From Cross Udo, Abuja
A socio-cultural group from the South East, Nzuko Alaigbo, has said that the South East Development Commission, SEDC, is the first effort by the Federal Government to reintegrate the zone with the rest of the country after the 30-month civil war that ended in 1970.
The Nzuko Alaigbo also thanked President Bola Tinubu for the recent reconstitution of the Board SEDC.
In a Sunday press statement in Abuja, the socio-cultural organization commended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, for championing the Bill and working closely with the President and the leadership to ensure its signing.
The statement, signed by the organization’s National President, Ambassador Dr. Tim Ihemadu, dismissed a media report insinuating that the constitution of the SEDC Board had sparked trouble between and among certain political leaders in the region.
It declared that the people of the South East were happy and in full support of President Tinubu and his government.
Ihemadu, who observed that the President has proven naysayers wrong by immediately reconstituting the Board after some initial hiccups, said people in the South East are in a jubilant mood, having seen President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope in action.
He added that since the end of the Nigerian civil war in 1970, this is the first time the federal government has made genuine efforts to reintegrate the South East with the rest of the country.
The organization thanked President Tinubu for this gesture and assured him of the continued support of the South East for his government,
Ihemadu further called on the President to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whom the Court had earlier cleared of all the charges leveled against him.
He said there was no rift between the Deputy Speaker and the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, over the composition of the SEDC board, as reported in the media.
According to him, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reconstitution of the Board of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) has set the region agog.
“Initially, the first list of the Board that came out had kept everyone silent, but having rejigged the Board with a more dynamic approach, it now has those who will champion the cause of development for the region. Men with impeccable track records are now on the Board to manage the Commission.
“We want to thank Mr. President for quickly constituting the Board because people thought this would not materialize. Initially, people thought he would not sign the Bill (for establishing the SEDC), but he signed it and finally constituted the Board with the right people.
“We want to express our appreciation to Mr. President for this gesture. Since the war ended in 1970, no efforts have been made to reintegrate the Southeast into the Nigerian State. This is the first time, meaning that the President is talking and doing. It means that he says something, maintains it, and delivers it.
“We want to appreciate him for bringing the right people. We also want to thank the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, for championing the Bill and being in close contact with the President and the leadership to ensure the Bill is signed.
“We have proven the naysayers wrong by constituting the Board and Management of the Commission.
“This is the first time we are seeing Renewed Hope in action. Indeed, Renewed Hope is already being felt in the South East, and everywhere in the South East, people are happy and jubilating that President Tinubu means well for the region.
“We therefore want to thank Mr. President and assure him of our continued support.”
