…As ex-minister bags chieftaincy title in Nnewi
From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige, has said that the government needs to invest money to get adequate security.
The former governor of Anambra State stated this in remarks after being conferred with the chieftaincy title “Otiwaluzo na Nnewi” during the 2024 Ofala festival of the Igwe Nnewi, His Royal Highness, Igwe Dr Kenneth O.N Orizu lll, which took place at the Igwe’s palace at the weekend.
“If you spend money, you will get security under control whether at national or sub-national level, “he said.
He further revealed that when he was Anambra State governor, he equipped the Police and State Security Service (SSS) with adequate security gadgets and good remuneration to secure the state.
Ngige, a former senator, also disclosed that his administration empowered youths, especially the unemployed ones, who he said would always think about nothing except how to commit crime.
He said he employed them with good remuneration to keep their minds away from crime. For security to be restored, the former Minister advised that government should employ the youths along with the non-state actors, to empower them with skills and give them hope to be good citizens.
Speaking on the chieftaincy title, he said it was offered to him during the 2007 Ofala festival, but because he was desirous to go to Senate he did not accept it, adding that he waited until he completed his active public service as a Minister before accepting it.
Ngige explained that he was given the title bestowed on him means road builder because of the roads he constructed in Anambra State, especially in Nnewi when he was the governor.
He disclosed that his administration initiated the construction of the road from Adazi to Nnewi, which was in bad shape, adding that the construction work continued from Nnewi to Ihembosi and to Okija, noting that it was impassable at the time.
Speaking further, he said that the road construction in Nnewi axis included Mmiri Ele, Bank Road to Hundred Foot Road and later awarded Onitsha Expressway to Oba before he left office.
He thanked the Igwe and his entire cabinet members for honouring him with the title. He prayed that adequate security and good electricity supply would be restored, saying that these two would further enhance development of the state.