By Eseohe Solomon
The Igbo Think-Tank, Aka Ikenga, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly for the passage and assent of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill. This commendation was made public in a statement by Collins Steve Ugwu, the Director of Publicity for Aka Ikenga.
Agbalanze Chike Madueke, President of Aka Ikenga, highlighted the significance of this development, noting, “It is indeed noteworthy and gratifying that finally, after 54 years of deliberate delays and barriers for a structured reconstruction of the South-east region ravaged as it were by 30 months of civil war, the swing of history fell upon President Tinubu to actualize the elusive process with his salutary presidential accent making the bill an Act of law for real action.”
Madueke also expressed gratitude to the National Assembly members, particularly the South-east legislators, and acknowledged the pivotal role of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu. “We are also proud and grateful to the members of the National Assembly for this significant support; the entire South-east national legislators for their unique virtue of cohesion, and quite deservedly, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Benjamin Kalu, whose zest in leadership inspired the energy and charisma that saw this to its fruition,” he stated.
Madueke commended the patience and persistence of the Igbo people and emphasized the potential socio-economic benefits of the commission. He also expressed hope that the commission would eventually incorporate the Anioma areas.
In his closing remarks, Madueke assured the National Assembly members, particularly those from the South-east, that Aka Ikenga would remain vigilant in monitoring the commission’s progress. “Aka Ikenga will be on its toes to monitor and add value to all further processes to enhance speed, competence and capacity in the running of the commission, having taken five decades plus to achieve it,” he affirmed.
