From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The Chairman South East Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu and The Igbo Think Tank, AKA IKENGA have commended President Bola Tinubu for signing the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) bill into law. They also applauded the National Assembly for passage of the bill.
Igwe Asadu, who made the commendation while attending the National Council of Traditional Rulers Summit in Abuja, described the president’s act as extending brotherly love to the people of South East in general.
He recalled that the South-East Development Commission Bill had been a lingering decimal in the national assembly with the past governments being political about signing it into law.
The monarch assured that the traditional institution in the South East would never take the president’s gesture for granted.
“We acknowledge that the passage of this bill is only the beginning. We pledge our continued support and collaboration in implementing the goals and aspirations enshrined in the South East Development Council Bill. Together, we will build a more dynamic, prosperous, and united South East region.
“We, therefore, most respectfully, plead with the President to ensure that the South East Development Commission enjoys proper funding like its counterparts in other geopolitical zones so that it will address the purpose for which it was established.
“SEDC, if properly funded, will go a long way to mitigate the age long marginalisation of the South-East in the areas of infrastructure, empowerment, and employment, among others,” he noted.
He equally commended all the National Assembly lawmakers from the South East geopolitical zone for their dexterous act in ensuring that the bill which has lingered for a long while at the floor of the national assembly was signed into law.
“Our special appreciation also goes to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu. Your leadership in summoning support for the bill on the floor of the House was pivotal. Your commitment to this cause reflects your dedication to the welfare of the people of the South East and your vision for a brighter future for our region,” he said.
In a release by the Director of Publicity of the Association, Collins Steve Ugwu, the President of AKA IKENGA, Agbalanze Chike Madueke said: “It is indeed a thing for note worthy gratitude that finally, after 54 years of deliberate delays and barriers for a structured reconstruction of the South East region, ravaged as it were by 30 months of civil war, the swing of history fell upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to actualize the elusive process, with his salutary presidential signature making the bill an Act of law for real action.”
“We are also proud and grateful to the entire members of the National Assembly for this significant support, the entire South East national legislators for their unique virtue of cohesion and quite deservedly, Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, whose zest in leadership inspired the energy and charisma that saw us here and good.”
Applauding Igbo generally for their patience and persistence, Dr Madueke emphasized that, the Igbo nation’s socio-economic positiveness and the yearning for development without boundaries will be deployed to its fullest to ensure the success of the South East Development Commission which we hope will incorporate the Anioma areas going forward.
The President and members of the National Assembly especially, South East members, can be assured that Aka Ikenga will be on its toes to monitor and add value to all further processes to enhance speed, competence and capacity in the running of the Commission, having taken five decades plus to achieve.