Devt Commission will heal civil war wounds, say Kalu, Uzodimma, Ohanaeze
There was an outpouring of gratitude by Igbo leaders yesterday over the signing into law of the South-East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill.
They believe it will address marginalisation concerns in the region.
House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide said the President has done what his predecessors failed to do.
Kalu noted that with the development, President Tinubu has successfully addressed the perceived post-civil war neglect of the region.
The Deputy Speaker, who sponsored the Bill, told reporters that for about 54 years after the Civil War, no administration could actualise the post-civil war rehabilitation, reconstruction and reconciliation policy.
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He said President Tinubu gave to the Southeast in one year what several years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dominance could not provide them.
This, he said, is even though the region gave Tinubu the least votes in the 2023 general election.
The commission is expected to facilitate reconstruction, rehabilitation, and tackling of the Southeast’s environmental and development challenges.
Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said: “The SEDC is established to ensure the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses, and other infrastructural damages suffered by the zone, as well as tackle ecological problems, and other related environmental or development issues.
“President Tinubu believes in building the nation on the fulcrum of fairness, equity, and unity; hence, he is committed to ensuring equitable development, inclusive governance, and the provision of qualitative services to all Nigerians – no matter where they reside, while knitting even more tightly together the national fabric.”
Kalu said he discussed with Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, who assured him that the SEDC could address some of the issues that sparked the secessionist agitation.
Kalu added: “It is not just a legislative victory; it is a historic milestone for the Southeast geopolitical zone.
“The commission will receive and manage funds from the allocation of the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses, and other infrastructural damages suffered by the zone as a result of the civil war.
“It will also tackle ecological problems and other related environmental or developmental challenges in the Southeast states, including Abia, Imo, Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi.
“This particular bill failed to be passed into law in the eighth and ninth National Assemblies, but like always, we are relentless in our collective drive for people-centred legislation.”
Kalu appealed to Ndigbo not to join the planned protest.
“Instead, let us view the signing of the SEDC bill into law as a testament to the Tinubu Administration’s resolve to heal the wounds of the past and bury the rumours of the marginalisation of the Southeast geopolitical zone,” he said.
Ohanaeze: it’s a quantum leap
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide said it received the news with immense relief and joy.
It described the commission as “a quantum leap, a hope renewal and a significant part of a new beginning by President Tinubu”.
A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, quoted the President General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, as saying he was highly elated and full of gratitude to the President.
Ohanaeze commended Kalu and the co-sponsors of the all-important bill on their roles.
The organisation said: “The SEDC is expected to manage funds allocated from the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, and other infrastructural deficits suffered by the region due to age-long neglect.
“The SEDC will tackle ecological problems and related environmental challenges that have devastated the Southeast for decades.
“The SEDC will go a long way to assuage the feelings of the Igbo with respect to the 3R sophistry by General Yakubu Gowon in January 1970.
“Gowon had assured the world that there would be three Rs: Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of the Igboland as a result of war ravages.
“But 54 years after the war, the Southeast has witnessed the direct opposite of the 3Rs, even in exponential proportion.
“For instance, the Southeast has the least number of local government areas, the least number of states, the least in political appointments, the least members in the House of Representatives, the least in the Senate and of course the worst in infrastructure.
“The foregoing structures are the federal allocation tributaries that have enlarged the coast of other geopolitical zones, leaving the Southeast of Nigeria in the cold.
“No one should, therefore, look elsewhere in the search for the persistent youth restiveness and secessionist agitations in the region.”
Ohanaeze hopes the commission would also help to create the much-desired centrally coordinated security architecture in the zone.
It recalled that a few days ago, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, at Abikiliki, announced plans by the Federal Government to construct a 477-kilometre six-lane super highway traversing Abakiliki, Enugu, Nsukka to Abuja.
“As it stands, President Tinubu has shown a major departure from the Buhari regime by signing the SEDC Bill into Law; appointing Sen. Umahi, a brilliant and prudent engineer as the Minister for Works, and Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla as the Chief of the Naval Staff.
“This is a quantum leap and a new beginning,” Ohanaeze added.
Tinubu listens, says Uzodimma
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who visited the President along with former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, welcomed the passage of the SEDC bill.
He visited to inform the President about Anyim’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and to thank him for assenting to the SEDC Bill.
The governor said: “We used the opportunity to commend and thank him for signing into law the SEDC Bill.
“If you recall, that bill has been there for the past God knows. Attempts to pass that bill three times failed. But Under his watch, it has become law.
“This means he has been listening to the cries of the people of Southeast. The Southeast Governors Forum, of which I am the Chairman, is indeed very grateful.
“We’re very happy. It means that the neglect we have been crying about for a very long time is being addressed now by the national government.
“So, we owe all this glory to Almighty God, and to Mr. President, for being able to do this justice to our people,” Uzodimma said.
Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial zone, Ifeanyi Ubah, hopes the commission will address development challenges and foster unity in the region
He also commended President Tinubu for paving the way for meaningful collaboration between the Southeast and the Federal Government, hoping that it would help address the sense of injustice felt by the region.
A former House of Representatives member, Sam Onuigbo, said the SEDC demonstrated President Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive development.
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