By Saviour Osuoha
09131914587
There is no doubt that the newly established South East Development Commission, SEDC by President Bola Tinubu,was greeted with hearts full of joy and renewed hope for anticipated socio-economic progress in the five states of the South East geo-political zone in Nigeria peopled by the Igbo ethnic nationality.
This implies that the birth of the Commission is a most welcome development in the region, given the fact that it will create room for even development of the region which has been under the clogs of marginalization and underdevelopment.
In fact,it is a landmark achievement by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration of the Federal Government of Nigeria, because it also helped in dousing the tension arising from the series of agitations for self-rule by some interest-groups in Igboland such as the IPOB, among others.
There is no other reason for the establishment of the SEDC than to boost and upgrade the economic status of the South East zone.Recall that the region is the only geo-political zone in Nigeria left with only five (5) states whereas others like the South West, North East, North West,North Central and South South regions have six or more states which attracts more capital development projects in such regions,in the overall good Interest of their people(s). For instance, the South South geo-political zone would have come to par with the South East zone in the number of states.But, with the inclusion of Edo state to the South South zone,it has to outnumber the South East zone (Igbo ethnic group). The more the number of states, the higher the budgets for capital development projects.
Against this premise however,the political leaders and other relevant stakeholders from the South East zone are expected to work in synergy in order to consolidate on the gains of the Commission for the overall good Interest of the region.In it,they are expected to shun all manner of political bickering and backstabbing among themselves such as the recent ugly development so far experienced in the selection of the Chairman and Board members of the Commission.
“Even though, the Igbo political leaders in the National Assembly such as the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives,Rt.Hon.Benjamin Kalu have the right to excercise oversight roles over the Commission on behalf of the Presidency, the South East states’ Governors are entitled to recommend who takes whatever position in the headship and membership of the Commission, because they are the sole monitors and gatekeepers of the Commission which was set up to develop their states in the region”
Therefore, for Gov.Hope Uzodimma (Imo state) and Gov.Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi state) to have recommended the appointment of Hon.Emeka Atuma as Chairman of the Commission,only to be twisted and lobbied the Presidency to shortchange Atuma’s name with that of Barr.Emeka Nworgu by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives,Rt.Hon.Benjamin Kalu is quite an unhealthy and unacceptable development that does not mean well for Ndi Igbo.
In this case,the Governors of the South East states are likened to be chief custodians and propagators of development projects in their region (areas of jurisdiction), therefore,they should be accorded commensurate respect in the interest of development in the South East region.
Again, playing dirty politics with the leadership of the Commission is ill-timed, especially now that Ndi Igbo have grabbed a long awaited opportunity to enjoy the dividends of socio-economic development like others such as the NDDC which immensely benefited the South West and South South regions.
In the other hand,the Senate President,Sen.Godswill Akpabio,in his own part,showed he doesn’t have good interest of Ndi Igbo at heart.As a non-Igbo,he is expected to allow the South East Governors and the APC South East zonal caucus to do the needful, because they are people who the South Easterners’ needs and how best to fix them.
It amounts to sheer setback and corruption in the high places for Sen.Akpabio and Rt.Hon.Kalu to settle for,or lobby for the inclusion of their aides in the membership of the Board of the Commission,let alone produce who heads the Commission.
What Interest do they represent by so doing if not selfish Interest devoid of the overall good Interest of the Igbo nation?.
Establishment of the SEDC should not bring ridicule and reproach to Ndi Igbo as a result of greed and self-aggrandisement by a few self-seeking politicians of Igbo extraction in the National Assembly.
A word should be enough for the wise as Ndi Igbo take good advantage of the ample opportunity availed them by the benevolence of President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government of Nigeria.
