As part of move to ensure peace is restored in the South East, the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P), has commenced the distribution of Food items in Abia state, tagged, “Food for Peace Initiative”.
The project which is aimed at fostering peace through food security, is geared towards reducing anger by reducing hunger, as the saying goes,” A hungry man is an angry man”.
Speaking during the
distribution of 250 bags of rice, cartons of tin tomatoes, spaghetti, bags of garri,beans, groundnut oil,wrappers and cash gift to the people of Ikwuano Local Government Area, the immediate past Federal Lawmaker, who represented Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Rep Sam Onuigbo, said, he aligned to the Peace In South East Project, because he knows the importance of peace in governance.
At the event which was held at Obuohia Ibere, Rep Onuigbo disclosed that when the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the South-East, Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu, initiated the Peace In South-East Project
(PISE-P), he quickly aligned with it for two critical reasons.
According to him, peace is
the core ingredient in the development of any place and also, he is aware of the vision of the Deputy Speaker,as well as, that of the President, towards attaining this vision.
Onuigbo added that his appointment as the representative of the South-East on the Governing Board of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), further reveals President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goal of making the South East region peaceful, stressing that with the appointment, he has additional responsibility to ensure that there is peace in the South-East.
He said hunger is non partisan, just the same way growth, development and peace are non partisan, expressing appreciation that the project has taken off to a seamless
start and cannot wait for the South region region to begin to reap its immense benefits.
The ex Federal Lawmaker further noted the importance of South-East as a critical pillar for the development of Nigeria, stressing that everything must be done to ensure the region harness its immense potentials.
He, however, disclosed that the distribution of foodstuff to the people of Ikwuano Local Government Area and other areas of the region, further highlights the essential pillar of PISE-P and as well, the President’s commitment to ensuring food security in the country.
“Addressing the issue of hunger is a
critical first step in dousing anger and consequently ensuring that violence is reduced and peace upheld. We are therefore committed to ensuring that the age-long Igbo tradition of
whoever is best placed, takes care of others in the community is revived and entrenched”.
Onuigbo thanked the Deputy Speaker,for initiating the project and as well,all partners and stakeholders supporting and championing the project to realize its objectives, expressing gratitude to the nation’s President for his commitment to a functional Nigeria, where every region is an equal beneficiary and participant and called for more support for the APC government,so as to reap massive opportunities in the future.
In their separate speeches, a Community Leader and APC stakeholder, Engr Jack Ikwuano and Hon Tony Mpama, commended the efforts of Hon Sam Onuigbo in ensuring Ikwuano gets their share of the PISE-P food distribution.
According to them, Rep Onuigbo has played a very important role in ensuring Ikwuano is placed at the front burner of development, building and attracting massive projects across the length and breadth of Ikwuano, describing him as a goal getter and one who knows what representation was about.
Hon Tony Mpama
They further pleaded with the ex Lawmaker not to relent in his efforts in actualizing the ongoing Ikwuano-Umuahia-Ikot ekpene federal road, stating that the road is very important to the area, as its completion would be a gateway to the development of Ikwuano and urged the people of the area to support the APC led government.
In an interview with the beneficiaries, Mr Christian Umekwe, from Ibere ward 1, Mrs Ann Dennis from Obuohia Obi-Ibere and Comrade Dickson Ajiri, fron Usaka ward, thanked the federal government through the Deputy Speaker,House of Representatives, for introducing peace in the South East initiative.
Mr Christian Umekwe
They said the items would be of immense benefits to their families, commending the ex Lawmaker for the transparency in the distribution of the items.
Mrs Ann Dennis
For Comrade Dickson Ajiri, he said empowerment is the key to development,adding that to move the course of peace, empowerment of the people must be encouraged.
