Former member of the House of Representatives, Sam Onuigbo, says the establishment of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) by President Bola Tinubu would spur economic and infrastructure development of the area.

He said Mr Tinubu had, by signing the SEDC bill into law, had demonstrated genuine commitment to the development of the region in line with the post-civil war 3Rs. At the end of the war in 1970, military ruler Yakubu Gowon initiated the Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reintegration (3Rs) policy as a mechanism for healing the wounds.

“President Tinubu has touched a sensitive nerve to heal deep-seated wounds of the past. In all honesty, President Tinubu deserves special thanks from the people of South-East because for more than half a century.

“The scars of the civil war remained with us in terms of infrastructure despoliation, social disconnection and economic tribulation,” he said.

Mr Onuigbo, a member of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), said the law had equipped the commission to intervene in a special way to address the infrastructure challenge in the area.

According to him, the SEDC has unique and specialised roles to play and promises to fulfil for the region after the intense devastations of the civil war.

Mr Onuigbo added, “The SEDC has come to remove the nagging feelings of distrust and socio-economic marginalization among the people of South-East.”

He, therefore, charged the pioneer members of SEDC to work extra hard with uncommon unity of purpose to lay a solid foundation for the commission by achieving great milestones.

He also commended the leadership and members of the 10th National Assembly for rolling out the SEDC law. According to him, the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, succeeded in writing his name in gold by that momentous legislation.

“As one who sponsored the Climate Change Act 2021, I know the rigours, hurdles, and challenges of working any piece of impactful legislation through the various processes up to the signing stage.

“On this score, Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu has justified his position as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and as a focused leader,” he said.

Mr Onuigbo, however, appealed to the leadership of SEDC and Ndigbo to join hands and support the Emeka Wogu-led members of the commission’s governing board to succeed.

“The success of the commission would be the greatest sign of the show of appreciation to President Tinubu for breaking the jinx and delivering this historic gesture,’’ he said.

Although the bill for the creation of the South East Development Commission was passed by the 10th Assembly and signed into law by the president in July 2024, Mr Tinubu recently forwarded the names of members of the SEDC, to be headed by former labour minister Emeka Wogu to the Senate for screening and confirmation.  

(NAN)