From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which is the apex body of all Igbo socio cultural organisations, has expressed joy over the signing of the South East Development Bill (SEDC) into Law by President Bola Tinubu.
A press statement to the effect signed by the National Publicity Secretary,Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, described the development as a quantum leap, hope of a new renewal and a significant part of a new beggining by President Tinubu.
In the press statement, the Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu led Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, said the coming of South East Development Commission(SEDC) will go along way in actualising the three R’s policy of ‘Reconciliation.Rehabilitation and Reconstruction’ of the Federal government for the South East zone aftermath of the Nigerian Civil wars from 1967 to 1970, which never saw the light of the day.
The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is happy that 54 years after, the present administration in the country has come up with a strategy to realise the 3 Rs.
The press statement reads, “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has received with immense relief and joy the news of the signing into Law, the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The SEDC will cover the states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.This is a quantum leap, a hope renewal and a significant part of a new beginning by President Tinubu”.
The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo also expressed gratitude to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives,Hon. Benjamin Kalu and the co-sponsors of the Bill.
“It needs a mention that the SEDC which has remained in the pipeline for decades has come on stream through Kalu and his team’.
“The Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) is expected to manage funds allocated from the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, and other infrastructural deficits suffered by the region due to age-long neglect. The SEDC will tackle ecological problems and related environmental challenges that have devastated the Southeast for decades.
“The SEDC will go a long way to assuage the feelings of the Igbo with respect to the 3R sophistry by General Yakubu Gowon in January 1970. Gowon had assured the world that there would be three R: Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of the Igbo land as a result of war ravages. But fifty four years after the war, the South East has witnessed the direct opposite of the 3Rs, even in exponential proportion, ” Ohanaeze Ndigbo stated.
