SEDC as demarginalisation masterstroke for South-East

By Chidiebere Onyemaizu

To some Nigerians, especially political stakeholders in the South-East geopolitical zone, the South East Development Commission (SEDC), which came into effect following the signing into law of the bill establishing it, in July last year by President Bola Tinubu represents the demarginalisation of the zone and ultimate reintegration of it and its people into the mainstream of the Nigeria project after half a century of perceived exclusion and marginalisation following a botched secession war.

And to underscore the seriousness attached to the commission by the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, one of the prominent voices in the emancipation of the people of the South-East region, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, was named the pioneer chairman of the Commission.

Addressing the newly inaugurated members of the Commission, Senator Kalu, encouraged the members to work for the region, and collaborate with other regions to build interstate railway system. He further said that, when such infrastructure is added with industries and other infrastructures, “we will have the prosperous and productive nation we dream.”

According to Daily Sun’s findings, the Commission, which was facilitated by another prominent son from the South-East and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, is expected to pursue Civil restitution, tackling of erosion, and restoration of security among others.

Exited about the birthing of the Commission, the Deputy Speaker told Daily Sun through his Chief Press Secretary, Livinus Nwabughiogu, that every Igbo person ought to be excited and also applaud President Bola Tinubu, because the Commission is a significant step towards fulfilling the yearning of the region, 55 years after end of the war.

His words: “Why are we excited? Why are we happy? We are because in the last 55 years, no Nigerian leader has been able to pursue or actualise the 3Rs- Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation- a promise, made by the General Yakubu Gowon’s regime after the civil war.

“The 3Rs policy was meant to reconstruct infrastructure in the South-East, battered by the war. So, if a development Commission is now birthed to reconstruct the region, to give the region the necessary infrastructural needs and sense of belonging, why wont the average Igbo person be happy? So, to directly answer your question, the Deputy Speaker is happy like every other Nigerian, because other Nigerians are equally happy for the South-East, we are excited because the SEDC has come to reposition the South-East, this Commission has come to give us the roads we are looking for; it has come to give us the hospitals, the schools and all other infrastructural needs that the South-East has been yearning for. “

According Nwabughiogu, the Deputy Speaker believes that given the quality of persons piloting the affairs of the Commission as management and board, 10 years from now, the South-East would have undergone massive socio- economic and infrastructural transformation.

“The Deputy Speaker is very much optimistic that people who have been appointed by Mr. President to drive the SEDC are not only people of high intellectual disposition but also people who have made their marks in their various endeavours before now, people who are passionate about the development of the South-East. For example, the Board Chairman, Dr. Emeka Wogu was a Local Government Chairman, Minister of Labour and Productivity, a lawyer, a PhD holder, Mark Okoye has been a Commissioner in Anambra State, driving the economic development of the state in the last 13 years. You have the Executive Director Project, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, a three- time member of the House of Representatives, you also have the Executive Director, Finance, Rt. Honourable Stanley Ohajuruka, a former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly and former member of the House of Representatives. So, will these men and some other eminent personalities in the management and board of the SEDC want to fail the South-East nay Nigeria? NO! I would think that they are very well armed with ideas and innovations to make their inputs, stamp their feet on the sands of history and leave legacies of excellence by bettering the lot of the people of the South-East,” the Deputy Speaker’s spokesman added.

So, given the Deputy Speaker’s optimism, will SEDC indeed succeed where three Rs failed? Apart from Hon. Kalu’s optimism, if the assertions of the Commission’s Managing Director, Mark Okoye is anything to go by, then, the SEDC is the recipe for the true reconstruction and reintegration of the region.

According to him, the SEDC is targeting $200 billion regional economic growth by 2035. Okoye also envisages a 400 percent growth from the current $40 billion within the next decade.

The SEDC board and management are enamoured by the late Premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr. M.I Okpara’s visionary leadership, hence, they are looking towards adopting the developmental model of the late Premier as a template. Okoye said the Commission has studied past regional development blueprints, including the visionary economic plans of the late Dr Okpara which had laid the groundwork for the defunct Eastern region’s industrial and agricultural potential.

