakaliki road as well.
“I must thank other sister security agencies for the tremendous support and synergy to the police to achieve the success we are seeing here today,’’ he noted.
Governors who were at the Enugu airport reception included; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi ), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Governor Yahya Bello of Kogi State.
Some of the other dignitaries were: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Godfrey Onyeama; Minister of Labour and Productivity; Sen. Chris Ngige; Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Elenema; and Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwuka, President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani; former Governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwabodo; Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Edward Ubosi, Amb. Lawrence Agubuzo, Chairman of Traditional Rulers’ Council of Enugu State.