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From Magnus Eze, Enugu
Mixed reactions have continued to trail the recent assent to the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill by President Bola Tinubu. Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and several Igbo groups believe that if properly funded, the commission will go a long way to mitigate the age long marginalisation of the South-East in the areas of infrastructure, empowerment, employment among others.
However, not a few people and groups doubt the political will of the Federal Government to genuinely use the SEDC to develop the region, addressing years of neglect suffered by their people. They argued that there was nothing special about the SEDC since most of the geo-political zones now have development commissions.
Secretary, Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), Chief Abia Onyike, described the signing of the bill as welcome, noting that on paper, the commission is a positive step in righting the wrongs of the past in the South East. The infrastructural and developmental deficits suffered by Igboland since the end of the civil war can now be addressed, he noted.
However, Onyike stated that for the commission to live up to expectation, the current monolithic federation must give way to genuine federalism.
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“If there is a functional regional autonomy, there may not be any need for development commissions which are still to be funded from a central purse, though with a better constitutional guarantee,” Onyike enthused.
On whether the SEDC would replace the 3Rs (Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation) policy proclaimed by the federal government immediately after the Nigeria civil war in 1970, the ADF scribe said it depends on the quality of leadership at the national level and the attitude of the Igbo leaders themselves who are going to manage and run the Commission. He expressed the fears that it might just become another political patronage for the Igbo elite.
Like the ADF, another Igbo leader, Chief Goddy Uwazulike said he was not enthusiastic over the signing of the bill because some other agencies had failed to deliver on their mandates
“My expectations are many but they are tempered by the realization that we have seen this before. Quite often, the various commissions are seen as political patronage, rather than development drivers. “My fear is that this SEDC will go the way of the 3Rs – all motion and no movement; a talk-show champion run by people who see poverty of thought as a virtue,” Uwazulike said.
For eminent lawyer and former National Legal Advisor to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Chuks Muoma (SAN) noted: “It’s a bit risky commenting on the content of a package that has not been delivered and opened. Let us wait and see,” Muoma cautioned.