Said Okoye: “We remain a resilient and enterprising people; it is now up to us to shape the South-East we envision within the framework of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Working with the state governments, private sector ecosystem, and development partners. We will drive the South-East towards a $200 billion regional economy by 2035. We will not pay lip service to development, SEDC will prioritise action over rhetoric and results over promises.

“Our tenure will be built on transparency, accountability, and public participation, every project will align with a clear roadmap and deliver measurable impact. In the coming months, we will embark on several projects, programmes, and initiatives designed to accelerate the development of our region,” he added.

To the Chairman of the Commission and former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Emeka Wogu, President Tinubu and the Deputy Speaker, through the SEDC, have achieved the inclusivity the South-East has been yearning for in the past 55 years.

He further said “we have profound gratitude to the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The passing and assenting to the bill of the South-East Development Commission signifies a milestone in the lives of South-Easterners right from 1970.

“I want to equally commend the Rt. Hon. Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who proposed the bill to establish this SEDC. I want to also commend other members of the National Assembly who made it possible for the bill to be passed. Our goal is to contribute to the overall development of the region through the implementation of impactful, high-value projects that can create jobs.”

Dr. Clifford Ogbede, SEDC’s Executive Director, Agric assures that the Commission will be involved in job creation with the aim of relaunching the South-East economy into reckoning.

“We all know, it is in the history book that the South-East, before the war, was the fastest growing economy in the world. And so, we had a roadmap on how that region should have been developed, but for 54 years it has been truncated. So, this is an opportunity for us to develop the region.

“Just watch and see and give us some time. We have already what we call a quick win. We have a mid-term approach, and we are going to have a long-term approach. But I believe in the next one, two years, the story will be different,” Dr. Ogbede said.

Dr. Leonard Ahurunna, an Economist and investment expert told Daily Sun that if the management and board of the SEDC downplay partisan politics, eschew corruption and prioritise socio-economic and infrastructural development of the South-East, they will surpass the late Dr. M.I Okpara’s achievements. For rapid regional integration and development, Dr. Ahurunna recommends compartmentalisation of economic development in the South-East.

“SEDC is a fantastic idea; if properly harnessed and piloted, the SEDC could drive unprecedented socio-economic and infrastructural development in the region to the envy of other regions. If those piloting the affairs of SEDC do not allow partisan politics to dictate their actions, if they eschew corruption and prioritise development of the region, I believe they will surpass the glistening achievements of our iconic late Premier, Dr M.I Okpara.

“For seamless regional integration and economic development, I will want the SEDC to consider compartmentalisation of the industrialisation and economic development of the region. For example, Aba could be designated the industrial hub for the fabric designs and production; leather and its by-products: footwear, shoes and bags etc. Onitsha could be formally made the commercial hub of the region, Nnewi automobile and petrochemical and allied products hub, Abakalike/ Nsukka, agricultural hub, Enugu and Owerri tourism hub.

“Establishment of clusters of small-scale industries by individuals in parts of the region that boast of specific raw materials should also be encouraged by the SEDC. For example, in the Okigwe, Agwu axis with abundance of cashew nuts, small scale cashew nuts processing factories should be encouraged. Commercial production of honey and its byproducts should also be encouraged in the Nsukka axis.

“To further boost regional integration, SEDC should also consider a ring road and railway connecting the above-named industrial hubs, “ Dr. Ahurunna added.

Meanwhile, pundits believe that the SEDC has provided President Tinubu something to campaign with in the South-East, ahead of 2027 presidential contest.

“During the 2027 presidential electioneering, the SEDC which is saturated with APC chieftains as Board members and members of management, will likely form a campaign item for Mr. President, he and his supporters will remind the Igbos that he is the President who gave them what past presidents had failed to give them- a development Commission.

“The APC and the President will make the SEDC appear as a favour for the South-East, given out of magnanimity notwithstanding the fact that he also signed the SEDC bill into law alongside Development Commission bills for other geo- political zones”, says Ossai Imakwe, a social affairs commentator.