Innoson Group of Companies Nigeria Limited has said it enjoys huge patronage and support from the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The group’s Chairman, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, stated this yesterday in Nnewi, Anambra State, when he addressed reporters.

He also listed Enugu, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Anambra, Gombe, and Bauchi states as well as the Nigerian military among those patronising vehicles from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM).

The company chief said Innoson could transform Nigeria into a vehicle manufacturing destination in Africa, if it gets more patronage.

He assured the nation that his factory has the capacity to manufacture all brands of vehicle, adding that he hoped to expand soonest.

Chukwuma said: “I can say that Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing is doing well, especially with the level of patronage and support the company is enjoying under the present Federal Government.

“I must equally say that some state governments, like Ekiti, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Kogi, Gombe, Anambra and Bauchi, are giving us a great boost.

“As at today, Innoson vehicles are being used in some West African countries, like Mali, Sierra Leone and Ghana, and some Nigerians residing abroad return home to purchase our vehicles.”

According to him, Innoson Group of Companies produces motorcycle tyres, plastic containers, ceramic and vehicles.

Read Also: Court orders arrest of Innoson Motors chairman, others

The frontline businessman said the company  has employed between 7,300 and 7,500 workers.

“With more support and patronage from Nigeria, we hope to expand our vehicle manufacturing firm to help provide more employment to our youths,” he said.

On the performance of youths from Niger Delta, who his company trained under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chukwuma said most of them had continued to bring their talents to bear towards the growth and development of the company.

“Some of the youths in the Niger Delta, who we trained, are very talented. After their training, we retained some of them and they are part of the success story of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing today,” he said.

On the recent report alleging that an Anambra State lawmakers rejected Toyota Prado Jeep and demanded for Innoson products, Chukwuma denied knowledge of the report.

He said anybody, including the lawmakers, were free to buy any brand of vehicle of their choice.

The company chief said he enjoyed warm relationship with Governor Willie Obiano and members of his administration.

He expressed the willingness to leverage on the relationship to impact positively on the state.

“As we speak, the Anambra State government has ordered for 40 vehicles which they fully paid for and we hope to deliver them to the state by next week,” Chukwuma said.

The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Chief David Lyon, at the weekend  vowed not to disappoint the people of the state if he emerged victorious in the November 16 election.

Lyon, who was received by a crowd of APC supporters in Yenagoa, the state capital, said he would sweep all the evils in the land that had kept the state underdeveloped, promising  to eradicate poverty.

Thousands of APC members and residents trooped to the streets of Yenagoa to welcome their candidate and the state leader of APC and Petroleum Minister Chief Timipre Sylva, who arrived the state capital from Abuja.

The crowd, in a carnival mood, dressed in different colours of Lyon’s campaign vests,  locked down Yenagoa and held traffic to standstill for hours.

Lyon, who addressed members of the party at the APC secretariat, mocked persons asking him to present a certificate of return from his party to prove he is the authentic candidate of the APC in the state.

He said it was childish and strange that his opponent at the poll was parading a certificate of return he got from his party, saying such thing never happened before in the state.

Describing himself as the authentic flag bearer, Lyon said he was working to collect the certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after his victory at the poll instead of dissipating his energy carrying party’s certificate of return.

Read Also: How I will govern Bayelsa, by Lyon

The candidate, who insisted that he and his running mate, Senator Degi-Eremienyo Biobarakumo, were validly elected and nominated, said they were on a mission to bring the required change in Bayelsa.

He said: “If you want to know a genuine flag bearer, it is not by flashing certificate of return from your political party and we don’t see it anymore. I will not flash the Certificate of Return from the party as flag bearer. We are waiting to take the INEC’s Certificate of Return.

“We want you to take the message to the local governments and grassroots because we are coming to make a change in governance of our people. We are saying to Bayelsans that our suffering will soon end.

“I assure you that when I am elected, prosperity will come. Let me tell you a story. Some people that have not seen anything, when you entrust the public fund in their care, they turn it into a family fund. That is what is happening in Bayelsa. We have started the journey and by the grace of God we will win the election.”

Also speaking after inaugurating the David Lyon-Senator Degi Campaign Office in Yenagoa, the Petroleum Minister, Chief Timipre Sylva, expressed optimism that the APC would bring positive next level to the state.

Sylva said the pair of Lyon and  Degi-Eremienyo were up to the task of bringing prosperity.

He said: “Today is just a tip of the iceberg. I will not say much about the elections because I know that APC has won already. When some people say, are you sure? And to everyone that thinks we are joking, they are the ones joking. Our prayers have been answered.

“I want to tell you a new chapter has been opened in the history of Bayelsa State. I want to tell you prosperity is coming and I want you to know that the dark days and locust years under the PDP administration are over; prosperity is coming”.