Buhari, A’Ibom gov meet over violence in N’Delta

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari and the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udo Emmanuel, on Tuesday met behind closed doors as part of Federal Government’s efforts to put an end to the violence in the Niger Delta.

The meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes, was held inside the President’s office.

At the end of the meeting, Emmanuel confirmed to State House correspondents that he discussed issues relating to security with the President.

He however did not disclose the details of the meeting, saying issues bordering on security were not discussed on the pages of newspapers.

“I am still serving a state and the state is within the country and the President is the father of the whole country. I think it is part of my responsibility to let the President know from time-to-time how things are being done and how we are faring.

“We discussed some issues bordering on security and unfortunately everything discussed under security is covered,” he said.

The governor said his presentation to the President was more of feedback than of requests.

He said it was time for all Nigerians, irrespective of their differences, to join hands to develop the country.

He said, “The meeting with the President was not really about request but feedback. At times, feedback could be even very effective than request because feedback is necessary for further actions and the rest of things you want to do.

“But I also want to use this platform as well to say that we are all running one project, which is Project Nigeria. If we are running Project Nigeria, all hands must be on deck to move the country to the level we all expect and dream of.

“I think that that is the essence of the whole thing. We should keep letting everybody know that at this point, it is time everybody joined hands to work for the whole country and see what we can do from the state to the level government level to at least support the vision of making Nigeria reach where we want it to be.”

Emmanuel said all the issues he discussed with the President were about the wellbeing of Nigerians.

“How can we make their (Nigerians’) situation better? I think that is the way I look at it. Whether you look at it from security, infrastructure, security, any angle, that is the ultimate.

“At times, I move from what do I set to achieve and how do I want to do it? I think that is the way I look at it. What have I set to achieve, at the end of the day, it is the interest of everybody that we are working for,” the governor said.