How SEDC will develop South East

By Ama Mba Uffiem

The recent establishment of the South East Development Commission by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, via a law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a critical milestone in the annals of the history of the sustainable socio-economic and infrastructure development of the South East region. The creation of the commission is one of the crucial steps towards addressing the region’s long neglected developmental challenges and promoting socioeconomic and infrastructure growth and development of the region.

The glorious and epoch-making maiden inauguration of the governing board and management of the commission is historic too, and we profoundly thank God who has made it possible to be. The euphoria and excitement should be sustained.

The South East Development Commission aims to promote the physical and socio-economic development of the South East states, with emphasis on areas such as transportation, health, education, employment, agriculture, and industrialization, among others

The Commission will catalyse all round and sustainable growth and development of the entire region which no doubt is a step in the right direction.

The South East region has a checkered history of neglect, marginalization and deliberate under-development exacerbated by the unfortunate thirty-month civil war (1967-1970), of which the region was the major theatre with huge casualty figures in men and material. Till date, the underlying causes of the 1966 military coup and the series of events that culminated in the war are still very much evident everywhere in our social, economic and political landscape.

It is however pertinent to mention that the erstwhile eastern region consisting of the present day Rivers, Cross river, and Akwa Ibom states all in the South South geo-political region now and the South East geo-political region enjoyed rapid industrialization, socio-economic and infrastructural development in the 1950s and 1960s. The eastern region at the time was globally acknowledged as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. But this march to global pre-eminence and reckoning was fiercely truncated by the civil war that engulfed the entire region with its relics still hovering around the landscape till date. This inevitably put the area in an obviously disadvantaged position that led the economy of the region bleeding with the vibrant industries remaining moribund and are yet to be resuscitated till date.

Since after the war, efforts to revamp the economy of the region and re-ignite its pre-independence unprecedented march to greatness, industrialization and sustainable economic development have been largely driven by the people’s deliberate self-help, participatory community-based approach to development and ‘Onye aghala nwanne ya’ (Be your brother’s/sister’s keeper) philosophy of the people of the region who transited from ‘nothing’ to ‘something’ unimaginable in the wake of the end of. the war and other well entrenched unfair policies of previous administrations.

Now, with the establishment of the brand new South East Development Commission, the vision and lofty ideals of the hardworking, resourceful, innovative and enterprising people of the region will once again be re-awaken and re-invigorated to achieve further lofty heights, especially given the calibre, capacity and quality of the operators and stakeholders brought together to midwife and pioneer the new regional development commission to stability, impact and sustainability.

With strategic players and visionaries like Senator Dr.Orji Uzor Kalu, MON, former governor of Abia state, and senator representing the Abia North Senatorial district appointed as the first Senate Committee Chairman on the South East Development Commission by the Red Chamber, Rt. Honorable Chris Nkwonta, a business magnate and the member representing Ukwa East and Ukwa West Federal constituency, the two providing critical oversight functions that will boost the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the commission for the desired outcomes; And working with a formidable team of well-experienced and professionally qualified board members with Nwadiala Chief Emeka Wogu, Ph.D, an accomplished technocrat and seasoned administrator as the pioneer chairman, coupled with a strong management team of highly-skilled managers of men and materials with impeccable credentials, it is unquestionably true and certain that the commission will justify its billings and pursue with great zeal, vigour and vim the much expected rapid industrialization and indigenous technology advancement.

These development-oriented leaders have all it takes to leapfrog the region into the limelight of global economic and industrial competitiveness.

A very good way to start is to embark on a series of comprehensive consultative advocacies, sensitization, social, institutional and infrastructure needs assessment of the region to produce a baseline data for informed planning and development of a master plan of the region.This is to be followed with a well-packaged, actionable economic summits and policies to complement and improve upon previous summits and their communiques with the sole aim of delivering a workable and realistic development blue print for the region.

The creation of the South East Development Commission is one measure to sustainably restore the glory of the region and at the same time assuage the people following years of neglect and marginalization. The creation of the body will promote unity and peaceful co-existence among the various constituent states, as well as encourage healthy competition in the true spirit of umunna bu ike philosophy.

The commission should work to ensure justice, equity, fairness and equality of all people of the region. Its activities and modus operandi should be divorced of undue politicization, and any tendency towards that should be viewed with the least degree of tolerance.

We look to the pioneer leadership of the commission to kick-start the process of industrialization, the rapid growth and socio-economic and infrastructure development of the region with every degree of ingenuity and commitment, and focus on delivering its mandate frontally. The leadership cannot do otherwise for there is no reason to fail given the rich background and expertise of the founding managers and leaders who are all men of history and eminently qualified to do the patriotic job well.

