Reps. Deputy Speaker to SEDC: Embrace partnership, development over politics
By NDUKAKU IHE
Reps. Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu
Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has charged the South East Development Commission (SEDC), to embrace partnership and collaboration over politics for the success of the commission.
The lawmaker harped on the need for the management team of the commission to prioritise collective effort, driven by the values of hard work, integrity, and communal progress.
Kalu gave the charge in Enugu at a stakeholder’s engagement and reception by philanthropist and elder statesman, Prince Arthur Eze, for the board of the SEDC.
The Deputy Speaker noted that the commission’s ultimate goal was to drive growth and development in the South East region.
He said the South East Development Commission is not just another institution but the engine room of renewal.
His words: “It will rebuild what was broken, ignite industries, empower our youth, and give new life to the creative and technological prowess that has always defined us.
“We must remember that a river that forgets its source will soon run dry. As we embrace development, let us remain anchored in our values of hard work, integrity, and communal progress.
“The greatness of a people is not measured by the wealth of individuals but by the prosperity of the many.
“That is why this commission is not just for the elite, the politically connected, or the privileged.
“It is for the trader in Ariaria, the farmer in Abakaliki, the artisan in Nnewi, the startup innovator in Enugu, and the student in Owerri who dreams of a future where talent not location determines success.
“An Igbo proverb says there is strength in numbers. If the fingers of one hand come together, they form a mighty fist. Our strength has always been in our collective resolve.”
The deputy speaker noted that this was not the time for division, but for alignment.
His words: ‘‘From the private sector to the diaspora, the villages to the cities, traditional institutions to the halls of government, we must stand together.”
Kalu also charged the SEDC Board and the management team to utilise allocated funds wisely, ensuring transparency and executing projects that positively impact the ordinary people.
“We must remain steadfast and ensure that this commission delivers on its promise,” he said.
He however expressed gratitude to his colleagues as well as President Bola Tinubu for signing the bill that established the commission.
The creation of the commission, he said, has fulfilled the promise of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Reconciliation made to Ndi Igbo by the Gowon-led Federal Government over 50 years ago.
“The journey was not without its trials, but history is always shaped by those who dare to persist.
“Along with my esteemed colleagues in the House of Representatives, I championed the South East Development Commission Bill, not as a mere legislative exercise, but as a moral imperative to address long-standing infrastructural deficits, economic stagnation, and the wounds of history that have yet to fully heal.
“It was a journey of debate, negotiation, and unwavering advocacy.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, whose assent to this bill demonstrated his deep understanding of governance as a tool for national unity and progress.
“This is the mark of true leadership, one that listens, understands, and acts decisively in the interest of all Nigerians. Today, the South East is not just seen, but heard.
“Not just acknowledged, but empowered. And for that, Mr President, we say thank you.”
