Boko Haram detainees: Obiano holds secret meeting with FG delegation

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, yesterday held closed door meeting with Federal Government delegation on transfer of 47 Boko Haram suspects to Ekwulobia Prisons in the state.
Obiano told newsmen after the meeting with the seven-man team from the National Security Adviser’s office that their deliberations on the issue were highly successful.
He said the Presidency was fully aware of the strong feelings of Anambra people against the presence of the “high risk” suspects.

 
He expressed optimism that the matter would be resolved shortly and reassured the people that the dreaded suspects would soon be moved out of the state.
The governor urged the people to maintain the peace and desist from anything that might lead to disruption of the harmonious atmosphere that the state enjoyed in the past one year.

 
Obiano said “the matter will soon be over. Since the news of the transfer of the deadly suspects to Ekwulobia, I have been relentless in my efforts to engage all relevant authorities in Abuja.
“I, therefore, want to appeal to Anambra people to desist from anything that might lead to breach of the peace in the state.”
The meeting was attended by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnemeka Achebe and Igwe Cyril Enweze of Umuoji.
Others are the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Okafor and the Anglican Bishop of Awka, Rev. Alexander Ibezim.

 
There had been agitations by the people since the announcement of transfer of Boko Haram suspects to the state, with widespread protests against the transfer.
Meanwhile, Governor Obiano has sworn in six new permanent secretaries into the state’s civil service and urged them to develop new innovations and ideas.
Obiano said in Awka that the government would introduce new policies and innovations to transform the state’s workforce for improved service delivery.
According to him, Anambra remains one of the few states of the federation that maintains prompt and regular payment of workers’ salaries with retirees receiving their pensions when due.
He said that his administration would continue to provide seasonal largesse and training to civil servants in spite of its dwindling revenue from the federation account.
The governor congratulated the new permanent secretaries on their elevations and urged them to be proactive with innovations to address redundancy, laxity and other negative practices hindering productivity in the various ministries.
He further urged them to familiarise themselves with the four key development pillars of his administration to effectively contribute their quota to the success of the present administration.
He assured them that his government was committed to the welfare of workers in the state as part of initiatives to motivate the workers and move the state forward.
Responding, Mr Anthony Ezenwaka, the former Director of Administration, Head of Service, thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve in the capacity and promised to live up to their callings.
Other new permanent secretaries are Mr Chibueze Okoli, Mr Emmanuel Ude-Akpeh, Mrs Colette Nwajiani, Dr Chukwuka Kanayo and Mr Daniel Ezeanwu.