That done, we would have genuinely achieved the General Gowon’s much trumpeted post-war reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction mantra pronounced in the wake of cessation of hostilities in 1970.

With the development commission firmly in place now, the much expected but belated creation of additional states in the South East geo-political zone to be at par with the number in the other geo-political zones in the country, should be pursued with keen and renewed vigour.

Then, with the issue of Nigeria president of Igbo extraction honestly addressed and quickly resolved in favour of the region, the president Tinubu-led administration would have accomplished a feat that will forever be a reference point from generation to generation.

The expected quantum leap into the realm of accelerated socio-economic and infrastructural development, as well as unquantified human capital development occasioned by the creation of the South East Development Commission will be a marvelous work and a wonder to experience. It will pave the way for making the region an El Dorado of a sort and truly a great land of bliss.and glory in the years ahead.

As such, let us all south easterners, irrespective of religious and political inclinations dovetail into this vision and work hard together to support the South East Development Commission to reclaim and recover the region in order to bring back its glory marred by insecurity, deprivation, neglect, marginalization,civil war, gross injustices, mutual distrust, hate, and other vestiges of unfair policies against the region.

May we all support this formidable assemblage of patriotic and pragmatic change agents who working assiduously with every segment of the region holds the prospects to rectify and redress the errors and injustices of the past.

As long as you are from the region, you are part of this great effort. You are a critical stakeholder and so highly obligated to contribute meaningfully in the effort.

Whether you are a minister, a member of house of representatives, a senator, a traditional ruler, an entrepreneur, a businessman, a businesswoman, a town union executive, a policymaker, a technocrat, a trader, a teacher, a house wife, a governor, a politician, a unionist, a professional, a student, a clergy, the time for action to change the narrative of the South East is now and requires that the critical mass of our people be strategically involved in this glorious opportunity to rebuild and transform our land for a better tomorrow.

This is the time to fully address the numerous infrastructural and socio-economic challenges hitherto bedeviling the region, as well as eradicate the ugly memories of the civil war with its negative physical, emotional and psychological effects on the people.

All non-state actors and stakeholders like non- governmental organizations, civil society organizations, community- based organizations, faith-based organisations, development partners, age grades, town unions, traditional institutions, academic institutions, professional bodies, businesses, corporate organizations, entrepreneurs, investors, those in the diaspora and a lot more should be thoroughly mobilized and encouraged to be in the vanguard of making the South East great again.

it is hoped that the much-talked about marginalization of the South East region, especially since the end of the civil war will abate as the region begins to receive due attention necessary to re-enact the great resilient and resourceful spirit that is the hallmark of the people of the region.

Even the weekly sit-at-home imposition that is undermining the economy of the region will naturally recede and fizzle out completely as the commission sets to work to holistically address some of the contending issues that fuel the incessant and consistent agitations for secession and self-determination.

The region is generously and richly endowed by nature with a wide variety of human, mineral, agricultural and other natural resources needed to improve livelihoods, create wealth, generate employment and reduce poverty in the land. The self-help mindset of the people for social, economic survival and global competitiveness is legendary and cannot be underestimated by any means. The ingenuity, intelligence and creative abilities of our men, women and youth are begging for attention.

If we are able to appropriately harness our rich talents, skills, knowledge, education, as well as the abundant resources the region has and tailor them towards the sustainable development of the area,it is certain that sooner or later the region will join the league of developed economies like Japan, Kuwait, Singapore, Malaysia, etc.

Invariably, the region becomes the holy grail that will emancipate the country from abject poverty, inequality and under-development in view of its abundance of endowments and potentials for greatness.

From Abia to Anambra, Ebonyi to Enugu and to Imo states, our collective experience in the Nigeria state calls for a sober reflection. It calls for a total change in strategy and approach. This is the time to change gear and embrace the South East Development Commission with open mind and await the immense benefits that will accrue from its founding.

The commission offers a veritable opportunity for us to deepen our creativity and ingenuity to attract foreign direct investments for the overall development of the region, as well as develop our local technologies to a global brand and competitiveness.

May we as we think global, act local by investing first in our homeland in our collective aspiration and desire towards the total transformation of the landscape of the region. May we think home and invest in our states and communities in the South East geo-political region.

We hail all the pioneers of the South East Development Commission. We salute all the promoters of peaceful co-existence and development of the region. May God prevail in our quest for equity, justice, fairness, peace and unity.

May we always speak with one voice and act as brothers and sisters united by one common destiny and heritage.

God help us to be great again!