From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu has said that peace is necessary for progress, growth and development of the Southeast geo political zone.
Kalu, according to a statement by Special Assistant on Press Affairs,
Udora Orizu, stated this, on Tuesday, when he received the National Burial Committee for the former Anambra governor, late Chukwuemeka Ezeife.
The deputy speaker, who expressed
sadness on the demise of the late Ezeife, assured the Committee led by former Enugu State governor, Okwesilieze Nwodo that himself and his colleagues in the National Assembly would ensure that he is given a befitting burial.
According to him, the deceased former governor led an impression life, and that the only way to sustain his legacy was for the people of South East to pursue peace.
“In recent time the South East has come into the public domain for the wrong reasons. I say wrong reason because Igbo people have what they are known for, anything outside that is a wrong reason, identity. We are proud, courageous people not confused about our identity.
“We know who we are. We build. We don’t destroy; give birth, we don’t slaughter children. We don’t kill our mothers. We don’t kill our brothers. We don’t sacrifice our fathers. That was not what our forefathers bequeathed to us. Peace is the only way to make progress and industrialise.
“You may recall 29th of December we flagged off Peace in South East Project, a non-political movement using non-kinetic approach to the resolution of our problems in a South East, because we are tired of using the sounds of guns and barrels to slaughter South Eastern sons, which has not giving us a lasting solution.
“We are saying come let’s discuss together; let us find alternative resolution to our hydra-headed problems. We are not saying we don’t have problems. We are saying there are other strategic approaches available for the reconciliation, for that rebuilding, for that reconstruction that we’re looking for,” Kalu stated.