By Chinenye Onwusonye
APC Chieftain and Deputy Coordinator of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Directorate of Security and Intelligence for the South-East, Hon.
Dr. Edward Ihejirika, has commended First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her commitment to women’s empowerment, while praising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as impactful development reforms and strategic investments across the country.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, October 31, and signed by Hon. Dr. Edward Ihejirika, the former Imo State Commissioner for Health said the commendation followed the inauguration and inaugural meeting of the South-East Zone of the Directorate of Security and Intelligence, which coincided with the First Lady’s visit to Enugu State.
The statement noted that the First Lady’s visit featured the flag-off of an empowerment programme that benefited more than 5,000 women across the South-East, with beneficiaries receiving various equipment and support to strengthen their businesses and improve their livelihoods. It added that Senator Tinubu also announced another empowerment initiative scheduled for November, targeting persons living with disabilities.
Ihejirika, who also holds leadership positions in other APC campaign structures in Imo State, including the Tinubu Again Movement (TAM) and Imo Futures Assembly (IMOFUTA), described the interventions as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive development and improved living standards.
He applauded President Tinubu for remaining focused on delivering the dividends of democracy, highlighting the establishment of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) programme, and investments in healthcare, agriculture and critical infrastructure.
He also identified road construction projects across the South-East, efforts to address insecurity and increased financial allocations to state governments as some of the administration’s interventions capable of accelerating development at the subnational level.
The statement further referenced Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma’s remarks during the event, in which he reportedly commended President Tinubu and the APC-led Federal Government for supporting the construction of major trunk roads in Imo State through federal funding.
According to Dr Ihejirika, the Governor acknowledged that the projects would have been difficult to accomplish without the support of the Federal Government and the leadership of the Progressive Governors Forum.
The former Commissioner for Health acknowledged that economic reforms could be challenging but maintained that they were necessary strategic measures to reposition the economy for sustainable growth and prosperity.
He urged the people of the South-East not to lose hope, expressing optimism that the country was entering a new phase in which the benefits of the ongoing reforms would become more evident.
Ihejirika explained that economic reforms follow a development cycle, noting that Nigeria had passed through the difficult phase during the first tenure of the Tinubu administration and was now positioned for greater prosperity.
The health policy consultant and certified management expert also recalled his participation at the recent Diaspora Africa Conference (DACON 7.0), where he highlighted Nigeria’s investment opportunities, citing the enabling environment and economic stability he attributed to the Tinubu administration.
He consequently called on Nigerians, particularly people of the South-East, to support continuity, stressing that sustained leadership would consolidate infrastructure development, expand economic opportunities, deepen direct development interventions and ultimately improve the living standards of citizens.
