Killings: Lawmakers make case for S’East Development Commission
The establishment of a South East Development Commission will restore peace in the region and bring an end to the incessant violent incidents in the geo-political zone, the House of Representatives has said.
The PUNCH had reported that a week ago, the South East Development Commission Bill sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, and other lawmakers from the South-East geo-political zone passed the third reading at the House of Representatives.
The explanatory memorandum of the bill had stated that the commission would be charged with the responsibility of receiving and managing funds from the allocation of the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses and other infrastructural damages suffered by the region as a result of the effect of the civil war.
“When established, the commission will as well tackle the ecological problems and any other related environmental or developmental challenges in the South-East states which include Abia, Imo, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi.”
Speaking exclusively with Saturday PUNCH in Abuja, Deputy Spokesman for the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, noted that when established, the commission would address the structural imbalance in the South-East zone.
He said, “The establishment of the South-East Development Commission for a region that has been shortchanged for a long period of time will go a long way in placating the people of the region. The South-East is the only region with five states, despite its contribution to national stability and cohesion.
“Even if we cannot create another state in the interim, the creation of a development commission will not be much for us to do
“The Senate must not only give concurrence to the bill, it should join hands with the President Bola Tinubu-led government to bring out peace not only in the South-East but across the country at large.”
Agbese who represents Ado/Ogbadigbo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency, Benue State, also added that once created, there were chances that the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra and other separatists agitations in the region would be brought down to the barest minimum.
He commended the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu for his role in championing peace in the region, particularly with the launch of the Peace in the South-East Project.
In a separatist interview with our correspondent, the member representing Orumba North/South Federal Constituency, Anambra State, Clara Nnabuife, said the commission would open up the zone for developmental initiatives.
“The commission will bring about peace and development to our people. It will bring about infrastructural development which will in turn affect the lives of our people positively.
“The South-Eastern people are naturally entrepreneurial and this commission, when established, will avail them the opportunity to unleash their creative potential on the economy.
“When this happens, we will be looking at the zone as one of the most industrialised not only in Africa but throughout the world,” she told Saturday PUNCH.
