…Urges Igbos To Shun Planned Protest
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill into law saying that, it was the best way to address the challenges facing the region.
He made the commendation while addressing journalists at his residence in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said, the people of South East expressed their gratitude to the President for signing the SEDC Bill into law saying that, it was both a legislative victory and a historic milestone for the South-East geopolitical zone.
Kalu noted that, the Commission will 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.
The Deputy Speaker added that, it will also tackle ecological problems and other related environmental or developmental challenges in the South-East States, including Abia, Imo, Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi.
He said, “This particular bill failed to be passed into law in the 8th and 9th National Assemblies, but like always, we are relentless in our collective drive for people-centered legislation. As we all know from our history, Nigeria’s transition from the unfortunate civil war exactly 54 years ago was hallmarked by the three “Rs”: Reconciliation, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction. Nigeria has since carried out reconciliation and rehabilitation, however, this act being assented to by the President exemplifies the commencement of the complete reconstruction of our beloved South-East.
“The bill assented to by the President amplifies the commitment to the real rehabilitation and reconstruction of the South-East. A 54-year-old jinx broken by the South East loving president; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
“The act is a testament to our collective effort and commitment to rebuilding and revitalizing our beloved region. I am grateful to my colleagues in the National Assembly, to all Nigerians who supported this bill, and most especially, to President Tinubu for his unwavering support and leadership.
“I also want to convey the appreciation of all Ndi Igbo (Igbo people) from the South-East zone. This is a momentous occasion, and we are filled with hope and determination. We assure you that this commission will work tirelessly to ensure that the dreams and aspirations of our people are realized. We will continue to push for more positive attention and development for our zone.
“This year, in this moment, we are called to reaffirm our values and commitments, to hold them against a hard reality, and see how we are measuring up, to the legacy of our forebearers, and the promise of future generations. And fellow Nigerians – I say to you today: we have more work to do.
“More to do for the workers who are struggling to find their footing in a rapidly changing economy, more to do for the parents who are struggling to provide for their children, and more to do for the young people who are striving to build a better future.
“Aside from our legislative interventions and ongoing hard work in the National Assembly, my colleagues and I from the South-East have set the ball rolling with non-kinetic measures as remediation to the insecurity situation in the region through the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), a non-governmental special purpose vehicle with the thematic and programmatic leadership needed to execute this flawlessly”.
It could be recalled that, the SEDC Bill was signed by the President alongside the North West Development Commission (NWDC) as regional development initiatives which started with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the North East Development Commission (NEDC) which were established to address the challenges in the South-South region and North East which was devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency respectively.
Kalu advised South Easterners not to join the planned looming anti-government protests saying that, protest is counterproductive and may have unforseen consequences for the country which may precipitate violence by some unscrupulous elements.
He said, “Instead, let us view the signing of the SEDC bill into law as a testament to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s resolve to heal the wounds of the past, bury the rumors of the “marginalization of the South-East geopolitical zone,” and renew the hope of the nation towards equitable economic growth and socio-cultural renewal. This is a time for unity and progress, not division and unrest.
“I also implore Nigerians from all walks of life and the entirety of the country to not heed the calls for protest but instead continue to trust in the process.
“The reforms of the current administration will take time but will soon start to suffice, including a reversal of inflation, stabilization of the economy, and the ensuing multiplier effects in a massive employment boom as a result of industrialization, and the outcomes of the work organizations like the SEDC will engineer”.
